Page:The fighting scrub, (IA fightingscrub00barb).pdf/117

 brass tacks, I guess you'd make a good enough captain—with me to help you!"

Mr. Babcock had declined an invitation to be present on the momentous occasion, and so it was Clem Henning who coughed loudly, and said that they were there to elect a captain, and he guessed they'd better get at it, and that so far as he was concerned, he was out of it entirely because he didn't know how to be a captain, and it was too pesky much trouble anyway!

Much protestation followed, some of it perhaps polite rather than sincere, and several fellows tried to talk at once. "Wink" Coles finally got a hearing, and declared that Clem was the man for the job, and why not elect him, and pay no attention to what he said. Gillespie, known as "Gilly," got quite eloquent, and reminded them that they should elect one of their number who possessed the gift of leadership, and placed in nomination Pat Tyson. The applause was rather for the eloquence than the nominee, it seemed. Then Jackson proposed "Babe" Ridgway and "Babe" declined in a panic. After that proceedings slowed up. Clif, observing Tom, laughed to himself. Although Tom seemed to have not a care in the world, Clif thought he could detect anxiety. Evidently it occurred to no one to nominate Tom, even as a joke, and Clif was wondering whether to do it himself when Thayer was offered as a candidate. The applause was flattering, but the meeting had certainly not been stampeded, and Johnny, himself, was rewarding his