Part 16 (1/2)

Hugh had but one thought now, which was to speed along at such a clip as to allow him to finally overtake and pa.s.s the treacherous Nick, and leave him in the lurch. The spur of punis.h.i.+ng the other for such dastardly conduct was apt to prove an incentive calculated to add considerably to Hugh's running.

Nick had the advantage, since he must be well on the way to the main thoroughfare by now; and once that was gained there was a clear field ahead of him. But one more registering station remained, and that was at a certain turn on the way home. Then would come the final three miles, with the pace increasing constantly, as those in the lead vied with each other to get ahead, or to retain that proud position.

Hugh quickly regained the mastery over his aroused feelings. He must stay cool and collected so as to do exactly the right thing at the right time. A little slip in the way of judgment was likely to lose him the race, for he now learned as he gained the main road, that there were not only one but two compet.i.tors ahead of him.

Yes, the fleet-footed Whipple had somehow managed to spin along over the ground, and was now not far behind Nick Lang. Possibly the fellow from Allandale had also secretly examined the course and discovered a cut-off on his own account, through means of which he antic.i.p.ated gaining a great advantage over all the other runners in the Marathon.

Hugh now set out to make steady gains. He must be within a certain distance of those two fellows by the time the last stretch was reached, or else all his hope of overtaking and pa.s.sing them would be lost.

He found that his powers of endurance and speed had not been misjudged, for they responded n.o.bly when called upon for a further spurt. Now, he was greatly lessening the distance separating him from Whipple; who, in turn, seemed able to hold his own with Nick.

The latter began to show the first signs of distress when they were at the beginning of the last two miles. He looked over his shoulder, and no runner ever is guilty of such an unwise proceeding unless his heart has commenced to be filled with grave doubts as to his being a winner.

Again did Hugh notice Nick doing this, and he took fresh courage from the circ.u.mstance. Yes, and looking more closely he also saw that Nick was not running true to form any longer; he had begun to wobble more or less, as though unable to continue on in a straight line. That was another bad sign, since it causes the runner to cover unnecessary ground; and also indicates a weakening heart.

Hugh let out another burst of speed. He was closing the gap rapidly; and, apparently, Whipple also seemed to be gaining on the almost played-out Nick.

They were now within less than a mile of the finish; the last turn would soon be reached, with the gun booming out the fact of their arrival. Hugh girded his loins for a Garrison finish, and gloried in the conviction that he was in trim to do himself credit.

CHAPTER XX

THE BOY WHO WON---CONCLUSION

”It's Nick Lang, as sure as anything!” shouted a boy who happened to possess an excellent pair of field-gla.s.ses.

”Nick Lang in the lead!” howled another; ”well, what do you think of that? Where, oh, where, oh, where is Hugh Morgan about this time; and 'Just' Smith in the bargain?”

”But Nick is a Scranton High boy after all, and that's a heap better than to see an Allandale fellow come in ahead!” cried another near by.

”Look! a second runner has turned the bend; and see how he is coming up on poor wobbly old Nick hand-over-fist!”

”h.e.l.lo! what's this mean?” whooped a visitor exultantly. ”Surely I know the second fellow's build. It's certainly our great Whipple!

He's going to cop the prize, boys! Give Whipple an Allandale yell right now to encourage him!”

Even as a score of boyish throats roared in response to this entreaty a third runner was discovered rounding the bend. He appeared to be tearing along at race-horse speed, as though having a reserve stock of power upon which to call in this closing half-mile of the long race.

”Hugh Morgan!”

The words seemed to run like wildfire through the vast crowd. Everybody repeated them, some with a growing delight, others with a sense of impending disaster to the wild hopes they had been so ardently cheris.h.i.+ng; all according to the viewpoint they held. Scranton's register was rising, while Allandale visitors began to feel something was on the verge of happening to crush the budding paean of victory that was ready to bubble from their lips.