Struggling Upward, or Luke Larkin's Luck

They wished Randolph to win, for each hoped, as he had a silver watch himself already, he might give the Waterbury to his faithful friend and follower. Nothing in Randolph's ch

said, "if you win the watc

Randolph, surveying

e silver watch yo

ke to have

en dollars your fa

e? What claim

whispered somethin

t it," said Ra

" asked the tea

" responde

wo-thr

ith Randolph, and both were leading. Randolph looked sidewise, and shut his mouth tight as he saw his hated rival on equal

slowly gaining. Slowly, for Randolph was really a fine skater and had no r

y chance of final success, all

rst, Randolph being about half a dozen rods behind. After him came the rest of the boys in procession, with one exception. This exception was Tom Harp

up his chance," said

ooper, "but he probably had

the rest. I would have done so, though my

quickly. It soon appeared that it was not caprice, but that

speed was so great that he could not check himself. He came into collision with Tom, and in an instant both were prostrate. Tom, however, got the worst of it. He was thrown violently backward, falling on the back of his head, and lay stunn

r, but lay breathing heavily

t on to his now assured victory. Most of the boys,

hed with interest and surpr

aid Linton. "What could possibly

the teacher, slowly

he got in the way on pur

ph Duncan, is he not?" as

ether about a

ck by an idea. He didn't, however, give

dolph swept into the p

said, with a smile of grati

n first," said t

ly ahead when he ran

nt

t," said Randolph, sh

that I have

nd of yours, is he no

wered Randolph

hurt. It was very strange

ndolph, without betr

your skates, Rando

out and see if I can

ph would have declined, but he wished, if possible, to ad

feet, and, with a dazed expression, assisted on either side by

in my way, Tom?"

," answered T

ou muc

l must be fractu

ke, cheerfully. "I've fallen on m

as hard as I di

are hard, and I guess you'll

There was a swelling on the back of hi

uke," said Frank Acken. "

he would," answer

mkins coming to meet us

a log taking it easy. What is

es

ack to inquire after you, Tom

to him also that the friend he had risked so much to serve was very ungrateful. Bu

d now reach

t, Tom?" said Randolph, i

kull is fractured," re

s the fortune of war.

boys looked serious, and more than one suspected that ther