"I wish you'd tell me your idea!" coaxed Ned, impatiently.
"I haven't it all in shape to explain, yet, but I will hammer it together in some way to tell you to-morrow. Where do you boys expect to meet at your weekly, or daily meetings?" asked Uncle Ben.
"If there are but a few, I thought we could meet in this den of mine. But later, if there is a crowd, we might secure the Y. M. C. A. boys' room, or the reception room of the school," replied Ned.
"By Thanksgiving time you ought to be in working trim to assume any large work I might think of, eh?" asked Uncle Ben.
"Oh, surely! Long before Thanksgiving, I should think."
"Now, don't be too sure. Boys are just as hard to muster and understand as girls, and the plan that suddenly suggested itself for you boys to try out is a secret ambition that I have nursed ever since I went into the publishing business--and that was over twenty-five years ago. I have never had time to take it up alone, and never found anyone to whom I could trust so precious a hobby. I see how this combination of Blue Birds and Bobolinks might bring the idea to success, but I shall have to think it over before speaking further," explained Uncle Ben.
"Uncle, I surely am grateful for your confidence, and I shall be glad to know when you can tell us all," said Ned.
"I wish to talk the matter over with your father first, but you may call together some of the boys to-morrow afternoon and I will talk with them to see how many are willing and able to help."
"Well, I suppose I must wait, but I did hope we could organize our boys to-morrow at recess," said Ned, with an air of disappointment.
"What's to hinder your doing it?" asked Uncle Ben.
"How--until we know what we're going to do?"
"Oh, just make your plans broad enough to take in any ideas that come along," responded Uncle Ben, rising to go.
That night after everyone had retired, Uncle Ben took Mr. Talmage down the drive toward the woods. As they walked slowly along in the bright moonlight, they discussed various plans suggested by the ladies of the Blue Bird society. Uncle Ben led up, quite naturally, to the new organization of Bobolinks.
"Al, those boys are wide awake, all right! If we were to give them a boost now and then, there is no saying how great a philanthropic success this undertaking may be. It may grow so far out of Oakdale limits that the whole world may take part in it. I, for one, have decided to lend my support and see what comes of it," said Uncle Ben, seriously.