"Hold now! Bronson's going to drop a goal from the field!" whispered the acting captain to his men. "I'm going to signal for an end play, but Clothespin will kick."
Confused by such tactics, the Landon players did not know where the ball was going, and, in consequence, Bronson received it, dropped back, and, with a beautiful punt, sent it sailing toward the goal posts before the visiting players were upon him.
Discouraged, the Landon men lined up for the kick off. But while the ball was in the air, the whistle blew—and the game was over—won by Baxter for the first time in six years.
"Fine, Fred, fine!" cried several of his friends.
"The best ever!" said Margie, and gave her hero a look that meant a great deal.
"I must get home—I want to find out what is happening," said Fred to the girl, and broke away from his fellow players and the others as soon as possible.
When Fred arrived home, he found Mr. Bronson there, along with his father.
"Charlie Gibbs has confessed to forging that check!" cried Mr. Markham. "And he has also confessed to altering the deed."
"And what of Mr. Montgomery?" asked the son quickly.
"When we went to the bank he at first put up a great front," replied Mr. Bronson. "But I soon showed him what authority I possessed, and then he agreed to get out at once, provided he was not prosecuted. On account of his family, your father has decided not to prosecute him."