in the gymnasium. Everyone seemed to be talking at o

ot been given a fair opportunity. Among these were, of course, the lads who had not hitherto be

who, while not exactly favoring Hiram and his high-handed methods, pr

the manager who sided with him in all things and looked upon him as a sort of hero. Chief among them, of

he came over to where Tom, Joe and Peaches were s

ractical Peaches. "They have it on u

t I'm going to stay here j

ing I don't care, for I do. I'd like to get on the te

ys have lots of them to make up the scrub nine. But frankly, Matson, I don't think

of the unexpected turn given to the athletic meeting. Hiram and Luke were surrounded by a t

and right for t

llows to try to run our

n 'em prop

hat scheme," answered the b

might be a split in the ranks of the lads-a school divided

he held out his hand, s

want to get on the nine, but I realize that I am a new lad here, and maybe next year things

little murmur of admiration for Joe's conduct arose-a murmur in which some of Hiram's own friend

can come in. I'm sorry if you feel hurt about the

g the spoils,'" quoted Joe. "Mayb

ikely to blow, and noting that Hiram had changed his conduct toward Joe it was up to th

ok the will for the deed. Luke, also, shook hands, and thus, for the time being, the threatened brea

ted in denouncing the high-handed methods of the manager and his crowd. But in the main the feeling was smothered, due ch

ou shook hands with those two sneaks," remarked Tom

y thing to do. I'm a thousand times obliged

l, I meant all right, but they beat us out. But I'm not done trying. Joe, you're going to

so," replied Joe with

ed out. A host of candidates did their "stunts" and Luke and Hiram "sized them up." Joe wanted to pitch on the tentative scrub nine that was picked to

oesn't captain the scrub when it's formed regularly, and when the

like a chance t

ade plain to captain and manager, and, to give the

rs as soon as we're in a little better shape," said Hira

need it all right," sa

dered Hiram, during a lull in the play. "We're

t," asked J

e to sort of open the season. The nine that holds the banner marches at the head,

ds the banner no

d Luke had run things differently last year. But they wouldn't list

mnasium to the meeting. It was much more friendly and enthusiastic than the organization

ool that holds the Blue Banner-that's Morningside, I'm sorry to say, but ne

ys says," murmured P

fellows to chip in for part of the expenses as our treasury is low just now. It won't be much. Now the parade committee will

hools beside Morningside Academy and Excelsior Hall: Trinity School, Woodside Hall and the

the lads tried to outdo each other in singing, cheering or giving their school yells. A committee generally had charge

big crowd left Excelsior Hall, the nine and the substitutes, including Joe and Tom, in their uniforms, each carrying a bat as an insignia of office

celsior lads arrived at Morningside, and they were noisily greeted. A fe

heer, and school-yell after school-yell, rent the

re. It'

pe for the start. Lads who had not seen each other for some time were exchanging greet

ne!" cried the marshals

am of the league, and then go down through the town to the public square, where the yelling, c

me the lads of Morningside. They were to lead the line, as was their right, by virtue of being champions, an

er, for, floating from it was the Blue Banner, glorious in gold embroidery and silve

ed the lads. "Three chee

The lad carrying the banner dip

f regret, but rather tears of joy and pride, that he belonged to the school which ha

played the band. There were more cheers, more salutes to