Getting the ball, New Era attempted to keep it in her possession and kill time, knowing that would enable her to win. But Fardale was fierce, and a fumble gave Ted Smart his chance. He dropped on the ball, with six or seven fellows on top of him. Fardale had the ball, though Smart was carried from the field for the first time during the season, being replaced by Toby Kane. Fardale went into the enemy with such fierce rushes that New Era was beaten backward yard by yard, fighting every foot of the distance. Every spectator was standing now, for all understood what might happen. Fardale could tie the score with a touchdown. With a touch-down and goal she could win the game. With less than a minute to play, Fardale was still nine yards from the goal. “A kick from the field!” cried somebody. “She’s going to try to tie the score!” It seemed like a kick for a field-goal, but the movement had been made to deceive New Era. The ball was passed to Dick, who went into New Era’s center directly behind Obediah Tubbs. The fat boy walked in with his arms swinging, and he hurled players to the right and left. Once before he had won a game by tearing a hole through center at a critical period, and now he repeated the performance. He ripped up New Era’s center in splendid style, and through the opening went Dick Merriwell. Right over the line shot Dick, Sampson tackling him and pulling him down a second too late. It was a touch-down. The score was tied and time was up! But a touch-down made under the circumstances gives the team making it an opportunity to kick for goal, so the ball was brought out. Darrell held it, and Dick Merriwell drove it over the cross-bar, winning the game by one point. CHAPTER XXX—THE TRAP SPRUNG “Whatever are you doing, pard?” asked Brad Buckhart, as he found Dick at work on the hinges of the door to their room. “Sh!” cautioned Dick. “I’m setting a trap.” “Hey? A trap?” “I said so.” “What for?” “A spook.” “What?” The Texan was astonished. It was three days after the game with New Era. The mystery of the spook remained a mystery. Nor had Chester Arlington been able to explain how Abe Gorman’s watch happened to be found in his pocket. Chester was under a cloud. It was known at the school that he had spent money so freely that his recklessness had left him “broke.” It was known that money had been refused him by his parents. It was known that he had resorted to desperate measures to “raise the wind.” He had pawned clothing and trinkets to get money to bet on the game between Fardale and New Era. Had New Era won, his condition would have been worse than ever; but the victory of the home team had eased the strain somewhat. Arlington realized that he was suspected, but he carried his head high and proclaimed his innocence. Buckhart became interested in Dick’s work. “What sort of a trap is it?” he asked. “I’m fixing the door so that it will swing to whenever it is opened.” “What of that?”