ewmark and Kincaid, as those who had made
straight scores on the singles now dropped one or more. Both the
contestants named broke their nine pair straight. Bobby sent strong
little waves of hope for a miss after each of Mr. Newmark's targets, but
without avail. Only one pair apiece remained to be shot at; and in order
that Mr. Kincaid should win the match, it would be necessary that
Newmark should miss both. This was inconceivable. Bobby threw himself
face downward in the grass, sick at heart. He made up his mind he would
not look. Nevertheless when Mr. Newmark's name was called, he sat up.

"Pull!" came Mr. Newmark's dry, incisive voice.

The balls sprang into the air. A sharp _click_ followed. Evidently a
misfire. The referee, imperturbable, stepped forward to examine the
shell. He found the primer well indented; so, in accordance with the
rules, he announced:

"No bird!"

Mr. Newmark reloaded.

"Pull!" he called again.

On the first bird he scored his first miss of the day.

"Misfire threw him off," exclaimed the spectators afterward.

And then, curiously enough, a queer current of air, springing from
nowhere, utterly abnormal, seized the dense powder smoke and whirled it
backward, completely enveloping the shooter. The obscuration was
momentary, but complete. By the time it had passed the second ball had
fallen almost to the ground. Newmark snapped hastily at it.

"Lost! Lost!" announced the scorer.

A deep sigh of emotion swept over the crowd. Bobby gripped his hands so
tightly that the knuckles turned white. He resented the intervention of
a half-dozen other contestants before Mr. Kincaid should be called; and
rolled about in an agony of impatience until his friend stepped to the
mark.

The men unconsciously straightened and removed the cigars from their
lips. Two hits would win; one miss would tie. Bobby stood up, his breath
coming and going rapidly, his sight a little blurred. But Mr. Kincaid
went through his motions of preparation, and broke the two balls, with
no more haste or excitement than if they had been the first two of the
match.

A cheer broke out. Others were still to shoot, but this decided the
winner.

"Congratulations!" said Newmark dryly as his rival stepped from the
mark.

"That's all right," replied Kincaid, "but it was sheer rank hard luck
for you."

On the way home just about sunset many teams passed the old white horse
with his old yellow cart, and his driver hunched com