Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/125

 wanted a prize to show to his city friends when they came to visit him, and he wanted the honors that prize would bring him.

"Well—yes," said Prime, who knew that Noble and the rest expected him to say something. "We'd like to have you win under different circumstances, but as it is, I think—you see—look here; I suppose you are with us against Wayring and the other fellows who have been walking off with the prizes every year since the club had an existence!"

"Certainly I am," answered Tom. "We all are, and we're going to do the best we can to beat them, too. Didn't you tell us no longer ago than yesterday that you wished we would come into the club and make Joe Wayring lower his broad pennant for a while?" he added, turning to Prime.

"I did; but I have had opportunity to talk the matter over with my friends since then, and we have decided that those who have worked so long and so hard for the prizes, ought to have them in preference to any new-comers."

"All right," said Tom, silencing by a look