published in the paper. Jack is a modest fellow and does not blow
his own trumpet."

"Did any one else hear him, Art?"

"Yes, Harry. We did not say anything about it, but we know the pieces
were his. Then you know that he has done something in that line for
the Hilltop Gazette, of course?"

"To be sure I do. The Academy paper is doing fine since Jack took
the editorship. It is some magazine now."

"I should say it was. Jack will write something good I know, and I
want to see him win the prize."

"So do I, Art, as I told you before," replied Percival heartily.

Percival let it be known to Jack that he was trying for the prize
and this, instead of making the boy feel envious, as some would have
done, encouraged him and caused him to put forth his best efforts.

"I hear that you are going to compete for the poetic prize, Dick,"
he said to his friend. "That's fine. I hope you will get it.
You used to do a lot of good things, and I don't see why you should
not do them still. I'd like to see you get it, Dick."

Dick chuckled over this to Harry and Arthur and Billy, and said:

"Jack is putting his best foot forward, as I hoped he would. He
thinks that I will beat him, and so he is doing his best. That's