quantities of home-made pies, doughnuts, fried
chicken, and all such good things as were displayed in those farmer's
wives lunch packets. At least there must be no sign of hard times
when the family went on a picnic, or any other sort of pleasure jaunt.

By then the crowds began to assemble in earnest. Town people, fearing
a crush, hastened to leave home with the lunch dishes unwashed, and
look for places to sit during the long afternoon. Along the roads
every type of car, wagon, carriage, and other styles of equipages
began to be seen, all heading toward the center of interest, which
was the town of Scranton.

Hundreds came from Allandale; indeed, it might be safe to even say
thousands, for in every direction could be seen the colors of Allandale
High, just as though each enthusiastic boy and girl had rounded up all
their relatives and friends, and induced them to make it a point to
travel to the neighboring borough, there to shout and shriek, and in
other ways lend encouragement to each Allandale aspirant for athletic
honors wherever they showed up.

Belleville, too, must look very much like the "Deserted Village" on
this particular afternoon; and, if the amount of business done
depended on the few who had remained at home, her merchants would have
to stay up until midnight in order to equal their customary Saturday
sales.

At half-past twelve the throng had become so dense that Chief Wambold
and his men were compelled to enlist the services of a number of willing
volunteers who, temporarily decorated with a silver shield, were
vested with the authority of regular officers, in order to keep
avenues open, and prevent the throng from breaking through the ropes
upon the limited field where the athletes expected to compete.

So far as attendance was concerned there was no longer the least doubt
but that the meet would prove an abounding success; the rest remained
to be proven. But the gathering athletes who began appear in little
knots, coming from the dressing rooms of the building, seemed full of
confidence, and answered the loud salutes of a myriad friends in the
crowd with reassuring nods, and gestures calculated to buoy up their
hopes.

The programme would be varied. First would me several short sprints
between the best runners of hundred-yard distances in the county.
These were sure to key up the spectators by their thrilling intensity,
as is always the case. Following fast upon these there would be
h