"Use it if ye will," said she, "but don't clutter it, an' don't fall out of me pear tree."
It was at about the time of the densest discouragement that Miss Bailey, all unknowing, came to their relief. She brought to Room 18 and passed about among the First Readers a copy of an illustrated "Weekly" containing pictures of the later and more important contest than that which Isaac had witnessed. And Ignatius Aloysius Diamentstein, by that time admitted to the track team, appropriated it at the lunch hour, and thereafter it served as "The Complete Guide to Games in Gardens."
The day was set. A Saturday morning in late May. The guests in ordinary were invited. In other words the feminine First Readers had been told that they would be admitted to Patrick Brennan's yard at ten o'clock on that May morning, on condition that each would bring a flag and say nothing to the uninvited boys. The free-for-all spirit was not endorsed by Patrick, and the contestants were only seven, picked and chosen, be it said, with a nice adjustment to Patrick's own prowess, for "I ain't goin' to be licked in me own yard," had been his steadfast determination throughout.
Nathan Spiderwitz was given to inspirations always inconvenient and distressing. He experienced one at this eleventh hour when all the arrangements were completed, and it remained only to invite the guest of honor.
"Who gives the prizes?" he demanded, as he and Patrick were superintending the construction of a grand stand made of soap-boxes and a broken sofa. "Where is the prizes, and who gives 'em?" he repeated.
"Mind your own business," was Patrick's useful answer. It showed a bold front and left time for thought.
"Who gives 'em?" insisted Nathan.
"Don't you worry 'bout prizes," muttered Patrick darkly, "they ain't none of your business. You got a swell chanst to git any prizes in my yard. Not when I'm in it, ye don't."
Thus with Nathan. But with Morris he was more frank.
"There's one thing," said he, when he found that crack long-jumper in the boys' yard at luncheon time, "what I'm going to let you do."