Dick worked steadily, and Ruth plodded slowly along.
As they neared the end at the same time the watchers grew greatly excited.
"I bet on Ruth!" cried King; "go it, Ruth! get up! g'lang there!"
"Go on, Dick," cried Marjorie. "Clk! Clk! go 'long!"
On sped the cutters, but just as it seemed as if they must finish at the same time, Dick gave a little nervous jerk at his paper, and it tore right off.
"Oh," said Midget, "you're out, Dicksie!"
And then Ruth, slowly and carefully, cut the last few inches of her paper, and held up her two strips triumphantly. She looked so sweet and happy about it that they all declared she ought to have been the winner, and Dick said, shyly: "I'm glad you won."
The prize was a shell box that Cousin Jack had brought from Atlantic City, and Ruth dimpled with pleasure as she took it.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Bryant," she said, prettily; "I never won a prize before, and I shall always keep it."
"I'm glad you won it, Ruth," said Cousin Jack, "and I want you to let it help you forget any unpleasantness of to-day. Will you forget all that happened at Sand Court, and just remember that the Maynards and the Craigs are kind and polite children, and never mind about anybody else. And come again some time, and play in Sand Court, won't you? And I'll promise you a good and pleasant time."