THE ETERNAL BOY [Illustration: "'Nothing but a "suveneer," gents, nothing guaranteed'" (Page 123)] THE ETERNAL BOY BEING THE STORY OF THE PRODIGIOUS HICKEY [Illustration] BY OWEN JOHNSON AUTHOR OF "MAX FARGUS," ETC. NEW YORK DODD, MEAD & COMPANY 1909 COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY THE CENTURY CO. COPYRIGHT, 1907, 1908, 1909, BY THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY PUBLISHED, JANUARY, 1909 CONTENTS PAGE The Awakening of Hickey 3 The Great Pancake Record 25 The Run That Turned the Game 55 The Future President 81 Further Persecution of Hickey 104 Making Friends 128 The Hero of an Hour 167 The Protest Against Sinkers 194 Beauty's Sister 209 The Great Big Man 241 The Political Education of Mr. Baldwin 271 The Martyrdom of William Hicks 321 ILLUSTRATIONS "'Nothing but a "suveneer," gents, nothing guaranteed.'" (p. 123) _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE "Hickey it was ... who ... organised the midnight feasts." 12 "'I'll stop when it's time,' said Smeed; 'bring 'em on now, one at a time.'" 50 "A stinging hand descended upon the crouching Piggy." 62 "All day long he walked with drawn sword." 98 "Then he lost track of the rounds." 160 "'I don't know--I'm full of gravel!'" 178 "Trousers that were limp and discouraged, grew smooth." 224 "'Get off my feet! ... A fine lady you are!'" 230 "'He hadn't any proof,' he said, brokenly, 'no proof--damn him!'" 330 THE ETERNAL BOY [Illustration: title decoration] THE AWAKENING OF HICKEY "'He forged a thunderbolt and hurled it at what? At the proudest blood in Europe, the Spaniard, and sent him home conquered; at the most warlike blood in Europe, the French'"....