The record-union., 1898-10-18
The GORDON PRIZE.

one morning, two days before the ex-
animation for the Gordon prize, Tom
Stapleton, on opening his desk in the
study hall of the academy, found SLIP
OF paper tucked in his trigonometry
book, with his name printed on 1t.
Somewhat surprised, he opened II,
and was moreI surprised to read the fol-
lowing, written in lead pencil: Howard
Wilson has got a copy Of the examina-
tion paper for the Gordon prize. This
Is mean trick and so just tell you OF
1t You'll find it stuck behind the BOOKS
IN his desk Fair play"
Tom Stapleton was dumfounded.
Howard Wilson was the last fellow In
Hopedale Academy that he would have
suspected of any underhand dealing.
The two boys had been rivals all
through the four years course, some
times one, sometimes the other coming
out ahead, but with only a few marks
in favor of the successful competitor.
The Gordon prize was the acme OF
the academic honors in Hopedale. Ii
was the Victoria cross of the village
community A rich machine manu-
facturer had founded it years ago, and
had tried to make it a healthful me-
mortal Of his son, who was drowned IN
Myrtle Pond the very summer he was
graduated from the academy with the
highest honors in the whole roll call
OF It's existence.
The prize was Of no great intrinsic
value. 1t was a circle and triangle of
gold, interblended, engraved, with the
winners name and the year OF his
graduation
Another feature of this prize, not so
glorious but which had no little weight
with boys of a small village like Hope
dale, was that the winner had choice Of
a trip to the national capital or Of a
purse of $50.
There was general feeling that
either Tom Stapleton or Howard Will
son would be the Gordon prize winner.
But there were two or three others
who had enough show for it to make it
one of the most exciting contests in
the history Of Hopedale Academy. Be
sides, there was possibility of dark
horse" who might make unprecedented
running under the potent stimulus of
ambition and pleasure.
With regard to these two most highly
rated competitors. there were outside
est to the struggle. Tom Stapleton was
the son of a widowed mother, who,
from the standpoint of wealth and fam
lily, was one of the foremost personages
in Hopedale society.
Howard Wilson, on the other hand
was the son Of a carpenter, and during
the summer vacation, when the other
boys went away on trips, or gave them
n hoI1 Gch
ing, boating and like sports and pas
times at home, he went into the shop
with his father and sawed and planed
and hammered like "a chip of the old
block"
The small wooden house in which the
wilson's lived on the outskirts of the
pretty village had one feature which
the architect had not designed. There
was mortgage on it, quite a large one
considering the size of the house. To
lift this was the common aim of the
whole family. If Howard won the
Gordon prize, it was understood that
the stocky, round headed, keen eyed
boy, with his rather old-fashioned
ways, would take the purse and let the
Washington trip go.
In one respect these two boys of the
social status, were as much alike as
two peas. They had the same strong,
manly sense Of honor. That is thew
We're credited with having it. Tom
Stapleton knew he had. Of course How
ard Wilson knew whether he had or
not But after reading this note, Tom
could not be so absolutely certain on
this point
OF course this note was an anony-
nous one, and, therefore open to sus-
piclon. Tom was enough of man to
look with disgust on any communica-
1lon of that order. Why had the writer
thrust this responsibility on him?
Well, what was to be done?
If this statement was true. Tom
Stapleton felt that, outside of his own
personal and very strong interest in
the case, duty to the other contestants
especially the two or three best ones
made it incumbent on him to expose
the miserable conduct of Wilson to the
Principal, DR.. Hartman. But first he
must have some proof. The note
wasn't that. His impulse had been tc
go straight to Wilson, show him the
note. and take his word for the truth
of the matter. But he reflected Chis
mathematical bent had given him a
logical way Of looking at things) thai
boy who was mean enough to use ar
examination paper must be near
enough TO lie in order to save himselt
from discovery.
AT the noon recess Of an hour. wher
the boys went home for luncheon. OF
else ate what they had brought on the
lawn, the study hall was locked. Soor
after the boys had been turned out
Tom approached Mr.. Hanson. the pro.
fessor who was keeping the study hal
that day, and asked if he would IenC
him the key for a moment, as he want.
ed to look up something.
Tom you had better wait. and no.
overdo things" said Mr. Hanson, pleas.
Rntly; but he gave him the key.
Tom locked the door when he was
in- 1t was repugnant to his feelings Il
go to any ones desk without his per
mission, but in this case there was n,
choice. He went over to Howard WI
sons desk and raised the lid. The
books and everything inside were neat
ly arranged. He pulled out the pile or
the right hand side, and was positively
relieved to find nothing. Then he drew
forward those on the other side. Be
hind them was a sheet of foolscap
folded With beating heart Tom open
ed it. He read at the top in Mr. Hart
mans peculiar handwriting:
"Twenfy-four problems for the Cor
don prize competition, Hopedale Acad
emy, June 2, IS"
Without another glance at the papel
he folded it, replaced it, and put tn,