“Seven!” was the shout. “Two more ties!”
“He will get ’em, too!” declared Buckhart. “He will win!”
One of the deadwoods had fallen on the higher side of the alley, while there were two in the gutter. This pin in the gutter Smart instantly removed. As he did this, the deadwood started to roll toward the lower side of the alley.
Already Dick was on the point of bowling, and he delivered his ball while the deadwood was in motion.
Arlington was on his feet now, and he saw that Merriwell’s last ball was curving gracefully toward the pins.
“He has them! He has them!” breathed Chet, in unspeakable dismay, for he felt certain the ball would hit the pins perfectly.
A moment later a groan came from some of the witnesses, for the curving ball touched the deadwood, which had rolled into its path. The ball was deflected just enough to miss the two head pins and clip off the one at the corner.
In this unfortunate manner Merriwell had been prevented from securing at least two of the pins and probably three.
Arlington had won by a single pin.
Chester’s triumph was complete, and he made the most of it. Fraser hastened to shake his hand and congratulate him.