I was down in Paul Kramer's sporting emporium just last evening, when who should walk in but Big Ed.

Patterson, the Allandale pitcher, who came so near to downing us last summer.

He looks as fine as silk, and told me privately he calculates on carrying off that prize offered for hammer throwing, because that is his pet hobby, you see Yes, and more than that, he said they were all crazy up at his 'burg' over the big meet, boys being out practicing every sort of stunt, even to road-running by moonlight." "That sounds good to me," Hugh observed, not appearing to show any sign of alarm over the stirring news.

"It means we'll have a wonderfully successful affair.

Who carries off the prizes is a matter for the different schools to take care of, and those of us who believe in clean, honest sport only hope the best fellows win." "Huh!" grunted Owen Dugdale, "it goes to show that Allandale is all worked up over losing the baseball pennant to Scranton, and means to get even by carrying off the majority of the prizes our committee has offered for the dozen or more events to be contested for." "But he also informed me," continued the bearer of news, "that over in Belleville they were just as much excited as in his town, so that every fellow who'd entered for any event, even to climbing the greased pole or the sack race, was diligently practicing his particular stunt.
Oh! it's just going to be the greatest athletic tournament ever held in this section of the country, believe me." Some of the more timid among the boys seemed to think that Scranton would come out second best when the great meet was a thing of the past; but others only found themselves more determined than ever to win, after learning how their rivals had entered into the affair with heart and soul.
Hugh's often-expressed motto that the "best man should win" found an echo in the majority of their hearts, and they vied with each other in promising to give every ounce of ability to doing Scranton High credit.
Mr.Leonard came around to have a few words with his boys.