n and win, Hayden!" shouted fifty voices to his gasping competitor.

About seventy-five yards remained to be traversed. It look as if
Hayden could win the race with opposition. But he was quite out of
breath. He pressed both hands on his stomach, stopped, and
deliberately sat down on the track.

"Don't give it up!" yelled the crowd. "Keep on, and the prize is
yours!"

"I can't," gasped Hayden, "and I wouldn't for five times the prize. I
don't want it."

So the prize was not awarded, but the crowd had their fun, and the
two fat competitors sat down together to rest under a tree. They did
not recover from their efforts for at least an hour.

"Is there to be a boys' race?" asked Ben.

"Yes, the boys' race is next in order. You'd better enter."

"I will," said Ben. "What's the prize?"

"Five dollars."

Ben's eyes sparkled.

"If I could only win it," he thought, "it would be equal to a week's
pay at the factory."

Chapter IV

The Boys' Race

Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good. Among
his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic
sports. He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of
his age; and this was a ground of hope. On the other hand, he could
not tell how many contestants there might be. He had measured
himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds
of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that
there might be one who surpassed him. However, Ben was always
hopeful, and determined to do his best to win.

One of the committee now came forward and announced the boys'
race. The distance was to be the same, the prize five dollars, and
there was a limitation of age. No boy over seventeen years of age
was permitted to enter.

"Are you going to compete, James?" asked Ben.

"I guess not. I don't stand any chance against you."

"I don't know about that. I might stumble or give out."

"I should like the five dollars well enough."

"Then enter your name."

"Well, I will. I may as well try."

So Ben and James were the first to enter their names.

"Are you coming in, George?" asked Ben of George Herman.

"No; I lamed myself in jumping yesterday, and am not in condition;
my brother, Frank, is going to enter. Of course he won't stand any
chance, for he is too young."

The next to put down his name was Radford Kelso.

"You can't run, Radford. You're too fat," sai