The significance of these words was not lost upon the crowd. Major Woolford turned to Horton and Coggswell, two members of the club who were making the race with Matt and Perry. "You fellows were coming toward the lower end of the grand stand when the accident happened," said he; "did you see any one there?" "We were 'tending to our knitting strictly," answered Coggswell, "and had no time to look at the grand stand. But we both thought we heard the report of a revolver." "You didn't, though," declared the major. "That report was the tire when it let go. You'd better try another brand of tires, Tuohy." As neither of the lads had been seriously injured it became necessary that another trial be made in order to determine who was the better man; and this time Matt started with grim determination in his eye, never once being headed, so that he wheeled across the line ten yards ahead of Dace. This time there was no suspicious bursting of a tire, and at the conclusion the major spoke up: "King's our man for the fight with Prescott; and if anything happens that he doesn't show up, we'll use Perry. That will be all for to-day. Will you ride home with me, Jack?" The major was trying bluffly to appear at his ease, but it was quite clear that his mind was far from serene. "My man is here with the horse and buggy, major," replied the governor, "and I've got some important business awaiting me at the office. I think you've picked a winner for the race with Prescott," and he gave the major a significant look as he turned away. Mike was coming up with the major's motor-car, and the proprietor reached out and took Matt by the arm. "I want you to ride back with me, King," said he, and in another minute Matt was in the tonneau with the major beside him. "Get the wheel fixed up, Splinters," called Matt; "I'll stand the damage." "No, you won't, old chap," answered Splinters. "You've stood enough damage as it is." "Home, Mike," said the major, and the car moved off across the track and toward the wagon-road. Matt waved his hand to Chub, Susie and Perkins; and members of the club and some of the high-school boys stopped their heated discussion of the cause of the accident long enough to give a rousing cheer. "What's your candid opinion, King?" asked the major when the car had left the park and was spinning along the highroad. "You're talking to a friend, understand, and I want to get to the bottom of this." "I haven't any opinion, major," said Matt. "You know as much as I do." "But did you hear the report of a revolver?" "I thought I did." The major muttered savagely. "Have you any enemy lawless enough to take that way of doing you up?" "I don't think I have. We'd better let the thing stand just as it is, I guess. There was no great harm done, if you count out the damage to the wheels." "By gad, I like your spirit! The thing has an ugly look, but for the good of the club the less said about it the better. Sure your arm's all right?"