"It almost seemed as if he got in the way on purpose," Linton
continued.

"He is a friend of Randolph Duncan, is he not?" asked the teacher,
abruptly.

"They are together about all the time."

"Ha!" commented the teacher, as if struck by an idea. He didn't,
however, give expression to the thought in his mind.

A minute more, and Randolph swept into the presence of the teacher.

"I believe I have won?" he said, with a smile of gratification on
his countenance.

"You have come in first," said the teacher coldly.

"Luke was considerably ahead when he ran into Tom," suggested
Linton.

"That's not my lookout," said Randolph, shrugging his shoulders.
"The point is that I have come in first."

"Tom Harper is a friend of yours, is he not?" asked the teacher.

"Oh, yes!" answered Randolph, indifferently.

"He seems to be a good deal hurt. It was very strange that
he got in Luke's way."