Frank Merriwell's Athletes Part 20

"I was wondering."

"What about?"

"About your statement that it would spoil your plan if I left the party."

"It would."

"I don't see how. There would still be eight of you."

"But eight is not nine, and it takes nine men to play a game of baseball."

"Baseball! That's right! Why, we have enough here for a ball team."

"That is it, exactly," smiled Frank. "This is the season when baseball flourishes, and we will be sure to strike some games on our way back East. If there are nine of us, we'll have a ball team of our own."

"Mah gracious," broke in Toots. "Dat am de stuff. If dar am anyfing I leks teh do it am teh play baseball-yes, sar."

Diamond was satisfied, and he immediately proposed that they organize an athletic club without delay.

CHAPTER X-THE YALE COMBINE

"This is as good a place as we can find to do the business," declared Diamond. "And the first business is to appoint a temporary chairman, who will call the meeting to order."

"I nominate Mr. Diamond," smiled Frank.

Without loss of time, Jack was appointed temporary chairman, and he brought the meeting to order, compelling Bruce to sit up and pay attention to the business in hand, which caused the lazy fellow to grumble somewhat.

"Gentlemen," said Jack, "the first business before this meeting is to appoint a president and permanent chairman. How shall he be appointed, by hand-vote or written ballot?"

"I brobose he vos abbointed by acclimatation," put in Hans, which caused the boys to laugh.

It was decided to nominate a candidate and elect him by show of hands.

Rattleton nominated Frank Merriwell for the office of president and permanent chairman, and the question was quickly put.

With the exception of Frank, every boy present held up both hands.

"Mr. Merriwell is elected," said Jack, soberly, "and I now surrender the chair to him."

Frank made a little speech, expressing his thanks, and then asked the views of the boys as to the proper name for the club. Several names were suggested, in all of which Frank's name was included. He was not satisfied with any of them.

"What do you think would be a good name?" asked Hodge.

"Well, we have come across the continent representing Yale, and I don't see why we shouldn't go back carrying the Yale banner to victory wherever we can. Four of us are from Yale, and Hodge contemplates entering the college, while Toots has worn a Yale sweater during our tour. That leaves Ephraim, Barney and Hans. I wonder if they object to the use of the word Yale in the name of our club?"

"Gosh, no."

"Nivver a bit av it."

"Vot you took us for?"

"Then that point is settled. Of course we have no authority from Yale to use the name, but if we give a good account of ourselves in the contests in which we may partic.i.p.ate, I hardly think that need trouble us. I propose the name, 'The Yale Combine.' How does that strike you?"

"Good!" cried Rattleton, with enthusiasm.

"Good! good!" echoed the others.

"Is it your pleasure that our club be called the Yale Combine?"

"Yes! yes! yes!"

"Then I declare that name formally adopted. Now I wish some a.s.sistant officers-a vice, a secretary and a treasurer. How shall they be elected?"

"I motion they be elected by written ballot," proposed Hodge.

"Sicond th' motion," said Barney, promptly.

"The motion is made and seconded that the a.s.sistant officers be elected by written ballot. If that be your minds make it manifest by a show of hands."

Up went the hands of all.

"It is a vote. Please prepare your ballots for vice."

"Hold on a jiffy, Mr. President," said Ephraim, awkwardly, grinning a little. "I want to wag my jaw a bit before we begin tew vote."

"Mr. Gallup may speak."

"I ain't got much tew say; but it kinder seems tew me that as long as this is ter be called the Yale Combine it's jest abaout the right thing that the officers should all be fellers who b'long ter Yale Collige.

That would make the thing seem a site more reg'ler, an' I don't s'pose anybuddy will object to it."

Hodge frowned a bit and looked disappointed, for he had desired a position of some importance, but he raised no objection to Ephraim's proposal.

"If you think that is best," said Frank, "it is very easy to elect my a.s.sistants from the three Yale men of the party."

Then they balloted for vice. Diamond had five votes, Browning two, and Dunnerwust one.

"Holdt on!" cried the Dutch boy. "Vot somepody done dot for, aindt id?

Some feller peen goin' to had a coot time mit me-I don'd think! I know a choke ven I seen him, but dees vas peesness. Id was a plamed fool dot chokes apoudt peesness! Yaw! You vos velcome mein obinion to."

Hans was red in the face and greatly excited, causing no small amount of merriment.

Merriwell declared Diamond elected vice.

When the vote for secretary was counted, Rattleton had seven and Gallup one. If possible, Ephraim was more excited than Hans had been.

"I know I'm gol darn green," he said; "an' I don't seem to git over it, though I have traviled araound some; but I tumble when folks go to pokin' fun at me, b'gosh!"