“I think I will have to let myself out if I am going to beat his luck with my science,” said Chet.
When the pins were up, he sent the first ball into them in such a manner that they all fell, save two. Those two were widely separated, but at one side of the alley a deadwood fell, lay spinning a moment, and then began to roll toward the other side.
“Look at that deadwood!” burst from Arlington. “Why, the confounded alley isn’t level! The left-hand corner is lower than the other, or that pin wouldn’t roll across in such a manner.”
“The left-hand corner is lower,” immediately agreed one of the spectators. “We discovered that several days ago.”
“Well, that puts a big element of chance into the game,” declared Chet. “When the pins roll like that there is no telling what may happen.”
The rolling pin, however, stopped against one of the two left standing, and Chester studied its position.
“That isn’t so bad,” he finally declared. “If I can hit that deadwood fairly I know I can get the pin it rests against, and the deadwood ought to drop the other pin. Watch me do it.”
Having called their attention in this manner, he chose his ball and with careless ease and assurance sent it straight at the end of the deadwood.
The ball did not swerve a fraction of an inch during its course down the alley. It struck the deadwood perfectly, and in a twinkling both pins were down.
Arlington had made his first spare.