The Scranton High Chums on the Cinder Path | Page 9

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