IN TRAINING FOR THE GREAT TOURNAMENT
It was an afternoon on the following week, after school hours, and the
athletic field bordering the outskirts of the town of Scranton afforded
a pretty lively spectacle. Indeed, it could be readily seen that the
approaching tournament had taken a great hold upon the young people of
the town.
Scores of boys were busily engaged in various exercises, under the
watchful eye of Mr. Leonard, the assistant principal under Dr. Carmack.
This determined-looking young fellow was a college graduate, and had
taken considerable interest in all manner of athletics; indeed, it was
well known that he had played on one or more of the college teams
during his course, and won quite an enviable reputation for good work,
though hardly reckoned a brilliant star.
Many who did not expect to participate in any of the numerous events
had gathered to watch what was going on; and, besides, there were
clusters of pretty high-school girls on the side lines, chattering
like magpies, and venting their opinions regarding the chances certain
favorites among their boy friends appeared to have in the way of winning
a prize.
Scores were busily engaged in running around the cinder-path, taking
the high jump, trying the hurdles, so as to perfect themselves against
the coming Saturday when the wonderful event was to come off; sprinting
for the short races of fifty, or a hundred yards; throwing the discus
or the hammer, and numerous other lively doings.
Among these participants there were a number whom the reader of
previous volumes in this series will readily recognize, and possibly
gladly meet again. There was Alan Tyree, for instance, whose masterly
pitching had done so much to land the pennant of the Three Town High
School League that season for Scranton; Owen Dugdale, the efficient
shortstop of the local nine; "Just" Smith, whose real name it happened
was Justin, but who seldom heard it outside of school and home. He
was a fleet runner, and had ably filled the position of left fielder
when Scranton carried the school colors to victory over Allandale in
that last heart-breaking game. Besides these, Joe Danvers was on
deck, doing all sorts of wonderful stunts at throwing the hammer and
taking the long jump, for Joe delighted in a variety of specialties
and did not confine himself to any one particular thing; also might
be seen one Claude Hastings, a chap who was a regular monkey in his
way, and who always kept the crowd laughing by his antics, such as
might be expected of a prize clown at the big Barnum and Bailey circus.
Yes, and there was Nick Lang, as big as life, running like the wind
around the cinder-path and looking as though he might have a pretty
fair chance to carry off some sort of prize. Nick had for a long time
been the town bully. He was not a rich man's son; in fact, Nick's
folks were poor, and some people even thought the big, overgrown
boy should be at work helping to keep the wolf from the door, instead
of still attending high school and making himself a nuisance to
decent folks through his delight in practical jokes and his bullying
propensities.
But even those who detested Nick Lang the most were willing to admit
that he was a pretty fair athlete and could even have excelled along
several lines if only he were able to control that nasty temper of
his and "play fair."
There were two other fellows, who were cronies of Nick's, and who,
apparently, had entered for some of the events, because both Leon
Disney and Tip Slavin were in evidence and hard at work practicing.
Nick secretly hated, even as he also feared, Mr. Leonard, because the
under-teacher had once cowed him and made him "eat humble pie" before
the whole class; but, being a wise as well as pugnacious boy, Nick
managed to keep his feelings under control, and when Mr. Leonard was
around he usually behaved himself.
Later in the afternoon, when most of the boys out for practice had
become more or less tired from their exertions, they gathered here and
there in little bunches to exchange "chaff," and express their
opinions concerning various matters that had a bearing on the coming
tournament.
So Hugh Morgan found himself in a cluster that contained several of
his chums, as well as a sprinkling of other fellows. A trio of
lively high school girls hovered near, and occasionally joined in
the conversation. They were Sue Barnes, whom Hugh usually counted on
as his partner when any dance was given in the country, or at
singing-school during the winter evenings; Ivy Middleton, Thad's
choice for company, because she was both jolly and genial; and pretty
Peggy Noland, whom Owen Dugdale liked, as had also Nick Lang, though
the latter had of late been badly snubbed by the scornful Peggy
because she could not stand for his rowdy ways.
"Mr. Leonard says he's fully satisfied with the way most of the fellows
are showing up," Joe Danvers was saying, about that time.
"Well, we can't afford to loaf, for a fact," remarked Just Smith,
soberly. "Let me tell you something, fellows. 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. He was
a great favorite with the majority of the scholars under his charge,
and to his clever method of coaching they attributed considerable
of their success on the diamond of recent months. If only his rules
were strictly adhered to it was possible that Allandale and Belleville
might be due for another rude surprise when they came over, bent on
carrying off the majority of the high honors.
"It is going to be no easy sledding for anybody,---remember that,
fellows," the athletic instructor went on to say, after he had been
told how both adjoining towns entered in the meet were striving
with might and main to excel in every sort of event. "No matter
who wins he'll only get there by doing his level best. That's all
Scranton High asks of her representatives. Let there be no loafing,
and if some of our good friends from A and B succeed in carrying away
a few of the prizes, why, we'll know they earned the right, and are
welcome to their reward. And now, I'd like to see you runners try
one more ten-minute sprint, every one of you in a bunch, as a sort
of wind-up for the day."
Accordingly they ran off to the starting-point and lined up, each
assuming his particular favorite crouching attitude, which he seemed
to think best fitted for a speedy "get-away" when the signal was
given.
They ran like colts, and some displayed amazing speed, considering that
they had been diligently working out on that same cinder-path for over
two hours, with little intermissions between for resting.
Those who expected to take part in the Marathon did not attempt to
compete with those fleet sprinters, though if they were pressed
doubtless they too could give quite an exhibition of fast running.
But Mr. Leonard had taken great pains to inform them that the successful
long-distance runners always take things moderately easy in the
beginning of a race, preserving as much vigor as possible for the
gruelling finish. The chief idea was to keep just behind the pace-maker,
and be ready to rush to the front when on the home-stretch. The
fellow best able to preserve his full powers for that last half-mile
dash would be the one to carry off the honors.
Nick Lang was there with the rest, watching Hugh out of the tail of
his eye, as if he considered that in the other he would find his chief
competitor; possibly he hoped to be able to pick up valuable points by
keeping watch and ward on Hugh. Hugh had even consulted Mr. Leonard
with regard to making use of his knowledge concerning that "cut-off."
In fact, he wanted to lay any doubt that may have arisen in his own
mind concerning its being perfectly legitimate that he should profit
by such knowledge.
The athletic instructor assured him he was keeping fully within the
conditions of the race in so doing.
"It is any competitor's privilege to go over the route as often as he
pleases," was the way Mr. Leonard put it; "and so long as he conforms
to the rules, such as keeping on his own feet every yard of the way,
accepting no lift from wagon or car, and registering faithfully at
the several stations provided, he has done all that is expected of
him. If by crossing a field he thinks he can cut off fifty feet or
more he is at liberty to make the attempt, although it may cost him
dear, through his meeting with some unexpected obstacle in his
progress, which would not have occurred had he stayed by the road.
Some fellows might believe they could do better than trying to cross
by way of that overgrown quarry road. Yes, you are keeping well
within the letter of the law in choosing your own way of going, Hugh.
Have no fears on that score, my boy."
Mr. Leonard liked Hugh Morgan exceedingly; though that was not to be
wondered at, because Hugh was one of those boys who would never stoop
to do a tricky thing, no matter what allurements it held out; he
always "played square," and even won the high regard of his rivals in
many cases. When the October sun had reached the horizon the multitude
of contestants and spectators commenced to string back to town, for it
would soon be getting near supper time; and no fellow likes to be late
at the table, especially when he feels as hungry as a bear, after
exercising so violently for hours.
Hugh was starting off alone, when Thad Stevens called out that he'd like
the other to "hold up a minute," until he could overtake him; because
it happened he had something to communicate which he thought Hugh ought
to know.