d the victory as won. They could be seen commencing to throw
their hats and caps into the air, boy-fashion. Others, wiser, gripped
their hands, and held their breath while waiting to see the actual
finish of the great race.

Of a truth Whipple was doing splendidly, there was no gainsaying
that; but coming on back of him was one who appeared to be making
much better time. Hugh was gaining fast, they could see. The only
question that remained to be settled was whether Whipple had it in
him to increase his pace sufficiently to cross the tape first; or,
on the other hand, if Hugh Morgan was able to speed up still more,
and close the gap.

How the shouts rang out. Everybody seemed to be cheering madly at
the same time. Men stood up, and waved their arms; girls embraced
each other, though not an eye was turned away from that wonderful
finish of the great Marathon race.

Now, Hugh had apparently released his final effort. He was gaining
faster and faster. Whipple seemed to know that he was in deadly peril.

He, too, looked back over his shoulder in alarm, possibly meaning in
desperation to almost burst a blood vessel if he found that his rival
was about to overtake him.

That proved his eventual undoing, though the result was no longer in
doubt. He lost his balance, and, being so exhausted that he could
not stand longer, pitched headlong to the ground, just as the fleet
Hugh jumped into the lead, raced twenty steps further, broke the
extended tape, and thus won the race.

How the heavens seemed to fairly quiver with the roars that broke out!
It had been a most thrilling finish for the greatest race ever run in
all the country. Time might come and time might go, but never would
those who had been so fortunate as to witness the conclusion of the
Marathon forget the thrilling spectacle.

Hugh bore his honors meekly.

He utterly declined to let some of the Scranton fellows pick him up
and bear him around on their shoulders, as they threatened to do.
After the prizes had been duly awarded the assemblage broke up, and
the roads leading out of Scranton were soon blocked with hundreds
of vehicles of every description carrying home the visitors.

Even Allandale and Belleville had no reason to be disappointed over
the general results, for their young athletes had fared very well,
all things considered. Of course, most of them would rather have
seen the Marathon won by a representative from their school than to
"sc