ammer-throw, and the toss of the discus. Then the programme called
for other athletic exhibitions along line that would lend variety, and
enhance the interest, as the different schools struggled for supremacy
in the arena provided, spurred on to do their utmost by ringing cheers,
and the dearly beloved class songs.

Everybody worth mentioning in Scranton would be there, from Dr. Carmack,
the supervising head of the county schools, as well as principal of
Scranton High, down the line to the Directors of the Games, the town
council, the mayors of the three boroughs, and a whole host of
notables besides.

And how the fond eyes of father and mother would follow the movements
of John, or Edward, or Philip, as though he might be the only young
athlete worth watching in all that animated scene. If he won, they
had always known he did not have an equal in his specialty; and should
he be so unlucky as to come in at the heels of the pack, why, it was
easy to be seen that he had not been given a square deal by some of
the rival runners, who persisted in getting in his way, and were
probably leagued together to prevent him from carrying off the prize.
But no matter, he would always be a hero in the eyes of those who
loved him, though he might not decorate the family mantel at home
with the prizes he aspired to win.

Hugh had kept fairly quiet after returning from Hackensack, and seeing
the hermit once more safe in the charge of his folks. He knew that
he must conserve his strength for the great undertaking that
confronted him that afternoon. Those who had entered for the
long-distance race would not be allowed, of course, to participate
in any other event; that had been laid down as law by Mr. Leonard
when they entered their names on the list of candidates. They must
simply stand around and watch what was going on until the time came
for staging the Marathon; when they could take their place in the long
string that would await the pistol shot intended to start them on the
telling grind.

Horatio and "Just" Smith were on deck, looking fit and eager. Then,
too, there was Nick Lang, with a grin on his heavy face every time he
glanced toward the other three fellows. It was getting on, and some
of the earlier events had already been carried through, amidst great
roars of applause as the different prizes went, this one to an
Allandale fellow, another to a boy wearing the Belleville High colors;
and three in succession to loca