Within the next few days arrangements for the races of the athletic club went rapidly on. Bob, Ned and Jerry entered their names, Ned finding that he had no permanent lameness from his “spill.” Noddy and Jack also had their names entered. Then all the boys, including many others who had decided to try for the prizes, began training.
There were several events on the race card. There were ten and five mile races, but none of the boys thought of trying for them. There were also short distance trys for girls, and also a three mile race, for boys and young men between fourteen and nineteen years of age. The first prize was a three hundred dollar piano, or any other article of that value, and the second and third prizes were of one hundred and fifty and one hundred dollars value respectively. Of course each of our heroes hoped to win big prizes, and there was a keen but friendly rivalry among them.
[CHAPTER III.]
THE DAY OF THE RACES.
At last came the day for the races. It was early in July, and the weather though warm, was not oppressive. Early in the morning a big crowd started out toward the grounds of the Cresville Athletic Club, which were about a mile outside of the town proper.
Ned, Bob and Jerry reached the track about ten o’clock, and found it pretty well occupied.
“It will give us good practice in wheeling in a crowd,” observed Jerry as he stripped off his sweater and, in regular racing costume, began to make the circuits.
His two friends soon followed his example. A little later Noddy and Jack arrived. The two cronies kept to themselves and spoke no word to our three heroes.
About noon-time there was a general stopping and all the contestants who were warming up went to get something to eat. Under Jerry’s advice Ned and Bob ate and drank sparingly.