upon dry subjects when their thoughts continually roamed afield, and seemed concerned only with what great things were scheduled for the next afternoon? Still, they gathe

a number of the said committees, especially the ones designed for the welcome and ente

hough a great wave of patriotism had overwhelmed the place. If a stranger had suddenly dropped down on the town just then he must have believed American soldiers were o

ghters would preside, accompanied in each instance by a matron of mature years, to lend dignity to the occasion. Here the good folks from Allandale, Belleville and other places, who honore

rogramme should have a last "workout" that Friday afternoon. Saturday morning it was intended

o extended that there was a possibility of darkness creeping up on them before t

ged to keep an eye on Leon Disney from time to time. He felt pretty certain that the tricky boy had no intention of fulfilling the promise he

w matters probably stood. Leon had, of course, managed to see Nick Lang before coming to school, and explain to him what a bad f

om Nick; and if at any other time the latter joined a group amidst whom Leon chanced to be standing the other was t

mean that Leon was playing a double game. Still Hugh did not bother telling anyone about the affair of the preceding night. No harm

r to render the athletic tournament a wonderful success. Nothing like it had ever been attempted in the county, and for t

ed up. Why, even old Doctor Cadmus, the leading physician of Scranton, proved to be a walking encyclopedia of knowledge concerning the management of such an event; and it turned out that several times long years be

on quite an animated sight, with the girls circulating around in gaily dressed bunches, and the v

een miles, many thought, was far too strenuous an undertaking for lads as yet in their teens. Full-fledged athletes only run twen

nd every candidate entering for the Marathon fetch along with him a paper from his family physician, stating that he had u

given out to the neighboring towns, from whence aspiring runners hailed, that th

riday afternoon. They did not wish to follow out the entire course, as that might injure their prospects for the

rested in the hammer throwing, as well as the sprinting, and, after seeing how well the boys acquitted themselves, felt mor

the main road leading out of town. Hugh noticed it particularl

his mother. She held her face deliberately away from the bright scene, as though appalled to know that so many parents in Scrant

aned forward and stared hard and eagerly at the wonderful picture that athletic field presented. Hugh had good eyesight, and he could

, because they say he liked all kinds of healthy sport; but, somehow, Mrs. Jardine has taken a dislike to such things that seems to keep growing stronger all the time, until it's become a regular mania with her. But unless she changes her mind there'll be a day coming when she'll bitterly re

vent on the programme for the next day. Even many older persons seemed to have become infected with the sporting virus, because memories of other days were bein

at some irresponsible parties meant to start something during the tournament that was calculated to bring disrepute upon the town of Scranton. It was even darkly hinted that the partly built

onvinced; for, of course, it would be policy on the part of the mana

of persons who delight to circulate such stories, and, perhaps, unconsciously, add a little to th

was evident from the fact that they had had warning notices printed at the office of the Weekly Courier, notifying all boys who might contemplate playing any sort of practical joke durin

l along when Hugh was

dates who meant to try

other announced as he came up; "and they want you to come along. We can start toge