“Why don’t we all race?” asked Carrie, shrilly. “Let’s make it a Conundrum Club against the Riddle Club race.”
“Go on—that will be fun!” cried some of the other boys and girls skating about the circle. “And the winners have to race again.”
That was the way it was finally decided—that six of the Conundrum Club members should race the members of the Riddle Club. Joe Anderson chose the ones he wanted to represent the Conundrum Club—besides himself and Carrie, there were Mattie Helms, Albert Holmes, Ben Asher and Stella Dorman.
“We’ll line up and start when Edith counts three,” said Joe, who, having planned the race, did not seem to think he was obliged, as a matter of courtesy, to consult the wishes of any one else.
Edith Spencer was a member of the Conundrum Club. She was a girl who easily became excited, and the first time she tried to count three she stuttered so badly that no one could tell what she was trying to say. The second time she did better and at the word “Three!” the skaters dashed off, Joe Anderson in the lead.
“I wish I was bigger!” thought Artie, skating bravely. “I’d like to win—but just the same if I can’t beat that Albert Holmes, I’d like to know the reason!”
The bend in the river had been designated as the turning point, and Joe Anderson reached it first, with Fred close behind him. Fred was saving his speed for the spurt he wanted to make on the return way. Polly was ahead of Carrie and Mattie had just passed Margy when Jess stumbled and fell.
“Don’t stop!” she cried, as Ward and Artie came up with her. “Go on! Hurry!”
But Ward and Artie pulled her to her feet, and then the three tried desperately to regain the ground lost. It was too much of a handicap, however, and Albert Holmes and Ben Asher both came in ahead of Artie, who had set his heart on beating Albert.
It was almost a tie between Fred and Joe, and Polly was a half yard ahead of Carrie, so another race was planned between these four.