Then Bart took his time, pulled some grass away from the vicinity of his ball, selected another club and astonished every one by dropping the ball into the hole. “A piece of luck, nothing more!” exclaimed Fisher. “All right, Bart,” nodded Merry. “You have your eye with you to-day, and I’m satisfied that you’ll make it interesting. I’m not going to follow you round the links. You’ll find me at the clubhouse when you’re through.” Bart nodded. “Well, what do you think of that, Manton?” hissed Frost, as Frank turned away and, accompanied by Fuller, retraced his steps toward the athletic field. “He seems to consider the thing is settled. The crust of that fellow!” “It is settled,” said Manton. “Hodge had luck to start with, but Cleaves will put it all over him. What are you going to do? Shall we follow them round?” “Let’s.” “All right.” Something more than an hour later, as Frank sat on the veranda of the clubhouse, chatting with Fuller and others, George Branch came hurrying up. “Well, what do you think?” he cried. “That was a hot one! They kept neck and neck all the way around. Neither one was more than a hole behind at any time. And then, at the finish, the last hole was made in two. It was amazing.” “Who won?” cried several. “Hodge,” answered Branch. “He——” But he was checked by a shout of incredulity from several of the young men on the veranda. “What are you giving us?” demanded one. “Hodge won? Hodge defeated Cleaves? Go on!” “It’s straight,” declared Branch. “I don’t blame you for being incredulous. Cleaves is sore.” Even then some of the club members fancied he was “stringing” them. They had fancied Cleaves invincible. The good start made by Hodge had seemed an accident; but they knew it could be no accident that the visitor had pushed Cleaves all the way round the course. Others who had followed the contestants now appeared, and they confirmed the statement of Branch. Hodge had won. Fuller turned to Merriwell. “You must have had confidence in your friend all the time,” he said. “I did,” nodded Merry. “I knew what he could do, for I saw him take the trophy at the St. Andrew’s Club, of Oberlin, Ohio, last week. We were made honorary members of the club and urged to compete for the cup. Hodge competed and won it.” “Let’s walk over to the trackmaster’s house, Merriwell,” invited Fuller. “We’ll find them there.” They sauntered over together, followed by some of the others. Manton and Frost were talking with Cleaves in front of the trackmaster’s house. Manton frowned at Merriwell as he approached. “You did that very cleverly,” he said. “I suppose you’ll take the glory of your friend’s clever accomplishment?” Frank was more than annoyed. “I fail to understand why you should suppose anything of the sort,” he retorted.