The high school rivals

In Short

Frank V. Webster’s juvenile novel follows Fred Markham, a popular and athletic student at Baxter High School, as he navigates intense academic and social rivalries, most notably with the arrogant and wealthy Bart Montgomery. Amidst schoolyard hazing, football matches, and elaborate social clubs, Fred's family faces a severe financial and moral crisis when his father is falsely accused of a crime involving the local bank. Through steadfast hard work, athletic sacrifice, and the support of loyal friends like Bronson, Fred clears his father's name, triumphs over his adversaries, and secures his future. The book endures as a charming snapshot of early-twentieth-century schoolboy ideals, emphasizing fair play, personal integrity, and camaraderie.

The Story

The story opens on the vibrant first day of the autumn term at Baxter High School, where the Second Form claims the coveted top steps of the entrance walk. Fred Markham quickly establishes himself as a leader, but he immediately clashes with the arrogant, swarthy Bart Montgomery, a wealthy student prone to bullying and petty retaliation. Fred also befriends Bronson, a quiet newcomer who boards with the headmaster, Mr. Vining.

As the school year progresses, tension builds both on and off the campus. Fred’s family is plunged into anxiety when Mr. Markham faces financial ruin and is forced away from home because of a forged check and altered deed tied to the bank, a scheme secretly orchestrated by the dishonest Charlie Gibbs and enabled by Bart's relative, Mr. Montgomery. To make matters worse, Fred must choose between playing left half-back for the Second Form football team against their bitter rivals, Landon, or studying relentlessly for a lucrative science scholarship. Desperate to help his mother financially, Fred courageously sacrifices his place on the team to enroll in the scholarship exam.

Meanwhile, Bart attempts to manipulate school politics and baseball fortunes, alienating his teammates with his overbearing demeanor. When baseball season arrives, Bronson emerges as a phenomenal pitching find, carrying Baxter through a tense, nail-biting game against Landon. Off the field, a collaborative effort involving Fred's friends and supportive classmates helps ease the social stigma surrounding his father's troubles.

The plot reaches its climax when Mr. Bronson, a capable lawyer, enlists Fred and young Bronson to travel to Manchester to track down Charlie Gibbs. Their successful identification leads to Gibbs's confession and the exposure of Mr. Montgomery's crooked dealings at the bank. Cleared of all wrongdoing, Mr. Markham's name is restored, and the dishonest conspirators face their downfall—Charlie Gibbs is sent to prison, and the Montgomery family leaves town in disgrace.

The novel concludes with joyful celebrations. Fred wins the science scholarship, Baxter triumphs in sports, and the school returns to harmony. Fred joyfully runs off to play a final game of football with Soda, Bronson, and the rest of his companions.

How It Unfolds

• The opening day clash: The novel begins on the lively steps of Baxter High School, where Fred Markham and his Second Form peers establish their territory and first lock horns with the arrogant bully Bart Montgomery.
• The sacrifice of athletics: Pressures at home prompt Fred to take the difficult step of abandoning the football team to study for a vital science scholarship worth two hundred dollars.
• The social and domestic web: Between Mrs. Markham’s carefully planned supper parties and the intricate unwritten laws governing the school's social hierarchy, the students form tight alliances to protect Fred from malicious gossip.
• The Manchester sting: Guided by Mr. Bronson, Fred and young Bronson travel to a nearby hotel on a covert mission to identify and confront Charlie Gibbs, laying the groundwork to clear Mr. Markham's name.
• The diamond triumph: On the baseball field, Bronson dazzles the spectators with his incredible pitching control, leading Baxter to a hard-fought victory over Landon after months of tension.
• The final vindication: With Gibbs's confession and the exposure of banking fraud, the cloud lifts entirely, leading to public recognition from the school's elite and a cheerful return to schoolyard sports.

The People

• Fred Markham: A fair-haired, athletic, and deeply principled leader of the Second Form. He wants to support his struggling family, and his main obstacles are poverty, his rival's malice, and the painful sacrifice of his football career. He ends the novel fully vindicated, a scholarship winner, and a local hero.
• Bart Montgomery: A wealthy, swarthy bully. He wants to dominate the school's social and athletic spheres and crush his rivals, hindered only by his own unlikable temperament and lack of true sportsmanship. He ends up thoroughly discredited and drifts away to Alaska.
• Bronson: A quiet, studious newcomer who boards with the headmaster. He wants to fit in at Baxter without causing trouble, and his hurdles involve navigating complex school traditions. He ends up proving his immense worth as a star baseball pitcher and a trusted investigator.
• Mr. Vining: The headmaster of Baxter High School. He aims to maintain discipline and fairness among his students, occasionally stepping in as an arbiter of justice and a quiet supporter of deserving pupils like Fred.
• Margie Newcomb: Fred's loyal and steadfast friend. She wants to stand by Fred through his family's darkest social trials, and she remains a supportive companion until the final celebrations.

In Its Own Voice

"Nineteen hundred and twelve to the top steps! We're Second Form now! Top steps belong to the Second Form!"

This chant sets the energetic, high-spirited tone of the opening day as the students stake their claim on the school grounds.

"I didn't know you had sent for me, Mr. Vining," responded Fred, pushing aside his fellows.

Fred demonstrates his straightforward, honest character when confronted by the headmaster after a misunderstanding engineered by Bart.

"I want you fellows to understand, so I'll tell you: father wrote me to try for the two hundred because mother needs it."

Fred explains to his astonished friends why he must give up football to pursue the science scholarship.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the tension between inherited wealth and individual merit. It asks whether social standing and arrogance can truly outweigh genuine character, hard work, and fair play. Webster uses the micro-society of Baxter High School as a moral laboratory where bullying, gossip, and snobbery are tested against loyalty, sacrifice, and family devotion. The narrative argues that true respect cannot be bought or demanded through unwritten school hierarchies; rather, it must be earned through perseverance in the face of adversity. Beneath the lighthearted juvenile sports plot lies an earnest inquiry into integrity, justice, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Why Read It Today

Readers who love classic turn-of-the-century school stories filled with old-fashioned camaraderie, athletic showdowns, and melodramatic mysteries will find plenty to enjoy here. Reading it feels like stepping into a sunlit, nostalgic afternoon in 1911, complete with crisp autumn leaves, ringing school bells, and the cracking sound of a baseball bat.

However, modern readers should approach the text with an awareness of its historical context. The book reflects the distinct social attitudes, rigid class structures, and juvenile colloquialisms of the early twentieth century. Some readers may find the pacing slow or the dialogue dated, peppered as it is with period slang and the starkly black-and-white morality typical of boys' fiction from that era. Yet, for those willing to embrace its vintage charm, the warmth of Fred and his companions' friendships stays with you long after the final page.