Exclamations of satisfaction and applause burst from a number of the witnesses, while Dick Merriwell generously clapped his hands and said:
“That was a beautiful shot, Arlington.”
“Oh, I knew I could do it!” smiled Chester in a most conceited and lofty manner. “I can always do a thing like that when I have to. You can’t beat me at this little game, Merriwell.”
Ted Smart heard these words, even though he was standing up the pins at the far end of the alley.
“If there’s anything I admire it’s a chap that never boasts!” cried Ted. “There’s the modest fellow for you!”
“Until you finish setting up those pins you’d better be seen and not heard!” warmly retorted Arlington.
Dick followed with a handsome break, leaving only two pins standing.
“There is a spare for him,” declared Black.
“If he gets it,” said Chet instantly.
A deadwood had fallen in such a manner that it seemed certain Dick could not miss sweeping down the pins with it. While he was picking up his next ball, however, this deadwood began to roll toward the lower side of the alley, and by the time he was ready it was too far from the standing pins to be any use against them.