we are just
talking and planning about it yet."
"Gee, it would be an awful pile of work," complained Sleepy Smith, and he
yawned and stretched himself. "Work! of course it would be work, you dub;
but what do you ever get in this world that's worth while without real
work, I'd like to know."
"Work! that's the best part of it; nothing in the world could bind us
fellows together so tight as to do a big piece of real work together. We
would show each other what we're made of. I always have wanted to build a
cabin in the mountains. It would be a great deal better to build one than
to get an old, tumbled-down shack. Besides, we don't want to work out a
stunt that's just going to last for a year or two, and then be abandoned.
We want to build a real, permanent mountain camp. See?" added Chuck.
"What's the matter with the old Y.M. cabin up in Bear Creek, Shorty?"
"O rats, boys, we are not talking about a pill box now. We want a cabin."
"I think it would be a great thing to do, fellows; but we must go awfully
careful. We'll have to finance the thing some other way than from our own
pockets, and we don't know yet what Mr. Allen will say about it. He may
think it's a big mistake and a waste of time and energy. Then, too, where
would we camp while working on the new cabin?" said Willis. Then he
slipped off to talk the plan over with Mr. Allen, and in a few moments
brought the "Chief" back with him. Willis was talking.
"Now we are on the right track for sure, fellows. Mr. Allen has the
proper suggestions about this matter. No telling what fool stunts we
fellows would do if we didn't have Mr. Allen to keep our feet on the
earth."
"Listen, fellows," said Shorty. "We have talked this thing all over from
A to Z, and we believe Mr. Allen's advice is the thing; only before we
decide to do anything definite we ought to have Mr. Dean's opinion. He
has been in the army, you know."
"Mr. Dean, the physical director, been in the army? Why, I didn't know
that," said Sleepy.
"Yes, and he's a mighty practical fellow. Fat, go out to his office and
ask him to come in here a few minutes, will you?"
In a moment they came in together, Fat explaining their plans for a
cabin. When every one was seated, Shorty continued:
"This is a very serious matter, fellows, and we don't want to make a
mistake by being in too big a hurry. There are a few things that seem
very clear after talking with Mr. Allen--
"First, we must make our cabin
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