er, so it's all right."

Then Mr. Ellsworth said, "Very good," and that Councilman Bennett had
something to say. This is what he said, because Mr. Ellsworth wrote it
out for me, and he remembered almost just how it was. Oh, but he's one
fine man--Mr. Bennett--he's on some kind of a board and he helped build
the hospital and he likes the scouts and he wishes he could shin up a
tree--he said so. So this is what he said.

"My young friends, I have listened with a good deal of something or
other (it's too much bother to spell it out) to our young leader of the
Silver Foxes, and I must say that the Silver Foxes are solid fourteen
karat gold. I am a lawyer myself and I wish to express my professional
admiration of the way Leader Blakeley presented his case."

"The pleasure is mine," I said under my breath, because I just couldn't
help it.

Then he said like this--he said, "If Skinny McCord wishes to cast his
lot with such boys as these, he shall not find the means lacking. I
will furnish his suit and such sundries as he needs. I agree with
Leader Blakeley that doctors are sometimes mistaken. Let us hope it
may be the case in this instance. The cruise to camp must be made;
let nothing interfere with that. If some of you boys wish to go into
the city in the morning you may have the pleasure of purchasing
Skinny's outfit. I would suggest that the Silver Foxes do this in
order that their gift may go complete to their comrades of the Elks.
I think I have your scoutmaster's permission to do this."

"Sure you have!" Pee-wee shouted.

"We'll go in on the 9 A. M. train," Westy said.

"What time does the 9 A. M. train leave?", Pee-wee shouted. "Oh, but
it's great!" He was half crazy.

"The nine o'clock train leave at 8.60," I told him, "and you have to
get a transfer--"

"To what line?" he shouted.

"To the clothesline," I said.

"You make me sick!" he yelled, "You haven't got any
what--do--you--call--it--hero--something or other--"

"That talk will have to be strained through a sieve," I said. "Don't
mind him, Mr. Bennett, somebody's been feeding him meat. He goes to
the movies too much. He's known as the human megaphone. All step up
and listen to the Raving Raven rave--only a dime, ten cents, ladies
and gentlemen!"

Even Mr. Bennett had to laugh.

"Now all we've got to have is a girl," Pee-wee shouted, "because we've
got a poor lad--I mean--you know what I mean--noble poverty and a boat
and heroes doing good turns-