[Illustration: “But, man, you aren’t going to pay the bills”] THE PENNANT BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON Author of “Carl Hall of Tait,” “Captain Dan Richards,” etc. _ILLUSTRATED_ PUBLISHERS BARSE & HOPKINS NEW YORK, N. Y. NEWARK, N. J. Copyright, 1912 BY BARSE & HOPKINS MADE IN U. S. A. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. ON SIX TOWN POND 11 II. DAN’S PROJECT 20 III. GREAT SNAKES 29 IV. THE REWARD OF PATIENCE 38 V. PREPARATION 48 VI. THE GAME 57 VII. A DISPUTE 67 VIII. A RECORD 76 IX. STUDYING A BOY 86 X. MR. BORDEN DECIDES 96 XI. A REFUSAL 106 XII. DAN RECONSIDERS 116 XIII. ENTERING SCHOOL 126 XIV. NEW ACQUAINTANCES 135 XV. WALTER’S SUGGESTIONS 145 XVI. A SCRUB GAME 154 XVII. A TRY-OUT 164 XVIII. A NEW PITCHER 173 XIX. SCHOOL LIFE 181 XX. A CHANGE IN WALTER 193 XXI. DAN’S TROUBLES 202 XXII. CHANGED RELATIONS 212 XXIII. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR 222 XXIV. THE OPENING OF THE LEAGUE GAMES 232 XXV. A PLOT 237 XXVI. WALTER’S ILLNESS 252 XXVII. THE LEAGUE GAME 260 XXVIII. THE END OF THE GAME 271 XXIX. THE ANGER OF THE NINE 281 XXX. DAN’S STRUGGLE 290 XXXI. THE FINAL GAME 299 XXXII. CONCLUSION 309 THE PENNANT CHAPTER I ON SIX TOWN POND “Have you tried the fishing this summer?” “No; I’ve been too busy on the farm. This is the first day I have had when I could get away.” “It looks like rain. Is that the reason why you’ve dropped the shovel and the hoe?” “Partly. It’s more though, for the two dollars a day you’ve agreed to pay me for rowing you over the pond. I can’t pick that up on the farm, you know.” “You’ll soon be a rich man if you don’t look out. Ever thought what you’d do with all your money?”