“Why, it seems that the committee have decided on what they believe to be the greatest farce of the lot, as well as the one that’s second best. To make sure of their ground, they thought it only right Mr. Howell should hear the prize effort. Seems that it must be a stunner, that’s nearly taken their breath away.”
At that Nat chuckled, and threw out his chest.
“You wouldn’t believe me, you fellows,” he remarked, loftily; “but just wait and see. I reckon you’ll change your minds some before long.”
“Yep,” added Dit Hennesy, boastfully, “nobody suspected that there was a budding genius alivin’ here right in old Cliffwood. You’ll all admit, after you hear his dandy farce read, that Nat’s got the goods. All the rest’ll have to take his dust when he travels along the road.”
“Look! there’s Mr. Holwell going out again!” exclaimed Elmer.
“And he’s mighty serious looking too, make a note of it!” added Peg.
“I wonder what’s up?” remarked Andy. “They must have bumped up against a snag of some kind.”
Leslie chanced to be looking toward Nat just when Andy said this, and he saw the other give a big start. His face went several degrees whiter too, which was rather a singular thing in the case of an expectant winner.
“Gee! I wonder now, is Nat up to any of his old tricks?” was the thought that flashed through the brain of Leslie as he noticed this.
Nat must have taken a firm grip of himself, for the pallor quickly gave way to his customary ruddy hue. He watched the door until the minister again came into the building. Mr. Holwell was carrying something in his hand which he had evidently gone to his home to get.