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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation
+Adventures, by Carolyn Judson Burnett
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures
+       Shirley Willing to the Rescue
+
+Author: Carolyn Judson Burnett
+
+Release Date: September 3, 2011 [EBook #37307]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "THE DAM IS GONE!" CRIED THE GIRL. "FLY FOR YOUR LIVES!"
+_Page 7._]
+
+
+
+
+                                  The
+                       Blue Grass Seminary Girls'
+                          Vacation Adventures
+
+                                   OR
+
+                     Shirley Willing to the Rescue
+
+                       By Carolyn Judson Burnett
+
+                               AUTHOR OF
+
+          "The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Christmas Holidays,"
+           "The Blue Grass Seminary Girls in the Mountains,"
+                        "The Blue Grass Seminary
+                          Girls on the Water."
+
+                           A. L. BURT COMPANY
+
+                          PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+                            Copyright, 1916
+                         By A. L. Burt Company
+
+           THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS' VACATION ADVENTURES
+
+
+
+
+THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS' VACATION ADVENTURES
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.--THE BROKEN DAM.
+
+
+"The dam! The dam! The dam has broken!"
+
+Shirley Willing, with flaming eyes and tightly-clenched hands, jumped
+quickly forward, and with her right hand seized the bridle of a horse
+that was bearing a strange boy along the road, which ran near the river.
+
+The horse reared back on its haunches, frightened at the sudden halting.
+
+"The dam!" cried the young girl again. "Quick! The people must be
+warned!"
+
+The face of the rider turned white.
+
+"What do you mean?" he shouted, fear stamped on every feature.
+
+Shirley's excitement fell from her like a cloak. She became quiet.
+
+"The Darret dam has been washed away," she answered, "and unless the
+people in the valley are warned immediately they will perish. There is
+one chance to save them. You are mounted. You can outrun the oncoming
+wall of water and save them. Away with you, quick! There is not a second
+to spare!"
+
+"But," protested the boy, "the water may overtake me and I shall drown.
+We can climb to higher ground here and be safe."
+
+He tried to turn his horse's head to the east. But Shirley clung to the
+rein.
+
+"And leave those people to drown, without warning?" she cried. "You
+coward! You are afraid!"
+
+"I----" the boy began, but Shirley cut his protest short.
+
+Releasing the bridle of the horse, she sprang quickly to the side of the
+animal, seized the rider by the leg with both her strong, young hands
+and pulled quickly and vigorously. Unprepared for such action, the boy
+came tumbling to the ground in a sprawling heap.
+
+Quick as a flash Shirley leaped to the saddle and turned the horse's
+head toward the valley. As she dug her heels into the animal's ribs,
+sending him forward with a jump, she called over her shoulder to the
+boy, who sat still dazed at the sudden danger:
+
+"Get to safety the best way you can, you coward!"
+
+Under the firm touch of the girl's hand on the rein the horse sped on
+down the valley.
+
+It was a mad race with death and Shirley knew it. But she realized that
+human lives were at stake and she did not hesitate.
+
+To the left of the road down which she sped lay high ground and safety,
+while coming down the valley, perhaps a mile in the rear, poured a dense
+wall of water, coming as swift as the wind.
+
+For days the Mississippi and its tributaries had been rising rapidly and
+steadily. Along the lowlands in that part of the state of Illinois, just
+south of Cairo, where Shirley Willing had been visiting friends, fears
+that the Darret dam, three miles up one of these tributary streams,
+would give way, had been entertained.
+
+Some families, therefore, had moved their perishable belongings to
+higher ground, where they would be beyond the sweep of the waters should
+the dam break.
+
+Then suddenly, without warning, the dam had gone.
+
+The home where Shirley had been visiting was a farmhouse, and the cry of
+danger had been received by telephone. Those in the house had been asked
+to repeat the warning to families further down the valley. But the
+fierce wind that was raging had, at almost that very moment, blown down
+all wires.
+
+Shirley, in spite of the fact that she, with the others, could easily
+have reached the safety afforded by higher ground a short distance away,
+had thought only of those whose lives would be snuffed out if they were
+not warned.
+
+She had decided that she would warn them herself. She ran from the house
+to the stable, where one single horse had been left.
+
+But the seriousness of the situation seemed to have been carried to the
+animal, and when Shirley had attempted to slip a bridle over his head he
+struck out violently with his fore feet. As the girl sprang back, he
+dashed from the stable.
+
+Shirley ran after him and followed him into the road. There she
+encountered a rider; and the conversation with which this story begins
+took place.
+
+As the girl sped down the road, she could hear from far behind, the roar
+of the waters as they came tumbling after her.
+
+A farmhouse came into sight. A man, a woman and several children came
+out, attracted by the galloping hoofbeats. Without checking the speed of
+her mount a single instant, Shirley guided the horse close to them.
+
+"The dam! The dam!" she shouted, as she flashed by.
+
+No other words were necessary. Without stopping to gather up any of
+their effects, they all turned their faces and rushed for higher ground.
+
+A second, a third, and a fourth farmhouse came into view, and as she
+flashed by, the girl hurled her warning at each.
+
+Half a mile below lay the little town of Stanley. It was for this that
+Shirley was headed, in her race with the rushing water.
+
+The roar behind her became louder, and Shirley, leaning over her horse's
+neck, urged him to further efforts with soft and coaxing words.
+
+The noble animal, seeming to realize that he was upon a message of life
+or death, responded, and it seemed that he must have winged feet, so
+lightly and swiftly did he fly over the ground.
+
+But the roaring wall of water came closer.
+
+Shirley uttered a cry of relief. Before her she made out the first house
+in the little town. The sounds of the clattering hoofs on the hard
+macadamized road drew the residents from their homes. Several had
+gathered in a little knot as Shirley approached. Evidently they had not
+heard the sound of the roaring waters.
+
+"The dam has gone!" cried the girl, as she came up to them, and rode by
+without checking the speed of her horse. "_Fly_ for your lives!"
+
+Instantly all became bustle and confusion. The word was passed like a
+flash and almost as one man the town poured from its homes and dashed
+for safety.
+
+Clear through the town the young girl rode, calling out her warning.
+Then, and not until then, did she check her horse and turn his head
+toward the safety that lay in the east.
+
+A man ran up to her.
+
+"The Hendersons!" he cried. "They left here not five minutes ago in
+their buggy. The water will catch them on the road!"
+
+Without a word, Shirley turned her horse and would have dashed forward
+had not the man caught the bridle.
+
+"It's death to you!" he cried.
+
+"It's death to them if I don't make it!" cried Shirley.
+
+She dug her heels into the animal's flanks and the horse shook off the
+detaining hand with a quick twitch of his head. Evidently he, as well as
+the girl, realized his responsibility.
+
+Once more, under the guiding hand, he dashed forward as if it were wings
+that carried him so lightly and swiftly over the ground. And as he flew
+on, Shirley patted him softly on the neck and spoke low words of
+encouragement.
+
+The noble animal's ears stood straight and there was fire in his eyes.
+He seemed to say: "We will save them if it is possible."
+
+Rounding a sudden turn in the road, Shirley made out a buggy going
+leisurely along. At the same moment the roar of the water came more
+plainly to her ears.
+
+She raised her voice in a shout that rose above the sound of roaring
+water behind--rose above the sounds of clattering hoofs and above the
+voices of the occupants of the buggy themselves.
+
+The buggy stopped, the man's face peered out. As he saw Shirley dashing
+along the road after him, a sudden understanding of what was wrong came
+to him. Raising an arm, he waved it as a signal that the girl's warning
+had been understood, and started his horse on a run.
+
+Shirley breathed a great sigh of relief and dashed on after the buggy,
+which was now going at terrific speed, rocking crazily and threatening
+every moment to turn over in the road.
+
+Coming suddenly to an open field at the left side of the road, the man
+sent the buggy dashing across it, and made, as fast as his horse could
+go, for a point where the ground rose sheer for perhaps a hundred feet.
+
+Shirley sped after the buggy.
+
+Coming to this abrupt rise, they were forced to search for a means of
+clambering up it. The woman in the buggy, at the man's command, sprang
+from the seat and dashed hurriedly up the steep hill. The man in the
+meantime stopped to unhitch his horse, that the animal might have a
+chance for its life.
+
+Turning in her saddle, Shirley cried out in sudden fear.
+
+Behind, so close that it seemed to be right upon her and bearing down
+with tremendous speed, came a solid wall of water, many feet high.
+
+With a cry to her horse, the girl turned his head squarely to the hill.
+With his nostrils extended and his eyes dilated with fear, the animal
+sprang at it. With his light burden he gained a foothold and dashed up
+as fast as his weary limbs could carry him. Once he came to a place that
+seemed too much for him; but the noble steed made a last desperate
+effort and succeeded in getting his forefeet on top of the level ground
+above.
+
+With a single movement, Shirley flung herself from the saddle to the
+safety of the high ground, and in another moment seized the bridle of
+the horse, just as he would have slipped back into the raging flood that
+now swept by below.
+
+Exerting her utmost strength--and it was by no means slight--she
+succeeded in helping the animal to scramble to the summit.
+
+The occupants of the buggy had also succeeded in climbing to safety, but
+the second horse had been carried away by the sweeping waters. Henderson
+had been unable to loosen the animal, as he was forced to hurry to the
+support of Mrs. Henderson, who, almost in safety, had fainted and would
+have fallen back, had her husband's arm not caught her.
+
+From this refuge, the three watched the waters as they swirled by with
+tremendous force. Kicking animals, sheds, barns and small houses,
+together with ruins and debris, swept past them, and more than once the
+young girl cried out in despair, as she realized the damage that had
+been done by the water.
+
+The three had climbed to the very top of the hill, as the water
+surrounded them on all sides. Gradually it rose, climbing closer and
+closer to them. Shirley became alarmed and turned to Henderson, who
+stood near her, still supporting his wife.
+
+"Will it come this high, do you think, Mr. Henderson?"
+
+Henderson shook his head.
+
+"There is no telling," he replied quietly. "All we can do is to hope for
+the best."
+
+All became silent, but their eyes were riveted upon the water as it
+closed in on them.
+
+Now there was but perhaps twenty yards of dry ground, then fifteen, and
+still the water rose. The rise continued until all stood in water, and
+then it rose no higher.
+
+"Thank God!" said Henderson, calmly, looking at his wife. "We are
+saved!"
+
+"Thank God, indeed," said Shirley softly, and she turned and stroked the
+horse, who thrust his cold muzzle into her hand. "But for you," she
+added, patting him gently, "hundreds would have been drowned!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.--A DARING ACT.
+
+
+Night came on, and still the three--a man, a woman and a young
+girl--stood ankle deep in the cold water, which showed no sign of
+receding.
+
+Mrs. Henderson was completely worn out. At Shirley's suggestion,
+Henderson placed her upon the back of the horse, where she was at least
+dry.
+
+"There is no telling how long we may have to remain here," said
+Henderson. "The water may not go down before morning."
+
+"But," said Shirley, "we cannot remain here that long. We must do
+something."
+
+"What?" asked Henderson briefly.
+
+"Well, we might try shouting," said Shirley. "Some one might hear us."
+
+They both raised their voices to their loudest and shouted long and
+often. But no reply came.
+
+Shirley glanced carefully about her in the dim light. They stood on the
+very top of the little hill, and all about them was water. Perhaps a
+quarter of a mile to the right, however, was another elevation, and this
+Shirley knew was not merely a similar hill, but high ground that ran
+back for miles--the land upon which all those in the flooded valley had
+sought safety.
+
+"I have a plan," she said quietly to Henderson.
+
+"What is it?" he asked eagerly.
+
+"It's very simple," was the reply. "I shall mount the horse, and we
+shall try and swim through the short expanse of water to the dry ground
+over there," and she pointed across the flood.
+
+Henderson started back aghast at the boldness of this plan. Beneath them
+the water still swished angrily, although it had lost much of its force.
+
+"I'll not hear of it," he said shortly. "You shall not risk your life."
+
+"But," protested the girl, "we are all likely to become numbed and
+perish here."
+
+She shivered slightly as she spoke, for the night air was damp, cold and
+penetrating.
+
+"I think it is the best way," she added quietly. "Besides, what danger
+is there? Hero," she named the horse in that moment, "can make it all
+right. All I shall have to do is cling to him tightly."
+
+"But the current may be very strong," protested Henderson.
+
+"Not too strong for us, is it, Hero?" she asked the horse, and patted
+him gently again.
+
+Hero whinnied in reply, and seemed as eager as the girl to make the
+trial. He seemed to understand the conversation, and besides, he was
+anxious to reach a place where there was warmth, dry straw and good
+oats.
+
+"Yes, it is the best way," said Shirley decisively.
+
+Henderson looked at her closely, then turned away with a sigh, for that
+one glance was enough to tell him that the young girl would have her
+way.
+
+He lifted his wife from Hero's back, and Shirley immediately climbed
+into the saddle.
+
+"I'll send a boat for you," Shirley called over her shoulder, as, with a
+tug of the reins, she headed Hero into the water.
+
+"Good luck!" called Henderson. "Keep your head, and hold tight. Don't be
+swept off the horse's back."
+
+Shirley did not reply, but kept her eyes straight ahead.
+
+Gradually Hero sank lower and lower into the water, and then went under
+suddenly. His feet no longer touched the bottom.
+
+Henderson and his wife cried out in alarm as horse and girl sank beneath
+the water; but they rose again in a moment, and, shaking the water from
+his eyes with an angry snort, Hero struck out boldly for the distant
+shore.
+
+The current was still strong and gradually bore them down the valley.
+But Hero made headway, and every stroke of his mighty legs bore them
+much nearer safety.
+
+Now darkness, thick and intense, descended over the valley, and neither
+horse nor rider could see five yards ahead. But neither lost heart, Hero
+plunging straight ahead and Shirley clinging tightly to his neck and
+uttering low words of encouragement.
+
+For a long, long time, as it seemed to both horse and rider, they
+continued their cold and wet journey; then, abruptly, Hero's feet struck
+the rising ground of the high land. A moment later he stood on all feet,
+the water up to his knees, but with solid ground beneath him. Quickly he
+drew himself free of the water, and Shirley, soaking wet, and cramped
+from the one position she had been forced to maintain, jumped stiffly to
+the ground.
+
+She threw her arms around the horse's neck, and gave him a great hug.
+
+"Good old Hero!" she exclaimed. "I knew you would bring us over safely.
+Now to find some one and send them after the Hendersons."
+
+She walked quickly along in the darkness, Hero following her like a dog.
+
+At last, in the distance, she made out a dim light and hurried on toward
+it. Soon she was close enough to make out that she was approaching a
+little house, through a window of which the light twinkled. She broke
+into a run, and without stopping to knock, dashed inside.
+
+A man and a woman rose to their feet, and Shirley was also conscious of
+other figures in the room.
+
+A pain shot through her head, she reeled dizzily and toppled over in a
+dead faint; but before she lost consciousness she heard a voice that
+sounded many miles away exclaim:
+
+"Why, Shirley Willing! What are you doing here, and in this condition?"
+
+When Shirley recovered consciousness she lay upon a little bed, and
+several figures were bending over her. One she recognized in a moment,
+and addressed it in a low voice and with a smile on her face.
+
+"Mabel!" she exclaimed. "Where am I and what is the matter with me?"
+
+But before the other could reply, the thrilling experience she had been
+through came back to her like a flash; and springing from the bed,
+unmindful of the sharp pain that shot through her head, she exclaimed:
+
+"The Hendersons! Quick! Have you a boat?"
+
+"There, there," said the girl whom she had addressed as Mabel. "You are
+a little overwrought. Lie down again, dearie."
+
+Shirley shook off the other's hand.
+
+"The Hendersons," she explained, "are marooned on a little hill in the
+midst of the raging flood. They must be helped quickly. Mrs. Henderson
+is ill and unless she is given shelter at once may die from exposure."
+
+Immediately all in the room began to ask questions, but Shirley, raising
+a hand, stopped them. Then, briefly, she explained the situation.
+
+The men in the room leaped to their feet and dashed out of the house.
+Shirley ran after them.
+
+"You may not be able to find the place in the dark," she said, "but I
+think I can show you the way. My sense of direction has always been
+good."
+
+In spite of the protests of the others, she went with the men while they
+hauled a large rowboat out of a nearby shed and dragged it to the
+water's edge.
+
+Here, launching it, they all climbed in. Shirley would have followed,
+but one man objected.
+
+"You are worn out now," he said. "You had better get to bed."
+
+But Shirley was not to be denied.
+
+"This is my adventure," she said warmly, "and besides, I can probably
+help you locate the Hendersons. My eyes are unusually sharp."
+
+She stepped into the boat in spite of all protests, and soon, under the
+strong arms of the men, the little craft leaped out over the water.
+
+It was pitch dark, and almost impossible for the occupants of the boat
+to see their hands before them. A lantern in the prow of the boat only
+seemed to make the darkness more intense.
+
+After half an hour's rowing the men rested on their oars and listened.
+There was no sound. They rowed for perhaps another quarter of an hour,
+and again paused to listen. Just as they were about to go on again,
+Shirley's ears caught the sound of a distant hail.
+
+"Listen!" she cried, and all sat silently.
+
+The hail came again, but at first those in the boat were unable to tell
+from what direction. They listened and it came again.
+
+"Back and to the right," said Shirley. "We must have passed them in the
+darkness."
+
+The boat was brought about and headed in the direction Shirley
+indicated; and still there was no sign of the Hendersons. But the next
+hail was clearer, and much closer.
+
+"Come straight ahead!" came the cry over the flood.
+
+The rowers now followed the directions shouted across the water, and
+after what seemed a very long time, made out, directly ahead, the figure
+of a man and a woman, huddled close together to keep warm. It was
+Henderson and his wife.
+
+Once inside the boat, Mrs. Henderson promptly fainted. Shirley lifted
+the unconscious woman's head into her lap and bathed her face with
+water, and she soon revived.
+
+The boat made rapid progress on the return journey and soon all were in
+the warm enclosure of the little house. Mrs. Henderson was promptly put
+to bed, but Shirley had something else to do.
+
+Calling one of the men to follow her, she left the house and, after some
+searching, came upon what she sought.
+
+This was Hero standing at the door of the little stable, nosing it and
+trying his best to get in. Shirley turned to her companions.
+
+"This," she said, stroking the animal's wet mane, "is the one you all
+have to thank for your escape from the flood. Had it not been for Hero,
+I would have been unable to give the warning, and now it seems to me he
+is entitled to a nice warm stall and some nice fresh oats. Would you
+like them, Hero?"
+
+The horse whinnied in joy, and one of the men said:
+
+"He certainly shall have both."
+
+He approached and took the animal by the bridle, but Hero drew back.
+
+"Maybe you can lead him," said the man. "He won't come for me."
+
+Shirley laughed. "Come, Hero!" she called and without leading he
+followed her into the stable, where he was escorted to a clean stall.
+
+"And now you go to bed," said one of the men to Shirley.
+
+"I'll stay and see him fed first," replied the girl.
+
+"All right, have your own way!"
+
+He produced the oats, and soon Hero was nosing and eating them
+contentedly.
+
+Then, and not until then, did Shirley return to the house. Throwing off
+her wet garments, she crept into bed when, tired and worn out, she
+closed her eyes and slept.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.--THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY.
+
+
+Shirley Willing was a typical product of the little town of Paris,
+Bourbon County, Kentucky; and at the time this story opens had just
+passed her fifteenth year. She was the one child of Christopher Willing,
+a prosperous farmer and horseman, who owned an extensive place on the
+Bethlehem pike some three or four miles from the little city.
+
+Being an only daughter, she was naturally somewhat spoiled, although she
+and her father would have resented such an implication. Nevertheless,
+spoiled she was, as all were aware except these two. Shirley was slight
+and slender, with a wealth of auburn hair and cheeks like roses. All her
+life she had been athletically inclined, and for the past two
+years--ever since she had been attending the Blue Grass Seminary--she
+had indulged in outdoor sports continually.
+
+The Blue Grass Seminary was one of those schools in which the chief
+object was to produce not only cultured and educated young women, but
+physically perfect ones as well. While the course of study was on a par
+with all first-class schools, the management did not believe that the
+students should spend all their time over their books.
+
+"Give the girls a practical education," was the theory of the principal,
+and both he and his assistants endeavored in every way to enable the
+girls under their care to practice in the open the theories taught in
+the schoolroom.
+
+Much time was also devoted to athletics in the Blue Grass Seminary, but
+there were no hard and fast rules as to what branch of athletics each
+pupil should take up. Shirley Willing's great hobby and chief diversion
+was horseback riding. She was an expert horse-woman at fifteen and could
+ride anything, as she had proved more than once.
+
+Besides having a well-kept farm, Mr. Willing also owned a good "string"
+of blooded race horses, and there was no novelty in one of them being
+winner in many exciting races. It was this kind of horse that Shirley
+most enjoyed riding.
+
+Shirley's particular chum and bosom friend was Mabel Ashton, likewise
+the daughter of a prosperous Kentuckian. Colonel Ashton was easily the
+most prominent man in many respects in Bourbon County. Mabel, who was a
+few months older than Shirley, was equally well known among the younger
+set. The girls had been friends almost since they were babies, which was
+only natural because of the close relationship between their families.
+
+Another bond of sympathy between the girls was that both had lost their
+mothers when a few months old.
+
+When Shirley made up her mind that she would attend the Blue Grass
+Seminary--located in a neighboring town some twenty miles away--there
+was nothing more natural than that Mabel should decide to go also. At
+first their fathers both opposed the plan, but after Mr. Willing and
+Colonel Ashton had spent a day at the Seminary and had seen what an
+excellent school it was, they were quite willing to let the girls
+attend.
+
+At the Seminary the girls had been roommates. Their closest friend was
+Lois Geddis, the daughter of an Illinois farmer. Several times she had
+gone home with Shirley to spend Sunday and had likewise spent her
+Christmas vacation in Paris, upon the promise that the two girls should
+visit her during the summer. Thus it was that we find these three Blue
+Grass Seminary girls in such close proximity to the great Father of
+Waters.
+
+The Kentucky girls had been visiting in Illinois some two weeks when
+this story opens, and it was now the latter part of June. They had only
+intended to remain a week, but they had been having such a good time
+that they had overstayed the stated period. Finally they had selected a
+date upon which they should return and in spite of all influence that
+could be brought to bear, they were not to be shaken in their purpose.
+
+Then the flood came.
+
+To account for Mabel's presence in the little house in which Shirley is
+now sleeping, it is necessary to go back a little in our story.
+
+It was about the time that the girls had set a date to go home that
+heavy rains set in. The summer had been dry so far and the rain was very
+welcome. But for days, now, the downpour had continued without any sign
+of abating. From further up the river news was received of still heavier
+rain, and these added to the regular June rise from the Missouri caused
+the Mississippi at Cairo to spread until it threatened to leave its
+bank.
+
+A short distance above the home of Mr. Geddis, where the girls were
+visiting, was a small tributary of the Mississippi on which was built a
+great dam, forming an immense reservoir. This was known as the Darret
+dam. At this point also, the river broadened into what seemed almost a
+small bay in which the water was very deep, so that the volume back of
+the dam was something enormous.
+
+When it became apparent that there was to be no let-up in the steady
+rains, and as the waters of the Mississippi continued to rise, Mr.
+Geddis, as well as other farmers in the vicinity, moved all their
+livestock and household effects to higher ground that they might be safe
+should the dam give way; for it was a well-known fact that if the dam
+burst, the valley would be flooded and everything carried away.
+
+Guards were posted near the dam to give the warning, should it threaten
+to burst. Vigil was kept day and night, while the residents of the
+countryside were prepared to flee at the first warning of imminent
+disaster.
+
+But the dam had finally burst so suddenly that the warning came almost
+too late. Shirley, Mabel, Lois, her father and mother were at supper
+when the telephone jangled furiously. Lois, who was nearest, quickly put
+the receiver to her ear, and then turned to the others with a cry:
+
+"The dam is gone!"
+
+Then it was that those in the farmhouse attempted to repeat the warning
+down the valley, and it was discovered that the wires were down. As has
+been told, it was then that Shirley made her wild dash, that might have
+resulted fatally.
+
+When Shirley had disappeared, the others, after seeking in vain for her,
+had finally given it up as hopeless.
+
+"She is probably safe some place," said Mr. Geddis. "Come, we must
+hurry."
+
+They started for the highlands, which they reached safely, and from
+there watched the mountains of water as they swept down, flooding the
+valley.
+
+"I believe I know what has happened to Shirley," said Mabel quietly.
+
+"What?" asked Lois, eagerly.
+
+"I believe she went down the valley to warn the people."
+
+Lois gave a startled cry.
+
+"She will be drowned!" she cried.
+
+"I'm not sure about that," said Mabel quietly. "You see, I know Shirley
+a little better than you do. If there is one way by which she can reach
+safety, Shirley is sure to find it."
+
+"I do hope she will not be harmed," said Lois, beginning to cry.
+
+Refugees fled to the highlands in droves, leaving everything behind. Mr.
+Geddis and his party advanced, just on the edge of the high ground, down
+the valley. Here they came upon others who had been forced to flee for
+safety.
+
+"How did the warning reach you?" asked Mr. Geddis of one of the men.
+
+"Girl on horseback," was the reply. "She came dashing down the road like
+wind. If it hadn't been for her, hundreds would have perished."
+
+Mabel, who overheard this conversation, cried out in alarm:
+
+"Where is she?"
+
+"I don't know," was the reply. "She was headed straight for the
+village."
+
+Mabel seized Lois by the arm.
+
+"Come," she cried, "let's go farther. Perhaps we can find Shirley."
+
+With a word to her father, Lois followed her friend. They came, at last,
+to a part of the ground directly behind the little village of Stanley,
+now lying beneath the water. Here they plied the refugees with question
+after question, and finally came upon the man who had seen the girl
+wheel her horse and dash down the road after the Hendersons.
+
+"There is not one chance in a thousand that she escaped," he said
+slowly; "nor the Hendersons, either, for that matter."
+
+The girls left him and continued on down the course of the raging water,
+for they believed that Shirley might possibly have reached safety in
+that direction.
+
+It grew dusk, and still they walked on, scanning the nearby waters and
+the ground closely. Night fell.
+
+"Well, we might as well go back," said Mabel quietly. "I am afraid we
+shall never see her again."
+
+"I know we won't," said Lois, and fell to weeping.
+
+"Come, come," said Mabel, throwing her arm about her friend's shoulders.
+"Crying will do no good."
+
+"But--but," sobbed Lois, "if it hadn't been for me she would be alive."
+
+"How do you make that out?" asked Mabel, in some surprise.
+
+"Why, she would not have come to this part of the country."
+
+"Never mind," said Mabel. "Shirley wouldn't want you to feel badly about
+it. I know that."
+
+They turned and began to retrace their steps. It was then that Lois made
+a startling discovery. They had unconsciously walked further and further
+away from the water's edge, in among a grove of trees.
+
+"We are lost!" cried Lois.
+
+"Lost!" echoed Mabel.
+
+"Yes. I don't know where we are. I have never been in these woods
+before."
+
+"Oh, I guess we'll get out all right," said Mabel confidently.
+
+She moved forward, but in the darkness she had no means of telling
+whether she was going in the right direction. The girls walked quickly
+this way and that, but they could find no exit from the grove of trees.
+
+Mabel raised her young voice in a cry for help, and Lois added hers to
+it.
+
+From the distance came a faint response.
+
+Encouraged, the girls renewed their efforts, and keeping it up, were
+finally rewarded by the sounds of footsteps coming toward them. A moment
+later the figure of a man appeared before them.
+
+"What on earth are you two girls doing here?" he asked in amazement.
+
+"We are lost," stammered Lois, beginning to cry again, now that she felt
+she was safe once more.
+
+"Who are you?" asked the man.
+
+The girls told him.
+
+"And we want to get back to father," moaned Lois.
+
+"Well," said the man, "you can't get back to-night. You have come
+farther than you realize. My name is Thompson, and I have a shack
+nearby. You shall both spend the night with us. Mrs. Thompson will make
+you at home."
+
+In spite of repeated requests by both girls that they be set on the road
+home and assurances that they were not afraid to go alone, Thompson
+shook his head negatively.
+
+"You'll do as I say," he said. "I wouldn't allow a daughter of mine to
+go prowling through the woods at this time of night. Come with me."
+
+The girls were forced to obey, for they had no desire to be left in the
+woods alone.
+
+Mrs. Thompson made the girls comfortable, and showed them a bed in a
+room at the rear of the house, on the ground floor.
+
+It was while they were sitting talking, that they became aware of
+clattering of hoofs. A moment later the door flew open and Shirley
+staggered into the room. Both girls were on their feet in an instant.
+
+"Shirley!" they cried, and rushed forward.
+
+It was then that Shirley had fainted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.--A RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
+
+
+"How long are we likely to be delayed, conductor?"
+
+The speaker was Shirley, and the date was one week from the day on which
+the girl, by her daring ride, had saved scores in the Illinois town and
+in the valley from perishing in the flood.
+
+Shirley and her friend Mabel had left their chum's home the day before.
+In the morning they caught a train out of St. Louis, and now, in the
+afternoon, they had learned that their train would be held indefinitely
+in Indianapolis because of a serious wreck ahead.
+
+"There is no telling, miss," was the conductor's answer to Shirley's
+question. "The wreck is a bad one, and it is impossible to say just when
+the track will be cleared. If we wait for that, it is likely to be
+hours. We may, however, be routed over some other line. I shall know
+within a quarter of an hour."
+
+"Thank you," replied Shirley, and the two girls continued to pace up and
+down alongside their car.
+
+Half an hour later the conductor approached them.
+
+"The wreck is more serious than at first reported," he said, "and
+because of some unknown reason we cannot be routed over another line.
+Therefore, it will be at least six hours before we will leave."
+
+"My gracious," said Shirley, "we can make better time than that by
+taking the Interurban."
+
+"Yes," said the conductor, "and in that way you can reach Cincinnati in
+time to catch the 6 o'clock L. & N., which will put you in Paris at ten.
+If you wait for us you will have to remain all night in Cincinnati."
+
+Shirley turned to Mabel.
+
+"Let's get our things and hurry and catch the trolley car," she said.
+
+The two girls boarded the delayed train and hastily collected their
+belongings. The conductor was courteous enough to see them to a taxicab,
+which soon whirled them across the city. Here they found that they could
+get an electric car in fifteen minutes, which, barring accidents, would
+get them in Cincinnati in ample time for the six o'clock train south.
+
+The girls climbed aboard the car, settled themselves comfortably, and
+fell to talking. At last the car started, and soon they were beyond the
+city and whirling along rapidly.
+
+For an hour they rode, the car stopping occasionally to take on or to
+discharge passengers; and then, suddenly, slackening slightly to round
+rather a sharp curve, the car dashed forward again; and there came a
+sharp cry from passengers in the front seats.
+
+At the same instant the motorman reversed his power, and there was a
+terrific jolt. Prompt as the motorman's action had been it had not been
+prompt enough.
+
+A terrible shock followed as the car dashed into another coming along
+the single track from the opposite direction. There was a crash of
+splintering wood and then cries of pain and terror from the passengers.
+
+The first outcry had told all on the car that a disaster was about to
+occur, and the passengers had sprung to their feet even before the
+crash--all but Mabel and Shirley.
+
+Glancing quickly out the window, Mabel had perceived the other car
+bearing down on them, and started to rise. But Shirley saw it at the
+same moment, and throwing out her hand quickly, she grasped her friend
+by the arm and pulled her back into her seat.
+
+"Sit still!" she commanded.
+
+When the shock came, Shirley, sitting next to the window, was hurled
+back over her seat with terrible force, while broken glass was showered
+upon her. Then, as the car crumpled, in some unaccountable manner both
+girls were hurled through the air some distance away, where they both
+lay for a moment, stunned.
+
+Shirley was the first to come to herself, and her thought was of her
+friend. Although she reeled dizzily, she succeeded in pulling herself
+(unconsciously) to her feet, and at a first glance about her saw Mabel
+lying near. Shirley staggered to the side of her chum and bent down.
+
+She raised the girl's head to her knee and rubbed the cold face with her
+hand.
+
+"Mabel! Mabel!" she called anxiously.
+
+There was no reply, and again Shirley gave her attention to trying to
+revive her friend. At last her efforts were rewarded.
+
+Mabel's head moved slightly, and Shirley, bending closer, saw a faint
+color come into her face. At last she opened her eyes, and said feebly:
+
+"What is it? What has happened?"
+
+"Wreck," was the brief reply, "and we are both lucky not to have been
+killed. How do you feel? Where are you hurt?"
+
+"I feel a little dizzy," said Mabel, making an attempt to get to her
+feet, but falling back. "I don't believe I am hurt very much, though."
+
+A second time she tried to get to her feet and this time she succeeded.
+She took one look at Shirley's face and then seized her friend in her
+arms.
+
+"Shirley!" she exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"
+
+"Hurt?" repeated Shirley, starting back.
+
+"Yes, your face is covered with blood."
+
+Shirley passed her hand over her face and it came away red.
+
+"I--I--didn't know I was hurt," she said in surprise.
+
+Looking about, Mabel saw a pool of water nearby. Quickly she ran to it
+and wet her handkerchief. Then she ran back and proceeded to wash her
+friend's face.
+
+"It's not bad," she said, after an examination. "Looks like a piece of
+glass had cut you. It's stopped bleeding, though."
+
+"Good," laughed Shirley, and would have said more, but that her
+attention was attracted by a shout from behind.
+
+Turning, she beheld a terrible sight.
+
+There, not twenty yards away, in a tangled heap, lay the two cars, and
+even as Shirley turned a small tongue of flame crept from the wreckage.
+
+"Fire!" cried Shirley and, turning quickly, she ran toward the cars.
+Mabel followed her.
+
+Beside the cars men were rushing hurriedly about, grim-faced and silent.
+
+"Half a dozen women are pinioned beneath the wreck," replied one man
+briefly to Shirley's questioning.
+
+Shirley shuddered, as did Mabel.
+
+"Horrible," said the latter.
+
+The girls drew closer; then stopped to watch the work of rescue.
+
+The flame had now grown from the size of a man's hand to something
+large, and it was plain even to the girls' inexperienced eyes that it
+was only a question of minutes until those buried beneath the wreckage
+would be burned alive, did not help come at once.
+
+A sudden cry of anguish came not twenty feet from where the girls stood
+and, glancing in the direction of the cry, Shirley beheld the head of a
+little girl of perhaps ten years protruding from beneath the debris.
+
+"Poor thing," she cried, and dashed forward.
+
+Mabel followed.
+
+In vain did the tot struggle to extricate herself from beneath the
+wreckage. Crying and screaming, she continued her futile efforts.
+
+At sight of the two girls dashing toward her she cried even more
+piteously than before.
+
+Shirley caught hold of one arm that was extended, and pulled. Again and
+again she tried, but in vain; and the harder she pulled the harder the
+child cried.
+
+Mabel stooped close and made an examination.
+
+"There seems to be a wheel on her foot," she said, "and she is not
+strong enough to pull herself from under it."
+
+Shirley let loose of the tot's arm, and stooped over the child. Then she
+rose swiftly, determination written upon her face.
+
+"You pull the child by the arm when I say, 'Ready!'" she called.
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Mabel anxiously.
+
+"Never mind," was the reply. "Just do as I say, and hurry."
+
+Mabel said no more but, according to Shirley's instructions, took the
+little one by the arm and stood ready to pull when Shirley gave the
+word.
+
+Stooping so that her head was under the edge of the wreck, Shirley poked
+forth a dainty foot and by burrowing a bit with her toe, at last found
+the child's foot beneath the wheel. Then, leaning forward and straining
+every muscle of arms and limbs, the heavy iron wheel was raised from the
+ground.
+
+"Ready!" she called to Mabel.
+
+Mabel pulled, and the little girl, still crying and screaming, came from
+under the wreck.
+
+But the strain upon Shirley had been terrible, and no sooner had the
+child been dragged to safety, than Shirley's strength gave out, and the
+wheel settled down upon her own foot.
+
+She did not cry out, but Mabel's quick eyes detected her friend's
+plight. She uttered an exclamation of dismay and hurried to her aid.
+
+"Shirley!" was all she could say.
+
+With her foot pinned beneath the wheel, Shirley smiled at her.
+
+"I'm caught," she said simply. "How is the little girl?"
+
+Mabel bent over, and examined her chum's predicament. Then she laid hold
+of the wheel and attempted to lift it.
+
+"I can't move it," she said, and continued to tug desperately at the
+wheel and heavy axle.
+
+"You had better call some one to help you," said Shirley calmly.
+
+Mabel gave up her attempt to lift the wheel and hurried to the opposite
+side of the tangled wreckage, where she could hear men at work trying to
+pull other victims from beneath the heap.
+
+The heat from the flames that now almost enveloped the wreck was
+becoming more intense. It was almost unbearable, and Shirley, imprisoned
+as she was, stretched as far as possible from the fire.
+
+At Mabel's call for aid, one of the men gave up his position with the
+others and followed her to where Shirley lay. It was but the work of a
+moment for him to lift the wheel sufficiently for Mabel to help Shirley
+from beneath it.
+
+Shirley arose and tried her foot. It pained her, but hasty examination
+showed that it was simply bruised. Painfully, assisted by Mabel, she
+limped after the man, who had raised the wheel, to the opposite side of
+the wreck, where rescuers were even at that moment pulling the last of
+the victims from under the cars, away from the tongues of flame.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.--HOME AGAIN.
+
+
+As she walked along, the pain in Shirley's foot became less and less,
+until finally she was not conscious of it. The girls soon sat down upon
+the grass, where they watched the men fighting the flames, that the cars
+might not be entirely consumed.
+
+Shirley suddenly jumped to her feet.
+
+"Where is the girl we pulled from under the car?" she asked Mabel.
+
+Mabel also sprung up.
+
+"I had forgotten all about her," she exclaimed.
+
+They walked to where the little one lay, still moaning with pain.
+Shirley picked her up gently, and bade Mabel bring some water. This the
+latter did, and the two girls at length succeeded in soothing the child,
+until she lay still in Shirley's arms.
+
+Suddenly there was a fluttering of skirts, a glad cry in a woman's voice
+and the tot was snatched from Shirley's arms.
+
+"Agnes, Agnes!" said the voice.
+
+Shirley arose and faced the woman who had taken the child from her.
+
+"I am Mrs. Johnson," the woman said, "and this is my daughter Agnes. The
+men told me you saved her from the flames. I don't know how to thank
+you."
+
+"Never mind the thanks," said Shirley. "We simply pulled her away. That
+is all."
+
+"Why, Shirley," exclaimed Mabel, "you almost lost your own life."
+
+Shirley frowned at her friend.
+
+"It was nothing," she said.
+
+The little girl's mother looked first at one and then at the other.
+
+"I didn't know you endangered your own life," she said. "I wish I could
+thank you properly."
+
+"Just say no more about it then," said Shirley, somewhat embarrassed by
+this conversation.
+
+The woman smiled.
+
+"As modest as you are brave," she said. "Well, then, I shall say no more
+about it. But remember, if you ever need a friend, just call on me."
+
+"Thank you. I shall remember," said Shirley, and the woman walked away,
+carrying her daughter in her arms.
+
+From down the track at this moment came the buzz of an approaching car.
+It was the wrecking train bringing a crew to clear the track, also
+physicians and nurses.
+
+Fortunately, the services of none of the latter were needed, for it was
+found, that besides the little girl Shirley had rescued, none of the
+passengers had been severely injured.
+
+Half an hour later a car approached from the other direction, and came
+to a stop a few yards from the scene of the wreck. Passengers
+disembarked and, upon the instructions of an official, the car made
+ready to return toward Cincinnati.
+
+Shirley and Mabel climbed aboard with the other passengers and soon were
+on their way once more. They did not wait to find their hand baggage,
+nor did any of the other passengers. It was hopelessly lost in the
+wreckage. Their trunks, they knew, would reach Cincinnati, and
+eventually home, without trouble.
+
+The wreck had delayed the car for nearly two hours; so when they finally
+reached Cincinnati, it was too late to catch their train to Paris.
+
+Shirley and Mabel had been in the Ohio city too many times to feel
+frightened, however. So, after sending a telegram to Mr. Willing
+explaining their reasons for not being home on time, the two girls made
+their way from the station to the Sinton Hotel, where they spent the
+night.
+
+They were up bright and early the next morning, and caught their train
+soon after eight o'clock. Shortly before eleven they reached Paris.
+
+Shirley, the first to descend the steps, was caught in the arms of a
+dignified, white-haired old gentleman, who squeezed her until she cried
+out:
+
+"Stop, Dad, or you will squeeze the life out of me."
+
+The old gentleman laughed and, putting a hand on both of her shoulders,
+held her off at arms' length and looked at her intently.
+
+"Well, well," he said, "so I have you back again. How glad I am to see
+you, daughter. It seems as though you had been gone ten years."
+
+Again he regarded her earnestly.
+
+"Come, Dad," said Shirley, "you are blocking the way. The people want to
+get off."
+
+"I'd like to know," said Mr. Willing, looking about fiercely, "who is
+going to tell me to move."
+
+"I'll tell you, Dad," replied Shirley, smiling.
+
+"Oh, well," said her father, "that is a different matter. You and your
+mother are alike, both tyrants."
+
+He stepped aside, and thus allowed the first of the passengers who had
+been held back by this conversation to descend; and as the next one was
+Mabel, he caught her in his arms and held her also for a moment.
+
+"Where is father?" asked Mabel gently, freeing herself from the elderly
+man's caresses.
+
+"He's waiting at home for you," replied Mr. Willing.
+
+"Why didn't he come to meet me?"
+
+"Well," said Mr. Willing, "I reckon he wasn't feeling quite as well as
+he might, so he asked me to do the honors."
+
+"Is he sick?" asked Mabel anxiously.
+
+"I reckon you might call it sick."
+
+"How sick?"
+
+"Well, now, he's not so sick; but if he pays much attention to some of
+these doctors he soon will be."
+
+Mabel was growing more and more anxious.
+
+"Do let us hurry and get home," she said.
+
+"Now, now, dear, don't excite yourself," said Mr. Willing. "I reckon he
+will soon be all right again."
+
+On the opposite side of the station a large touring car waited. Mr.
+Willing pushed the two girls into the back seat and then took his place
+by the negro chauffeur.
+
+"Home, Frank," he said.
+
+"Yessah," replied the old darky, and started the car on its way.
+
+Mabel leaned forward and spoke to Mr. Willing.
+
+"You will take me home first, won't you?" she asked.
+
+"Your father," was the reply, "has been staying with me for the last
+week. He is there now. You see, he was kind o' lonely without his girl,
+so I just had him come to me."
+
+The automobile quickly covered the three miles to the Willing farm, and
+stopped before a broad wooden gate. This opened upon a broad blue-grass
+field on which a fine herd of cattle were grazing.
+
+"I'll open the first," called Shirley, and jumped out of the car.
+
+She threw it wide, and the car passed through. Mabel opened the second
+one into the paddock, and Shirley the third.
+
+"There," she said, when she was back in the car rolling through the long
+yard. "I'm always glad when that is done, although I don't believe I
+mind opening gates now."
+
+"Nor I," said Mabel. "I remember that is one reason I hated to come here
+sometimes, there were so many gates to open."
+
+"The older you get," said Mr. Willing, who had overheard this
+conversation, "the less you will mind a little work."
+
+The car now drew up before a big red brick house, surrounded by many
+shade trees. The two girls jumped out lightly, and Mr. Willing followed
+slowly.
+
+Mabel needed no directions as to where to find her father and, running
+into the house, she ran up the stairs and into the front bedroom.
+
+She opened the door with a quick jerk, and then paused. The quiet figure
+in the bed caught her eye. It was her father, and he was sleeping.
+
+Mabel tip-toed toward the bed, and bent over. Her father's face was
+pale, but he seemed to be resting easily.
+
+"Poor father," said Mabel. "I won't disturb him now."
+
+She turned and made her way toward the door. As she laid her hand upon
+the knob and was about to turn it, a voice called:
+
+"Mabel!"
+
+The girl turned. Her father was sitting up.
+
+"Mabel!" he called again. Gladly the girl ran to him and was at once
+clasped in his arms.
+
+"I didn't want to wake you," she said.
+
+"You know very well," was the reply, "that, after such a long absence,
+your very presence was bound to awaken me. I was asleep, but I must have
+felt that you had returned."
+
+Mabel sat down on the edge of the bed.
+
+"Now tell me all about yourself," she said. "How long have you been
+sick?"
+
+"About a month," was the reply.
+
+"Why didn't you write and tell me about it?"
+
+"I didn't want to spoil your vacation."
+
+"The idea! I would have come home at once to care for you."
+
+"That is the reason I didn't write."
+
+"What does the doctor say is the matter?"
+
+"Well, he has not diagnosed the case satisfactorily, but he says I have
+some sort of lung trouble."
+
+Mabel sprang to her feet.
+
+"You don't mean----" she exclaimed.
+
+"Yes," interrupted her father. "I am afraid that is what it is. He says
+that I must go away from here at once."
+
+For a moment Mabel was too stunned to speak. She sat down upon the edge
+of the bed again.
+
+"Run away now," said her father. "I'll try and sleep some more."
+
+She kissed her father gently, and made her way from the room.
+
+On the porch she met Mr. Willing.
+
+"Why didn't you tell me Father was so very sick?" she demanded.
+
+"Pshaw!" he replied. "I don't think it amounts to anything."
+
+"You know what the doctor believes is the matter with him?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Consumption?"
+
+Mr. Willing bowed his head in assent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.--A PLOT DISCOVERED.
+
+
+At this moment Mabel heard Shirley calling. Accompanied by Mr. Willing,
+she made her way around the house, where her friend stood awaiting her.
+
+"Let's go and look at the horses, Mabel," said Shirley.
+
+In spite of a certain sadness caused by her father's condition, Mabel
+agreed, and the two girls made their way to the large stable a quarter
+of a mile from the farmhouse.
+
+Shirley flung open the door and dashed inside.
+
+"We'll call on Gabriel first," she called back over her shoulder.
+
+Mabel followed her.
+
+Straight to the stall of the young animal of splendid pedigree Shirley
+led the way. It had been months since she had last seen this horse, but
+the noble creature recognized her footsteps and whinnied in delight at
+her approach.
+
+Unmindful of the possibility that the horse might step upon her, Shirley
+ran into the stall and, reaching up, threw both arms around his glossy
+black neck. Gabriel trembled with happiness, and then thrust his nose
+into her hand.
+
+"See," laughed Shirley, "he wants his lump of sugar. Did you think I had
+forgotten you?" she asked.
+
+Again Gabriel whinnied.
+
+Gabriel took the lump of sugar from the girl's hand and munched it
+contentedly. Then he pleaded for more.
+
+"No, sir," said Shirley, stepping back. "One lump is all you get; you
+should know better than to ask for more. If Dad knew I had given you
+even one, he wouldn't like it."
+
+She stepped farther back and surveyed the animal with a critical eye.
+
+"And so," she said, speaking to Gabriel, "you are going to win the Derby
+for Dad and me this year."
+
+She patted him affectionately upon the head and stroked his mane.
+Gabriel rubbed his head up and down against her arm.
+
+"Come, Shirley," said Mabel at this juncture, "don't stand there talking
+to Gabriel all day. We must pay our respects to some of the other
+horses."
+
+"All right," her friend agreed and, giving Gabriel a parting pat, she
+followed her friend from the stall.
+
+All along the length of the stable the heads of other horses appeared
+above their stall doors as the two girls passed along, and everywhere
+they were greeted with whinnies of welcome and delight; for there was
+not a horse there who did not love the two girls.
+
+But of all the horses in her father's "string," Shirley loved Gabriel
+most, for he was her own personal property. Descended from a long line
+of distinguished and powerful racehorses, Gabriel had been presented to
+Shirley by Mr. Willing when the horse was nothing but a colt. His
+pedigree was of the best, and now, in the approaching Derby to be run in
+Louisville the following month, Shirley and Mr. Willing both looked to
+him to maintain the supremacy of the Willing stable.
+
+Besides Jimmy Smith, Mr. Willing's diminutive sixteen-year-old jockey,
+none but Shirley had ever sat upon Gabriel's back. Many had tried, but
+the result had always been the same. A quick leap to the saddle, a few
+stiff bucks and jumps by Gabriel, and the would-be rider was rolling on
+the ground.
+
+But now when Shirley decided upon a little run, Gabriel always received
+her with joy and was as gentle as a kitten while she rode him. They
+often had long gallops together, and were the best of friends.
+
+Gabriel was now three years old, and had been entered for the Derby.
+There was no doubt in Shirley's mind that he would be the first under
+the wire at the end of the mile-and-a-quarter run in Louisville, when
+the great day, August 31st, arrived.
+
+The two girls spent perhaps an hour in the stable, and as they were
+about to leave, Shirley decided to see Gabriel once more, and so
+approached his stall.
+
+Suddenly she halted in her tracks and laid a warning finger to her lips.
+Mabel also stopped.
+
+"What is it?" she whispered.
+
+"I thought I heard strange voices in there," said Shirley, pointing to
+Gabriel's stall.
+
+"Impossible," returned Mabel in a low voice. "Gabriel wouldn't allow a
+stranger in there. He would kick him to pieces."
+
+Silently she approached closer, and stood still, listening intently.
+
+Then only the two girls heard a voice they recognized.
+
+"Jimmy," said Mabel. "You were mistaken, Shirley."
+
+She started to go closer, but Shirley stopped her with a whispered word
+of caution.
+
+"There is some one else there, too! Listen."
+
+"Yes," came the voice of Jimmy Smith, "he is in fine shape, as you see.
+He will be in perfect condition for the Derby. He is sure to win."
+
+"Yes, he'll win, all right," was the answer, in a voice that neither
+Shirley nor Mabel recognized. "He'll win unless something happens."
+
+"But what can happen to him?" inquired Jimmy. "He is being nursed
+carefully. I am attending to him myself. No other hand but mine touches
+him, unless it is that of Miss Shirley; and I have promised to have him
+perfectly fit for the big race."
+
+"That," said the stranger in a hoarse whisper, "is what I have come to
+see you about."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Jimmy.
+
+"Well," said the stranger, "I represent a syndicate of bookmakers. You
+know what bookmakers are, don't you?"
+
+"Yes: a bookmaker is a man who lives by betting on the races."
+
+"Almost that. He is a man who lives by allowing others to bet with him.
+Now, after looking over all the horses entered for the Derby, we have
+come to the conclusion that Gabriel is bound to win if the race is
+absolutely straight."
+
+"Straight," repeated Jimmy. "What do you mean?"
+
+"Just what I say. If Gabriel is allowed to win, we stand to lose
+considerable money. But if he should lose----" the stranger paused.
+
+"But he won't lose," said Jimmy confidently.
+
+"He will if you will help us," said the stranger.
+
+"Why should I help you?" asked Jimmy.
+
+"Because," said the stranger, "there will be money in it for you. What
+would you say to five hundred dollars?"
+
+Both girls heard Jimmy give a slight gasp.
+
+"Five hundred dollars," he repeated slowly.
+
+"Yes," was the reply, "then your sister, who is so ill, may receive the
+proper medical attention."
+
+"How do you know of my sick sister?" asked Jimmy in surprise.
+
+"Oh, we know many things," was the reply. "For instance, we know that
+your employer is paying you very little, because he hasn't anything to
+pay you with. He has lost practically everything playing the races."
+
+"Yes," said Jimmy, "that is true. He told me that everything depended
+upon Gabriel's winning the Derby."
+
+"But if Gabriel did win," protested the stranger, "what would you get?
+Not much; and here I am offering you five hundred dollars!"
+
+"But you are asking me to be a traitor to my trust," said Jimmy.
+
+"Not at all. I am simply showing you how to make the money you so badly
+need. Come, what do you say?"
+
+"I don't know," said Jimmy slowly. "I don't know."
+
+"Here," said the strange voice after a pause, "is my card. I shall give
+you a week to consider. Write me at this address, and I will tell you
+where you can meet me, and we will have another talk. You will surely do
+that, won't you?"
+
+"Yes," said Jimmy. "I will do that."
+
+"Good. Now I am going up to see your boss."
+
+There was a sound of persons moving and, taking Mabel by the arm,
+Shirley quickly drew her into the nearest stall, where they stooped down
+to be out of sight.
+
+Footsteps passed along the outside, and a moment later the girls heard
+the voices of Jimmy and the stranger outside the stable.
+
+"Quick," whispered Shirley, "we must get out of here without being
+seen."
+
+Making sure that there was no one near, they emerged from the stall and,
+running the length of the stable, came out at the other end.
+
+Hurrying to the shelter of a magnificent oak tree a hundred yards away,
+they sat down. For some minutes Shirley was silent, and Mabel did not
+interrupt her meditations. But at last Shirley spoke.
+
+"And to think that Jimmy Smith would even consider a thing like that,"
+she said slowly.
+
+"It does seem impossible, doesn't it?" replied Mabel.
+
+"After all Dad has done for him," continued Shirley. "Why, I remember
+the day Dad found him lying beside the pike. He was ragged and dirty,
+and had fallen from exhaustion. He had not eaten for two days, he said.
+And it was true. Dad brought him home with us, and when he became
+stronger, offered him work, although Dad did not need him. That was two
+years ago, and he has been with us ever since. We have had entire
+confidence in him.
+
+"I remember how pleased Dad was when he found Jimmy loved horses, and
+that horses loved him. He has carried our colors to victory more than
+once. And now to think that he would even consider selling Dad out. What
+shall we do?"
+
+"I would tell your father immediately," said Mabel.
+
+"It would seem best, wouldn't it?" said Shirley. "But he is so fond of
+Jimmy that I hate to do it."
+
+She was silent for some moments.
+
+"My gracious!" she exclaimed at length. "I have it."
+
+"Have what?"
+
+"A plan."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Well, I haven't had time to work it out yet, but when I do, I shall
+tell you. Now I want you to promise you will say nothing of what we have
+overheard to any one."
+
+"I promise, of course," said Mabel, "but I wonder if I should."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.--MR. WILLING PROMISES.
+
+
+The girls were still sitting there half an hour later, when Jimmy Smith
+ran into them.
+
+"Miss Shirley!" he cried eagerly, and approached with outstretched hand.
+"Mr. Willing told me you were back, and I have been hunting all over the
+place for you."
+
+He turned to Mabel.
+
+"And how are you, Miss Mabel?" he asked.
+
+Both girls returned his greeting cordially, not showing in any way that
+they knew of his talk with the stranger.
+
+"We are so glad to be back, Jimmy," said Shirley.
+
+"Have you seen Gabriel yet?" asked Jimmy. "He has been wanting to see
+you."
+
+"How do you know that?" asked Mabel with a slight smile.
+
+"Why, he told me so."
+
+"Told you?" laughed Mabel.
+
+"To be sure," said Jimmy quietly. "Gabriel and I have a language of our
+own, and when I told him Miss Shirley was coming back he just told me
+how anxious he had been to see you ever since you went away."
+
+"Well, I'm glad he missed me," said Shirley. "Come, Mabel, I want to
+have a long talk with Dad."
+
+They left Jimmy and sought Mr. Willing. They found him a few minutes
+later, seated on the big front porch, deep in conversation with a
+stranger. Both girls felt sure that he was the man who tried to bribe
+Jimmy only a short time before.
+
+They would have gone into the house but Mr. Willing called them.
+
+"I want you to know my daughter, Mr. Jones," he said to his visitor;
+"and also Miss Mabel Ashton, the daughter of my old friend, Colonel
+Ashton, whom you know."
+
+The man called Mr. Jones arose, and extended his hand, but the girls,
+pretending not to see it, acknowledged the introductions with the
+briefest of nods.
+
+Jones noticed the unmistakable hostility in their manner, and withdrew
+his hand quickly. Mr. Willing also noticed it, and scowled slightly. The
+girls said nothing, and a moment later Mr. Willing said: "You girls run
+along now."
+
+Shirley and Mabel accepted their dismissal with gladness, and went into
+the house. Mr. Willing, having disposed of his visitor half an hour
+later, followed them. He turned to Shirley sharply.
+
+"In the future," he said, "you will treat your father's friends with
+more respect than you did Mr. Jones."
+
+"I don't like him," said Shirley.
+
+Mr. Willing stepped back in surprise.
+
+"You don't like him?" he said in some amazement. "And because you don't
+like one of my friends, is that any reason you should not treat him with
+respect?"
+
+"I wasn't disrespectful," said Shirley, with something like a pout.
+
+"You weren't, eh? I'd like to know what you call it."
+
+"Well, I don't like him," said Shirley again,
+
+"Why don't you like him?" demanded Mr. Willing.
+
+Shirley, mindful of the task she had set for herself, found it difficult
+to answer this question without arousing suspicion in her father's mind,
+and for Jimmy's sake she did not wish to do this. So she answered: "I
+just don't."
+
+Mr. Willing threw up his hands in a gesture of dismay.
+
+"Girls and women are too much for me," he exclaimed.
+
+He would have walked away, but Shirley stayed him.
+
+"I want to have a private talk with you, Dad," she said.
+
+Mr. Willing looked at his daughter in surprise.
+
+"Well, well," he said finally, "you are getting to be quite a young
+lady, aren't you? Want to have a private talk with me, eh? All right.
+Come into my sitting room."
+
+He led the way, and Shirley followed, after motioning to Mabel to await
+her return.
+
+Seated in his big arm chair, with Shirley on the floor at his feet, Mr.
+Willing drew a cigar from his pocket, lighted it, fell back in the chair
+and puffed luxuriously.
+
+"Now fire away," he said.
+
+"Dad," said Shirley, coming to the point at once, "is it true that you
+have lost all your money?"
+
+Mr. Willing came out of his chair with a bound.
+
+"Who has been putting such notions into my little girl's head?" he
+asked, but his voice was slightly strained.
+
+Shirley was not deceived.
+
+"Is it true that you have lost large sums on horse races?" she demanded.
+
+Mr. Willing looked at his only daughter long and earnestly.
+
+"Would it please you very much if I gave up gambling?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, indeed it would, Dad," said Shirley, rising to her feet.
+
+Mr. Willing considered.
+
+"Then here is what I will do," he said at length. "I promise that after
+this one time, I will never bet a cent again."
+
+Shirley shook her head.
+
+"No," she said.
+
+"You mean," demanded her father, "that you even want me to let this sure
+thing go by?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But after the comforts you have been used to, think how hard that will
+make it."
+
+"I can do with less," said Shirley quietly.
+
+"Do you realize," said Mr. Willing, "that if I do as you say, and
+Gabriel wins, and he must, all we shall have is the prize, when we might
+have four times that much?"
+
+"Is the farm clear?" demanded Shirley.
+
+"Yes, but I was figuring on raising some money on it to recoup my
+earlier losses."
+
+"Then," said Shirley, "if the farm is clear, and Gabriel wins, we shall
+have enough. What more do we need?"
+
+Mr. Willing hesitated, and Shirley continued.
+
+"Come, Dad, promise me before it is too late. Mother would wish it, were
+she alive. You know that. We'll get along some way. Come, Dad, will you
+promise?"
+
+She stood tip and threw her arms around her father's neck. Mr. Willing
+held her in a close embrace for several moments, and as he looked over
+her head he saw, in memory, another face that also seemed to plead with
+him.
+
+He stepped back and held Shirley off at arms' length, and for a long
+time gazed at her in silence.
+
+"You are so like your mother," he said quietly, "I can refuse you
+nothing."
+
+"Then you will promise?" asked Shirley eagerly.
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Willing slowly, "I promise."
+
+"There never was a better Daddy," exclaimed Shirley.
+
+Laughing happily, she threw both arms around him and squeezed him
+tightly.
+
+"Stop, stop," laughed Mr. Willing, "or you will make me sorry I
+promised."
+
+Shirley released him, and he patted her on the back affectionately.
+
+"Run away now," he said, "and leave your old Daddy here to think."
+
+With a parting kiss, Shirley left him, and rejoined Mabel on the porch.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.--A ROAD ADVENTURE.
+
+
+The morning following the girls' arrival, Mr. Willing and Mr. Ashton,
+who was feeling much better, were seated with the girls around the
+breakfast table.
+
+"Mabel and I are going to town this morning," said Shirley.
+
+"All right," said Mr. Willing. "I'll tell Frank to hitch up. What time
+will you be ready?"
+
+"Ten o'clock will be early enough, I reckon," said Shirley. "We probably
+won't be home until late this afternoon."
+
+It was the first time the girls had been in the little town of Paris,
+except for a few minutes on their way back from Illinois, since school
+had closed for the summer vacation. Therefore, they called on some of
+their girl friends, and spent a very pleasant day.
+
+They did some shopping and it was after five o'clock when they started
+for home.
+
+"It looks as though there was going to be a storm," said the
+livery-stable keeper, where they had left their horse.
+
+Mabel glanced at the sky. Huge clouds were gathering in the west.
+
+"They look like wind clouds," said Mabel.
+
+"You had better wait," said the stableman. "You will be caught in the
+storm."
+
+"Oh, I think we'll make it," said Shirley. "Besides, Dad expects us in
+time for supper."
+
+"Telephone him," said the man.
+
+"No," said Shirley, "we'll run the risk."
+
+"Well, all right," was the reply, "but you had better hurry."
+
+Shirley shook out the reins, and touched the horse lightly with her
+whip. The animal started off at a rapid trot.
+
+It was a good three miles home, and Mabel, glancing once more at the
+sky, urged Shirley to hurry.
+
+"We'll get a good soaking," she said.
+
+"It won't hurt us any," said Shirley. "I'm sure I won't melt, and I
+don't think you will."
+
+They continued up Main Street, and finally reached the outskirts of the
+town.
+
+"Guess we can go a little faster now," said Shirley, and touched the
+horse with her whip.
+
+At that moment there came a brilliant flash of lightning, followed by a
+terrific peal of thunder. The horse shied and broke into a gallop.
+
+Shirley tightened her hold on the reins, and, with an effort, succeeded
+in pulling him down to a trot again.
+
+"Well, here's where we turn off, anyhow," said Shirley. "If the rain
+will hold off for twenty minutes we will be all right."
+
+"And then, just as they turned onto the Bethlehem pike, darkness
+enveloped them, shutting out the sight of the road ahead. It descended
+so suddenly and unexpectedly that Mabel cried out in alarm.
+
+"Don't be frightened," said Shirley in a low voice. "I know the road and
+can drive just as well in the dark."
+
+Nevertheless she was forced to check the horse slightly, and this
+required great effort, for the animal, badly frightened, was trying to
+bolt.
+
+Suddenly Shirley's hat went flying from her head, as the wind was
+blowing a gale. Mabel, her hands free, caught hers as it left her head.
+
+"Mine's gone," cried Shirley.
+
+"Shall we stop and get it?" asked Mabel, raising her voice to make
+herself heard above the roaring wind.
+
+"I should say not," was the reply. "We'll get home just as quick as we
+can."
+
+Their horse, at this moment, was puffing up a steep hill. The wind was
+blowing fiercely. The girls felt a few drops of rain upon their faces.
+
+And then, above the roaring of the wind, came another sound--the sound
+of a horse coming rapidly toward them. Mabel heard it first, and called
+to Shirley. Shirley pulled as far to the right as she felt was safe,
+being absolutely unable to see in the darkness.
+
+A sudden flash of lightning lit the scene before them, and Mabel uttered
+an involuntary cry of fear.
+
+Not fifty yards away, and bearing down on them, came a galloping horse.
+The one flash had permitted the girls to see that he was running wild.
+There was no one in the buggy.
+
+Shirley pulled desperately upon the right rein, turning her horse
+sharply from the road. Her action undoubtedly saved them from serious
+injury, but it was not quick enough to entirely avert disaster.
+
+There was a sudden crash, and both girls felt the left side of the buggy
+sink and then crash to the ground. The wheel of the other and heavier
+vehicle had smashed the two left-hand wheels and carried them away. The
+other buggy had been damaged in the same manner, but the frightened
+horse did not pause in his wild race, and dashed on down the road,
+dragging the broken buggy after him. In spite of the accident, Shirley
+maintained a firm grip on the reins, and when the left side of the buggy
+went down to the ground she managed to bring her horse to a stop almost
+at once.
+
+But Mabel was not so fortunate. When the buggy had collapsed she was
+thrown out, and badly shaken when she came in contact with the hard
+ground.
+
+She pulled herself to her feet dizzily and stood still. Some distance
+down the road she could hear the bumping of Shirley's buggy, and she
+heard it finally come to a stop. She could not see a foot in front of
+her, but started slowly in the direction she knew Shirley must be.
+
+As soon as the horse stopped, Shirley called to Mabel not to be
+frightened. Receiving no response, she felt along the seat beside her.
+Mabel was not there.
+
+Jumping quickly from the damaged buggy, unmindful of the horse, Shirley
+turned and hurried in the direction from which she had come. Twice she
+called and received no response. The third time she thought she heard
+Mabel.
+
+"Here I am," screamed Mabel, trying to make herself heard above the
+howling wind.
+
+A moment later they found each other.
+
+"Are you much hurt?" Shirley asked her friend anxiously.
+
+"No," said Mabel. "I am pretty well shaken up, but I am all right. And
+you?"
+
+"Perfectly safe," replied Shirley. "The question now is what to do."
+
+Still the rain held off, only a few drops falling occasionally but the
+wind blew violently.
+
+"We had better climb up on Cato and ride home that way," said Mabel.
+(Cato was their horse.)
+
+"A good idea," spoke Shirley. "Come!"
+
+She led the way to where she thought Cato would be standing, but she
+could not find him.
+
+"Strange," she told herself. "I am sure it was here that I stopped him."
+
+Just then there came another flash of lightning, and far down the road,
+they saw Cato and the broken buggy making rapidly for home.
+
+In spite of the serious situation, Shirley laughed.
+
+"What do you think of that?" she exclaimed. "Cato has run away and left
+us. I'll speak to him about it when we get home."
+
+"Well, we must not stand here," said Mabel impatiently. "We can walk
+home in half an hour. Let's start."
+
+"I suppose that is the best way," said Shirley.
+
+They started down the road, walking rapidly.
+
+And now it began to rain. Lightning flashed and terrific peals of
+thunder reverberated through the air. By no means of timid dispositions,
+both girls, nevertheless, became nervous.
+
+"Hadn't we better stop under one of these trees?" asked Mabel.
+
+"No," Shirley decided instantly. "I have heard it is dangerous in an
+electric storm. Lightning may strike the tree. We are safer in the
+middle of the pike, even if we do get soaking wet."
+
+The rain fell in torrents, and both girls by this time were drenched to
+the skin.
+
+They hurried down a steep declivity in the road. There was one more hill
+to climb, and then the long walk from the pike to the house.
+
+They reached the top of the hill ten minutes later and turned in at the
+first gate.
+
+"I thought Cato would be here," said Shirley.
+
+But there was no sign of horse or buggy.
+
+The two girls hurried down the road, now muddy from the downpour. It was
+hard walking, and they made slow progress.
+
+"I'll bet the creek has overflowed," said Shirley. "If so, we will wade
+part of the way."
+
+"I am very much afraid you are right," said Mabel.
+
+Now they came to the second gate, and passed through it. They descended
+the little hill toward the creek slowly, for there was no telling how
+high the water might be.
+
+It was good they had been so cautious. They had hardly walked ten paces
+when Shirley drew back suddenly. She had come upon water.
+
+"My gracious," she exclaimed. "I had no idea the water could rise so
+high in such a short time."
+
+"I doubt if we can get across," said Mabel.
+
+Shirley took Mabel by the hand.
+
+"We'll try," she said briefly.
+
+Very slowly they continued their way.
+
+The water rose to their shoe tops, then to their knees, and still they
+went on.
+
+"It can't be much deeper," said Mabel.
+
+"I don't know," said Shirley. "I have never seen it this high, but I
+have heard Dad say that forty years ago it rose until it was impossible
+to cross for two days."
+
+The water had now reached their waists, and was still rising.
+Fortunately there was no current to speak of, so there was little danger
+so long as they kept their heads above water.
+
+But when the water reached their armpits and continued to rise, Shirley
+turned back.
+
+"It's no use," she said.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.--SHIRLEY GETS BUSY.
+
+
+"No," Mabel agreed, "it's no use. But what are we going to do now?"
+
+"We'll have to wait, that's all," was the reply.
+
+Shivering and cold, Mabel turned her face to the sky and the rain fell
+upon it.
+
+"Wait here in this rain?" she demanded.
+
+"What else is there to do?" asked Shirley. "I am just as anxious to get
+in as you are, and if you will suggest a plan we will act upon it."
+
+"I haven't any plan," replied Mabel mournfully.
+
+In spite of her discomfort, Shirley was forced to smile to herself. Her
+friend's tone amused her.
+
+"I'm going to sit down," said Shirley, and suited the action to the
+word.
+
+Mabel also sat down in the mud.
+
+"We can't get any wetter nor any dirtier," said Shirley, "so we may as
+well make ourselves as comfortable as possible."
+
+"How long do you suppose we shall have to stay here?"
+
+"I haven't any idea. Perhaps all night."
+
+"All night?"
+
+"Yes. Of course, it is possible that Dad will have telephoned to town
+inquiring about us. If he called up the stable and learns that we have
+started, he may come looking for us. That's the only thing that will
+save us an all-night stay in the rain."
+
+"But how would he get across the creek?"
+
+"If Dad starts looking for me," said Shirley, "it will take more than
+this to stop him."
+
+The two girls became silent, and huddled as close together as they
+could, for in their wet garments they were chilled to the bone, and the
+air was very cool, in spite of the season.
+
+How long they sat there they did not know, but they jumped at the sound
+of a horse's hoofs on the opposite side of the stream.
+
+"Who's there?" cried Shirley, rising to her feet and pulling her chum up
+after her.
+
+"Is that you, Shirley?" came a shout.
+
+"Dad!" cried Shirley. "Yes, Mabel and I are here."
+
+"I'll be across in a jiffy," called the father.
+
+"Be careful, Dad," called Shirley, "the water is very deep. We tried to
+get across and couldn't."
+
+There was no reply from the opposite side, but a moment later the
+splashing of water gave evidence that a horse was floundering into it. A
+few minutes later, dripping wet, Mr. Willing pulled up in front of the
+two girls, who had advanced to the edge of the water to meet him.
+
+He dismounted quickly, and caught Shirley in his arms.
+
+"Where is Cato?" he asked.
+
+In a few words Shirley explained.
+
+"You are both soaked," exclaimed Mr. Willing. "You must get home to bed
+at once."
+
+He turned to Shirley and would have lifted her to the saddle, but she
+protested.
+
+"Take Mabel first," she said.
+
+Mr. Willing knew his daughter, and therefore he did not question her
+decision. Without a word he turned to Mabel and lifted her gently to the
+saddle. Then he swung himself up in front of her.
+
+The horse plunged again into the creek, and in a few moments Mabel was
+safe on the other side.
+
+"Now you run to the house as quick as you can get there," said Mr.
+Willing as he handed her down.
+
+Mabel wasted no time, and set out for the house on a run, while Mr.
+Willing turned his horse's face toward the stream, and went after his
+daughter.
+
+The second trip was made without incident, and Shirley found herself
+being borne toward the house in her father's arms. Wet and bedraggled,
+she snuggled close to him, and though the trip to the house took but a
+few minutes, she was half asleep when he called to her to jump down.
+
+"Go to bed at once," he commanded. "If you are not careful you will be
+sick. You are not strong enough for such experiences."
+
+But Shirley must stop and kiss him first, and then she left him with a
+word of caution.
+
+"I am just as strong as you are, Dad. You, too, are soaking. Mind, you
+change your clothes at once."
+
+"Good night," said her father, and Shirley ran into the house. There, at
+the foot of the steps stood Mabel, waiting for her.
+
+The two girls ran quickly to their room. Later, when Mr. Willing looked
+in to see them, they were sleeping soundly.
+
+"Poor children," he said softly. "They have had a hard night. I shall
+let them sleep late to-morrow."
+
+But Shirley and Mabel, in spite of the hardships of the night before,
+were up bright and early, and down in the kitchen talking to "Aunt"
+Charlotte, the old colored cook, while she prepared breakfast.
+
+Shortly after breakfast, Shirley, with an air of great importance, drew
+Mabel back to their room.
+
+"Now," she said, "I shall explain the plan I have formed to save Jimmy
+Smith."
+
+"What is it?" asked Mabel eagerly.
+
+Shirley seated herself comfortably before she spoke and told Mabel to do
+the same. Her reply was a question.
+
+"Have you ever noticed," she asked, "how closely Jimmy Smith and I
+resemble each other?"
+
+"Of course," said Mabel. "Father and I have often spoken of it. Others
+also have noticed the resemblance. Why?"
+
+"Because," said Shirley, slowly and distinctly, "in that resemblance
+lies the success of my plan."
+
+Mabel looked at her friend in astonishment.
+
+"What do you mean?" she demanded.
+
+Shirley smiled a little at her chum's very evident surprise.
+
+"I'll tell you," she replied, and settled herself to explain. "You
+remember, of course, that Mr. Jones,"--she spoke the "Mr." with a touch
+of sarcasm--"told Jimmy Smith to communicate with him if he considered
+his proposition favorably?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, the first thing I want to do is to get the address he gave Jimmy.
+Then I--not Jimmy--shall communicate with him. I'll tell him I have
+decided to accept his offer, and that I should like to have another talk
+with him; and I'll sign the letter 'Jimmy Smith.'"
+
+"But what good will that do?"
+
+"It will do a whole lot of good."
+
+"But I can't see----"
+
+"It will do a whole lot of good," explained Shirley quietly, "because
+when Mr. Jones has an interview with Jimmy Smith, he will have an
+interview with me, disguised as Jimmy Smith."
+
+Mabel jumped to her feet in surprise.
+
+"You mean that you--" she began.
+
+"Exactly," interrupted Shirley. "Jimmy Smith will know nothing about the
+matter."
+
+Shirley sat back in her chair and beamed at her friend.
+
+"Now what do you think of my plan?" she asked.
+
+"I think it's foolish," was Mabel's prompt response. "You are sure to
+get yourself in trouble. Suppose your identity should be discovered?"
+
+"But it won't. Jimmy and I look too much alike for that. Besides, the
+very boldness of the plan will work in my favor. In any event, I am
+going to try it, and I need your help."
+
+"Of course I shall help," said Mabel, "but just the same I think you
+would do a whole lot better to tell your father the whole business."
+
+"And have Jimmy Smith thrown off the place? I should say not."
+
+"But if he considers doing a thing like that, he should be thrown off
+the place."
+
+"No," said Shirley gravely. "It is his first temptation, and we should
+do what we can to save him."
+
+"But," said Mabel, "if you write to Mr. Jones, and he answers, he will
+naturally address his reply to 'Jimmy Smith,' and Jimmy will get it."
+
+"Goodness gracious," ejaculated Shirley. "I hadn't thought of that."
+
+She was silent some moments and then continued:
+
+"Well, then, when I find the address, I'll simply write and tell him to
+meet me in a certain place."
+
+"That will be much better," agreed Mabel. "But, honestly, Shirley, I
+don't think much of the plan. You are sure to get into trouble of some
+kind."
+
+"Perhaps," said Shirley with a shrug of her shoulders, "but I'll get out
+all right. Besides, I shall be saving Jimmy; and, after all, the saving
+of one boy's honor is surely worth the risk."
+
+Mabel was struck with a new thought.
+
+"Perhaps Jimmy has already written."
+
+"I hardly think so," was the reply. "It is too soon."
+
+"But he may write after you do, and thus lead to your discovery."
+
+"I had thought of that," said Shirley, "and for that reason we must
+manage to get the address away from him at once. He is hardly likely to
+remember it, and when he cannot find the card he probably will forget
+all about the matter."
+
+"But----" began Mabel.
+
+Shirley waved her right hand impatiently.
+
+"My gracious," she exclaimed, "don't be looking for trouble all the
+time. I know there is a risk, but we shall have to take it. Now the
+first thing to do is to get the card from Jimmy."
+
+"And how do you expect to manage that?"
+
+"Just leave that to me," said Shirley, airily. "I'll get it, and he
+won't know anything about it."
+
+"All right," said Mabel, doubtfully, "but----"
+
+Shirley cut short these protests.
+
+"Come with me," she said, and led the way from the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.--SETTING THE TRAP.
+
+
+They found Jimmy Smith in the stable leaning over Gabriel's stall and
+talking to him in low tones. The lad stepped back and lifted his cap
+from his head as the two girls approached.
+
+"Are you telling Gabriel that he must win the Derby, Jimmy?" asked
+Shirley with a bright smile.
+
+"Yes, Miss," was the reply. "Gabriel and I have many talks, and he
+always promises me that he will win."
+
+"But, suppose he should lose?"
+
+"He can't lose," said Jimmy decisively.
+
+"Are you sure?" asked Shirley sharply.
+
+Jimmy looked at her queerly.
+
+"Why--I--yes--of course he can't," he stammered.
+
+"But suppose something should happen?" persisted Shirley.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Jimmy, plainly startled.
+
+"Oh, nothing," said Shirley, and changed the subject abruptly.
+
+"Jimmy," she said a few moments later, "I wish you would go up in the
+loft and see how much hay there is up there."
+
+"All right, Miss," said the boy, and reached for his coat, which hung
+over the stall door.
+
+"You don't need the coat," said Shirley. "Hurry up, please. Dad is
+anxious to know right away."
+
+Without another word, but with a sidelong glance at the coat, Jimmy
+hastened to obey. He clambered up the ladder quickly.
+
+Hardly had his hand disappeared when Shirley stepped quickly forward and
+took up the coat. Rapidly she explored the pockets, one after another,
+and, at last, drawing forth a small piece of paste-board, she gave a
+little cry of triumph.
+
+"I have it," she whispered to Mabel.
+
+She slipped the card into her dress, and hastily put the coat back where
+she had found it. She was leaning over the stall door talking to Gabriel
+when Jimmy came down the ladder.
+
+"Plenty of hay for two weeks, Miss Shirley," said Jimmy.
+
+He reached out cautiously and picked up his coat, which he donned with
+an audible sigh of relief.
+
+"All right, then," said Shirley. "Come, Mabel, we may as well go."
+
+She gave Gabriel another little pat, and led the way from the stable.
+
+"I feel like I had picked somebody's pocket," Shirley confided to Mabel,
+as they made their way back toward the house.
+
+"You have," replied her friend, "and I don't know whether you were right
+or not."
+
+"The end will justify the means," said Shirley quietly. "It's for
+Jimmy's own good, for my father's good, and for the good of others. I am
+sure I did no wrong."
+
+They sat down on the porch and talked for some moments.
+
+"Look," said Mabel suddenly, "here comes Jimmy. I wonder what is the
+matter with him. He seems to be looking for something."
+
+In truth, he did seem to be looking for something. The boy seemed
+greatly excited, and his eyes roved about the ground as he approached.
+
+"It's the card he misses," said Shirley. "He thinks he has lost it."
+
+"You don't suppose he suspects us, do you?"
+
+"I hope not."
+
+Jimmy was close to them now, and Shirley called out: "What's the matter,
+Jimmy? Lost something?"
+
+Jimmy, unaware of their presence until then, looked up in confusion.
+
+"No--no, Miss Shirley," he stammered, and disappeared.
+
+"Poor Jimmy," said Shirley. "One evil leads to another. He was forced to
+lie, you see. Come, Mabel, let's go upstairs and have a look at this
+card, and figure out a letter to Mr. Jones that will do the work."
+
+Mabel followed her friend up the stairs, where both sat down, and
+Shirley produced the card.
+
+"Mr. A. B. Jones," she read, "Fifth Avenue Hotel, Louisville, Ky."
+
+"Very well, Mr. Jones," she said, "we shall attend to your case."
+
+She turned to Mabel. "What do you think?" she asked. "Would it be better
+to ask him to meet me in Paris, Lexington, or where?"
+
+"I don't know," replied Mabel. "But it seems to me that Paris is pretty
+close to your home. Besides, Jimmy is well known in Lexington also."
+
+"True," said Shirley. "I think I shall select Cincinnati."
+
+"Goodness," said Mabel, "that is a long ways."
+
+"So it is," said Shirley, "but I can make an excuse to go there. I can
+tell father we are going to spend a couple of days with Clara Morton. He
+will not object."
+
+"Suit yourself," said Mabel. "I reckon it might as well be there as any
+place else. It probably will be safer too. We can stay with Clara while
+there."
+
+"My idea exactly," said Shirley. "Now let's see if I can write the
+proper kind of a letter."
+
+She drew forth some paper--and wrote long and earnestly. Sheet after
+sheet she tore up, but at last, with a little cry of satisfaction, she
+took the last sheet, upon which she had just written, and passed it to
+Mabel.
+
+"I think that will do very well."
+
+Mabel read:
+
+  "Mr. A. B. Jones:--Dear Sir:--I have considered your offer. I shall
+  be in Cincinnati, Palace Hotel, Friday. If offer is still open, meet
+  me in the lobby at 6 o'clock Friday night. I am going to Cincinnati
+  on an errand for Miss Willing.
+
+                                                        "Jimmy Smith."
+
+Mabel read the letter over several times.
+
+"I guess it is all right," she said at last. "There is only one thing I
+would suggest."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"I would add a line and say, 'Under no circumstances write me!'"
+
+"Good," said Shirley. "I'll do it."
+
+She did, and then addressing an envelope, the two girls walked up to the
+mail box at the pike and waited the passing of the rural mail carrier.
+They did not wish the letter to remain in the box unguarded, because
+some one might see it.
+
+But with the letter in the mailman's hands, Shirley felt more
+comfortable. The two girls walked back to the house.
+
+"With good luck," said Shirley, "that is, if Dad doesn't object, we
+should be able to leave here Thursday morning. We will send Clara a
+telegram from town telling her to meet us. Now we'll go and see what Dad
+has to say."
+
+"So you want to go away again, eh?" said Mr. Willing, after Shirley had
+suggested the trip. "And how long do you want to be gone?"
+
+"Until Sunday or Monday, Dad," said Shirley.
+
+"Well," said Mr. Willing, after a long pause, "I can see no reason why
+you cannot go if Mr. Ashton doesn't object."
+
+"I am sure he won't," said Mabel.
+
+"Better go and ask him then," said Mr. Willing.
+
+Mabel hurried to obey, and returned in a few moments with her father's
+consent.
+
+"You want to go Thursday?" asked Mr. Willing. "Why, that's day after
+to-morrow."
+
+"I know that," said Shirley with a smile.
+
+"All right," said Mr. Willing. "I am going to town this afternoon. I'll
+send Clara a telegram myself to meet you."
+
+The matter settled, Shirley and Mabel began their preparations for the
+trip.
+
+"I don't anticipate much trouble," said Shirley. "Of course you never
+can tell just what will happen, and for that reason I am going to take
+my little pocket revolver."
+
+"Then I shall take mine, too," said Mabel.
+
+"That is hardly necessary," said Shirley, "for, of course, I shall see
+Mr. Jones alone."
+
+"Aren't you going to let me go with you?" demanded Mabel.
+
+"No," said Shirley, "that might spoil everything. Mr. Jones might
+suspect something even if he didn't recognize either of us."
+
+"But I can't let you face the danger alone," protested Mabel.
+
+"Who said anything about danger?" demanded Shirley.
+
+"Why, didn't you?" asked Mabel.
+
+"No."
+
+"Then why do you take your revolver?"
+
+"Well," said Shirley with a smile, "it is always best to be prepared for
+the unexpected."
+
+"Well, I suppose you will have it your own way," said Mabel.
+
+Shirley smiled.
+
+"In this, yes," she replied.
+
+The two days passed slowly for both girls, but at length the time came
+to go. The first thing in the morning, making sure that Jimmy was in the
+stable, Shirley made her way to his room and appropriated one of his old
+suits--one that she was sure he would not miss. This she packed in her
+suitcase.
+
+"I shall have to buy a wig in Cincinnati," she told Mabel.
+
+Clara met the girls at the train, and they were soon whirled to her
+Walnut Hills home in a large automobile. There they were to remain until
+the following afternoon, when Mabel would accompany Shirley downtown.
+
+The next day, shortly before five o'clock, Shirley slipped her dress on
+over her suit of boy's clothes, and leaving Clara behind in spite of
+many protests, the two girls took the street car down town. On Fourth
+Street they found a little store where Shirley was fortunate enough to
+find a wig of the right shade.
+
+In a secluded corner in the railroad station, when there was no one
+near, Shirley quickly stripped off her dress and stood revealed in her
+boy's clothing. Donning wig and cap, she handed Mabel the discarded
+dress to put into the satchel brought for that purpose.
+
+"Now," said Shirley, "go back to Clara's and, under some pretext or
+other, wait on the porch for me after every one has gone to bed. I'll
+not come until I am sure they have all retired."
+
+"All right," Mabel agreed, "and, Shirley, be very careful."
+
+"I shall be, never fear," was the reply, and the young girl bade her
+friend good-bye and started for the rendezvous.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.--THE MEETING.
+
+
+It was fifteen minutes to six when Shirley reached the hotel. At the
+Vine Street entrance she hesitated a few moments, for now that the time
+for action was at hand, she grew nervous. It took her but an instant to
+shake off this uneasy feeling, however, and she entered the hotel
+boldly.
+
+She took a seat in a far corner of the lobby, where she could see all
+who came and went without being too exposed, and then she waited. Six
+o'clock came, but there was no sign of Jones.
+
+"I reckon he is a little late," said Shirley to herself.
+
+A quarter after six; half-past six and still no Jones.
+
+Shirley arose to go.
+
+"I guess he didn't get my letter in time," she said.
+
+She made her way to the door. But just as she would have passed out a
+hurrying figure bumped into her. Shirley drew back to let the man pass,
+and cried out suddenly:
+
+"Mr. Jones."
+
+Jones, for it was indeed he, drew back sharply, and looked closely at
+Shirley. Then he smiled slightly.
+
+"Smith?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," said Shirley briefly.
+
+"Good. Come with me."
+
+Shirley followed the man back into the hotel. At the far side of the
+lobby was a door leading to the dining-room. Jones led the way inside,
+Shirley following close at his heels.
+
+He selected a small table at the far end of the dining-room, and the two
+sat down.
+
+"We can talk here undisturbed," said Jones.
+
+Their orders given, Jones leaned back in his chair.
+
+"I wouldn't have recognized you," he said, looking at Shirley sharply.
+
+"I was beginning to think you would not come," said Shirley.
+
+"My train was late," Jones responded. "I had to hustle to get here as
+soon as I did."
+
+He was silent for some moments. Shirley said nothing, waiting for Jones
+to open the conversation.
+
+"So," said the man after the food had been set before them, "you have
+decided to accept my offer, eh?"
+
+Shirley thought it good policy not to appear too anxious.
+
+"It all depends upon what you want me to do," she replied.
+
+Jones looked at her long and carefully.
+
+"Well," he said at length, "I'll tell you. You understand, of course,
+that it will not be healthy for you to repeat anything I may say?"
+
+Shirley nodded assent.
+
+"And that if you play me false, you will get the worst of it?"
+
+Again Shirley nodded.
+
+"Good. I don't need to go into details, but what I want is this: I want
+you to see that Gabriel does not win the Derby. In other words, I want
+you to 'pull' him."
+
+"Pull him!" echoed Shirley.
+
+This was a language she did not understand.
+
+"Yes. Surely you know what pulling means?"
+
+"Well, no, not exactly," replied Shirley hesitatingly.
+
+"What kind of a jockey do you call yourself?" sneered Jones. "By pulling
+I mean holding Gabriel back so that some other horse may finish ahead of
+him."
+
+"I see," said Shirley. "And have you selected the horse that is to win
+the race?"
+
+"Yes. Jupiter, owned by the bookmakers."
+
+"And that is all you want me to do?"
+
+"That is all."
+
+"And you are willing to pay me $500 for that?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Shirley was silent, apparently considering. Jones waited perhaps five
+minutes for her to speak, and then said:
+
+"Well, what do you say?"
+
+Shirley rose from her chair.
+
+"I'll do it," she said quietly. "When do I get the money?"
+
+"After the Derby."
+
+"Very well," said Shirley, "you may count upon me to do my best."
+
+"That's all, then," said Jones, also rising. "I will make it a point to
+see you just before the race starts."
+
+He walked to the door with the supposed traitorous jockey. There Shirley
+stopped for another word.
+
+"One thing," she said. "Send me no messages and do not come to see me.
+It would be too risky."
+
+"Right you are," said Jones. "Good-bye."
+
+He turned on his heel and left without another word. Shirley also made
+her way from the hotel. Her eyes fell upon a clock in a window.
+
+"Eight o'clock," she said. "I can't go to Clara's yet. They will all see
+me. What shall I do to pass the time?"
+
+She debated the point at length.
+
+"I'll stop in this drug store and have an ice cream soda, anyhow," she
+finally decided.
+
+This refreshment disposed of, Shirley reached for her purse. For the
+moment she forgot she was dressed in boys' clothes, but in an instant
+she remembered, and thrust her hand in her pocket; and she drew it out
+with a cry of dismay.
+
+She had forgotten to put her purse in her pocket, and she had no money,
+and there was the ice cream soda to be paid for.
+
+The man at the cashier's desk was looking at her suspiciously. Shirley,
+glancing up, caught the look. Again she made a desperate search of her
+pockets, but the search was futile. There was no money there.
+
+Shirley turned to the cashier.
+
+"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "but I have misplaced my money. I'll have
+to ask you to wait till to-morrow."
+
+"Misplaced your money, eh," sneered the man, looking at Shirley's shabby
+attire. "I suppose, when you came in here, you were sure you had money,
+were you?"
+
+"Of course I was," said Shirley indignantly.
+
+"Well, I'm not so sure. I've seen your kind before. I guess I had better
+call an officer."
+
+Shirley became greatly frightened.
+
+"Please don't do that," she said, in great alarm. "I'll pay you
+to-morrow sure. Honestly I will."
+
+"That's an old one," said the cashier. "Either you will dig up ten cents
+right now or I shall call a policeman."
+
+"But I haven't ten cents," said Shirley tearfully.
+
+"Then I shall call the officer," said the cashier, and reached for the
+desk telephone.
+
+Shirley, badly frightened, did not know what to do. She did not know
+that the cashier, thinking she was trying to defraud him, would not have
+called the police, but was simply trying to frighten her into paying.
+
+But help came from an unexpected source.
+
+A young man who had been an interested listener to this conversation
+suddenly stepped forward, and laid a dime on the counter.
+
+"There is your ten cents," he said quietly to the cashier. "Let the boy
+alone. Can't you see he is honest?"
+
+"About as honest as the rest of 'em," sneered the cashier, picking up
+the dime.
+
+Shirley turned to her benefactor.
+
+"Thank you, sir," she said earnestly. "I'll see that you get it back."
+
+"Oh, all right," said the young man with a laugh, "but I guess it won't
+break me if I don't."
+
+It was plain to Shirley that he never expected to have it returned, and
+upon that instant she decided that he should.
+
+"If you will give me your card," she said, "I shall see that you get it
+back to-morrow."
+
+The young man smiled at her.
+
+"Well, if you insist," he said, with a smile, and extracted a card from
+his pocket, and handed it to Shirley.
+
+Shirley stuffed it into her pocket.
+
+"Thank you very much," she said quietly. "Good-bye."
+
+She left the store and walked down the street. It was now half-past
+eight, as Shirley saw by the street clock.
+
+"I guess I might as well go home and risk being seen," she told herself.
+
+She stopped at the next corner and hailed an approaching car. She was
+just about to step aboard, when she suddenly remembered she did not have
+carfare. She stepped back abruptly. The conductor rang the bell angrily,
+and the car went on.
+
+"My gracious," said Shirley to herself, "it's a long way to Walnut Hills
+but I guess I shall have to walk it. I wonder if I can find the way?"
+
+She stood still for several minutes.
+
+"Well," she said at last, "I might as well start. There is no use
+standing here. I'll just have to follow the car line, and ask if I lose
+my way."
+
+First she made her way to Fourth and Walnut Streets, and then she
+started off in the direction taken by a Walnut Hills car.
+
+She was forced to ask directions several times before she got very far,
+but nevertheless she made fair progress. She was just congratulating
+herself upon her good fortune in getting out of so serious a predicament
+so easily, when something else happened.
+
+Around the corner, suddenly, came a crowd of boys, their ages ranging
+from twelve to fifteen. This part of the city was by no means the best,
+and Shirley thanked her stars that she was attired in boy's clothes.
+
+But her attire was not to stand her in good stead now.
+
+The crowd of boys came on at a run, and when directly in front of
+Shirley the leaders stopped.
+
+"Look here, fellows," said one of them. "Here is a poor kid all by
+himself. He looks big enough to fight. Shall we take him along?"
+
+"Sure," came from the rest.
+
+The boy who had first spoken grabbed Shirley by the arm, and shook him.
+
+"Can you fight?" he asked.
+
+Shirley again was almost in tears.
+
+"No," she quavered.
+
+"Well," came the reply, "you'll have to fight. We are going after the
+Eighteenth Street gang and we need reinforcements. You will help. But if
+you don't fight, well, you'll get the worst of it anyhow. Come on."
+
+Shirley hung back, but it was no use. A boy grabbed her by either arm,
+and she found herself being hurried along.
+
+"We'll fix 'em this time," was the cry of the boys.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.--SHIRLEY FINDS A CHAMPION.
+
+
+Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament. Guarded as she
+was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was
+rapidly growing worse. Every step forward took her that much nearer
+danger. Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she
+wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved
+along with the rest without resistance.
+
+Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who
+seemed to be the leaders conferred. Then, at an order from one, the gang
+divided into two parts. Shirley found herself under the direction of a
+boy whom his companions called Dick.
+
+"You go around that way with your fellows, Tom," said Dick, waving his
+arm to the left, "and I'll go this way. We'll catch 'em between us and
+pay 'em back for what they did to Ed and Joe yesterday."
+
+The boys moved off in two different directions. Shirley found herself
+right behind Dick and she eyed him curiously. Young though he was, the
+girl saw that he was strong and powerful. An athlete herself, she could
+not but admire the easy swing of his shoulders as he trotted on ahead,
+his calm assurance and the confidence with which he gave his orders.
+Shirley decided to stay as close to him as possible.
+
+And now turning another corner, Dick shouted:
+
+"There they are, fellows! At 'em!"
+
+There was a loud cheer, and from far down the street came its echo, as
+Tom and his crowd attacked the enemy from the rear.
+
+And now Shirley caught her first view of the enemy.
+
+Halfway down the block, caught between two fires as they were, the
+enemy, perhaps twenty of them, was preparing to give battle. Shirley
+could see that they had picked up whatever they could lay hands upon,
+and were awaiting the attackers to come within range.
+
+Shirley shuddered, but kept close behind Dick.
+
+"Look out!" cried Dick, and darted to one side.
+
+Shirley did likewise, and a rock skimmed past her. There was a howl of
+pain from further back, and Shirley knew that one of the crowd had been
+hit.
+
+"We'll make 'em pay for that," cried Dick, and in spite of the fusillade
+of missiles being hurled at them, he bore down upon the enemy at top
+speed.
+
+For an instant Shirley hesitated. Here, she thought, might be a chance
+for her to make her escape. She turned, but as she did so the others
+surrounded her and she was forced to go on whether or not she wished it.
+
+The two factions came together with great force. They were too closely
+entwined to permit of the hurling of rocks now. It was hard to
+distinguish friend from foe.
+
+Shirley found herself in the midst of a struggling, striking mass.
+Wherever she turned she saw nothing but flying fists. One of the enemy
+struck her a glancing blow on the arm. Shirley became angry.
+
+Stepping quickly forward she struck the boy a resounding smack with her
+open hand.
+
+Dick, who happened to be close to her at that moment, noted this with a
+grin.
+
+"Hit 'em with your fist," he called. "It won't do any good to slap 'em."
+
+But this Shirley could not do. So there she stood while the struggling
+mass fought around her. How long the street fight continued, Shirley did
+not know, but it came to an end suddenly.
+
+From far down the street came the single sharp blast of a whistle.
+Immediately the struggling combatants dropped their fists and took to
+their heels.
+
+"Police," was the cry that went up.
+
+Three minutes later the street was deserted. Both factions had fled, and
+when the guardians of the law appeared upon the scene there was nothing
+to give evidence of the struggle that had raged a few moments before.
+
+Shirley had fled with the others, still keeping as close to Dick as
+possible. Round corner after corner she followed him, for she was keen
+enough to know that in this way lay safety, while, should she go her own
+way, she was likely to fall into the hands of the law; and, in her
+present attire, she had no desire to do this.
+
+But finally the half a dozen who had fled in the same direction as Dick
+and Shirley came to a halt. They stood panting and gasping.
+
+Then one boy suddenly came up to Shirley.
+
+"I told you to fight," he said. "You didn't do it. I watched you. Now I
+am going to make you fight."
+
+Shirley shrank back.
+
+"Put up your fists," called the boy.
+
+The others gathered round to see the fun.
+
+"He's a coward," they said. "He's afraid to fight. Hit him anyhow."
+
+They surrounded Shirley with angry gestures.
+
+It was at this moment that Dick interfered.
+
+"Let the kid alone," he said quietly, moving into the midst of the
+others. "If he doesn't want to fight, he doesn't have to. Maybe he's not
+the fighting kind. Let him alone."
+
+There was an angry growl from the others.
+
+"I say he has got to fight," said one.
+
+"And I say he hasn't," cried Dick. "Who is the leader of this crowd,
+anyhow?"
+
+"We wouldn't have much trouble finding a better one," was the reply.
+
+"Right you are, Ned," said several voices at once.
+
+"Pick on me if you want to," said Dick, "but let the kid alone."
+
+Shirley shrank close to him, for she knew that in him lay her hope of
+safety. Dick put a hand on her shoulder.
+
+"It's all right, kid," he said. "They won't bother you."
+
+"Won't we?" exclaimed one.
+
+He stepped suddenly forward, and before Dick could prevent him, aimed a
+blow at Shirley. Unconsciously the girl ducked, and the blow barely
+grazed her head, carrying away her hat, and worst of all, her boy's wig.
+
+Her long hair came tumbling down.
+
+The boy who had struck at her started back in surprise.
+
+"A girl!" he exclaimed.
+
+Shirley broke into tears.
+
+Dick had taken in the situation at a glance. He stepped quickly forward
+and with a single blow of his left fist knocked the boy who had struck
+Shirley to the ground.
+
+Then the others jumped upon him.
+
+Shirley's tears stopped instantly and she watched the fight in wide-eyed
+amazement. Dick, bigger and stronger than the rest, was giving a good
+account of himself, but it was plain to Shirley that the weight of
+numbers must tell in the end.
+
+Two boys went down before their leader's fists, but they were up again
+in an instant and fighting back desperately. One attacked him from
+behind, but with a quick kick Dick shook himself free. Picking his
+nearest opponent up bodily, he hurled him full in the faces of the
+others; and they gave ground.
+
+But only for a minute. Then they sprang forward again. Dick found
+himself hard pressed on all sides. He reeled under a blow that caught
+him on the point of the chin, and before he could recover, two stinging
+blows struck him in the jaw.
+
+He made one last desperate effort, throwing himself upon his opponents,
+but the effort was vain.
+
+Stooping, one of the boys picked up a rock, and waiting an opportunity
+jumped in quickly and struck him in the back of the head.
+
+Dick uttered a slight groan, stumbled and fell almost at Shirley's feet.
+
+The girl uttered a cry of horror. The other boys, startled for the
+moment at the outcome, hung back, then advanced toward their fallen
+leader. Believing that they were about to do him further harm, Shirley
+took the responsibility upon herself.
+
+Her nervousness, fright and indecision left her instantly. She reached
+quickly in her coat pocket and whipped forth her little revolver, which
+she aimed at the crowd of young ruffians with steady hand.
+
+"Stand back!" she cried.
+
+The ruffians hesitated.
+
+"Look here," began one, advancing a step.
+
+"Take my advice and stay where you are," said Shirley quietly. "I don't
+want to hurt you, but if any one of you come a single step nearer I'll
+shoot."
+
+The crowd drew back, and stood silently watching her.
+
+Laying the revolver upon the sidewalk close beside her, Shirley raised
+Dick's head to her knee. Then she sought to stop the flow of blood from
+the wound with her handkerchief.
+
+Dick stirred slightly, and a faint breath shivered through his lips.
+
+"What's happened?" he gasped.
+
+"Lie still!" commanded Shirley. "Your head is badly cut."
+
+Dick shook off her detaining hand, and rose slowly. He felt his wound,
+and then said:
+
+"Which one of you fellows hit me with a rock?"
+
+Not a sound came from the crowd. Dick stepped forward.
+
+"Better tell me now," he said, "for I'll find out sometime, and when I
+do somebody will be well thrashed."
+
+A boy stepped forward.
+
+"I did it," he said. "But now I'm sorry!"
+
+"Well, I'll attend to you later," said Dick.
+
+He turned to Shirley.
+
+"What are you doing out at this hour, and dressed this way?"
+
+In a few words Shirley told him enough of her trouble to satisfy his
+curiosity.
+
+"The best thing you can do is to get home at once," he said.
+
+"I don't know the way now," said Shirley.
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+Shirley told him.
+
+"I'll take you home," said Dick quietly, "if you don't mind my walking
+along with you."
+
+"Thank you," said Shirley. "Of course I don't mind."
+
+Dick turned to his friends.
+
+"I'll see you fellows later," he said significantly. "We'll talk this
+matter over when there are no girls around. Get out of here now."
+
+With a crestfallen air they obeyed.
+
+Dick turned once more to Shirley. "Come," he said.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.--MR. WILLING IS PUZZLED.
+
+
+It was late when they neared Clara Morton's home. As they approached
+quietly, a figure ran from the porch to meet them. It was Mabel.
+
+"Shirley," she cried, "I was so afraid that something had happened to
+you. I have been waiting here for more than an hour."
+
+"Well, something did happen," said Shirley. "I'll tell you about it when
+we get upstairs."
+
+"Come on, then," said Mabel, "but be careful. I told Clara you probably
+wouldn't be home until in the morning, and no one here must see you in
+that costume."
+
+Shirley turned to say good-bye to Dick, but there was no Dick. His duty
+done, he had not waited for thanks.
+
+Shirley was disappointed.
+
+"I would like to have said good-bye to him," she told herself.
+
+Silently the two girls made their way up the stairs, and reached their
+room without being discovered.
+
+Mabel insisted upon an immediate account of Shirley's adventures and the
+latter gave full details.
+
+"You see," she concluded, "it was all your fault. Why didn't you remind
+me of my purse?"
+
+"That's right, blame me," said Mabel. "I think you've had some jolly
+fun."
+
+"It depends on how you look at it," drawled Shirley. "Oh, but I'm tired.
+Let's get to sleep."
+
+The next two days, Saturday and Sunday, the girls spent quietly in their
+friend's home, only going out twice. One trip was to the theater, and
+the other to church on Sunday morning.
+
+Early Monday morning found them on the train.
+
+A young man boarded the train at Cynthiana, who attracted Shirley's
+attention at once. There was something familiar about him, but for the
+moment she could not place him. Looking in her handbag for her ticket,
+she accidentally drew forth a card, which she glanced at in surprise.
+
+"Mr. Leonard Wolfe," it read.
+
+"I wonder," she murmured, and then it all came to her in a flash.
+
+"The card of the young man who came to my aid in the drugstore," she
+said, passing it to Mabel. "That reminds me, I forgot to send the ten
+cents."
+
+"I reckon he won't miss it," said Mabel, as she returned the card.
+
+The young man who had just gotten on the train, came through the aisle.
+He dropped his suitcase in the seat across from the girls, and sat down.
+
+Shirley noticed that from time to time he glanced at her. To herself she
+said, "His face is familiar. Where have I seen him before?"
+
+And then she remembered.
+
+"Mr. Wolfe!" she exclaimed to herself.
+
+She whispered to Mabel, and the latter, of course, glanced across. As
+she did so she encountered the young man's smiling eyes.
+
+The young man arose directly and spoke to Shirley.
+
+"Surely I have met you somewhere," he said.
+
+"Perhaps it's my twin brother you met," said Shirley, with a faint
+smile. "We look very much alike."
+
+"Perhaps that's it," returned the young man.
+
+"Yes," continued Shirley, "my twin brother is often getting into
+scrapes, and I have to help him out. He told me that the other day he
+almost fell into the hands of the police, because he didn't have money
+to pay for a soda he bought in a drugstore in Cincinnati. Some stranger
+came to his aid and paid the dime. I don't believe he returned it,
+either."
+
+The young man had looked at Shirley in surprise during this recital, and
+then he said quietly:
+
+"No, he didn't!"
+
+"How do you know?" queried Shirley in well simulated surprise.
+
+"Because I happen to be the fellow who paid it."
+
+Before answering Shirley reached for her handbag and took out a card.
+She gazed at it long and earnestly.
+
+"Is your name Mr. Wolfe?" she asked finally.
+
+"Why, yes," exclaimed the young man. "Why?"
+
+"Nothing, only my brother, in telling me of the trouble, showed me your
+card and I didn't give it back."
+
+She drew a dime from her purse and extended it to the young man.
+
+"Here is your ten cents," she said.
+
+Mr. Wolfe protested.
+
+"Let your brother pay his own debts," he said.
+
+"No," said Shirley, "I insist. You see, my brother and I are such close
+relations that I almost feel I owe you this myself."
+
+"Well, if you insist," said the young man.
+
+He took the dime and dropped it in his pocket.
+
+"May I ask where you are going?"
+
+"Home," said Shirley briefly, for she wished to end the conversation,
+considering now that she had repaid her debt.
+
+"I see," smiled Mr. Wolfe; "and would you mind telling me just about
+where that is."
+
+"I'll tell you this much," said Shirley. "It's about three miles from
+Paris, on the Bethlehem pike."
+
+The young man uttered an exclamation of surprise.
+
+"I wonder if you know a Mr. Willing, who must live near you?"
+
+"He is my father," returned Shirley.
+
+"You don't say so! I am in luck, for I am going now to Willing's place."
+
+Shirley felt frightened.
+
+"You are?" she exclaimed.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"On business?"
+
+"Well, no, not exactly. You see, Mr. Willing and my father are old
+friends. Your father has often asked my father to stop and see him, and
+as I was near, I felt anxious to call."
+
+Shirley held out her hand.
+
+"I know you now," she said. "At first I didn't associate you with the
+Mr. Wolfe of whom father speaks so often, his old college friend."
+
+"I am the son of his old friend," said Mr. Wolfe.
+
+"You will be very welcome," said Shirley.
+
+She introduced him to Mabel, who had been much interested in their talk.
+
+Mr. Wolfe said after a few minutes, "I knew, of course, that Mr. Willing
+had a daughter, but I had never heard of twins."
+
+"Twins!" repeated Shirley.
+
+"Yes; this troublesome brother of yours."
+
+Shirley blushed.
+
+"I--we--he," she stammered.
+
+Mr. Wolfe looked at her for a few moments, then a smile spread over his
+face.
+
+"I see," he said.
+
+"You see what?" demanded Shirley anxiously.
+
+"The joke," replied young Wolfe drily.
+
+Shirley blushed, and hid her head in her hands.
+
+"Have no fear," said the young man, "I shall say nothing about it. If
+you care to tell me why you masqueraded, I shall be honored, but I shall
+not press you for an explanation; and I will never mention it."
+
+"Thank you," said Shirley. "There is no reason why I cannot tell you, if
+you will promise to keep the secret."
+
+"I promise," said he.
+
+Shirley then gave him an account of her adventures and their cause. When
+she finished, young Wolfe looked at her in undisguised admiration.
+
+"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "You are plucky. And you are doing all this for
+the boy you call Jimmy Smith?"
+
+"And my father too," said Shirley.
+
+"Yes," said Wolfe, "you are indeed a brave girl, and I am proud to know
+you."
+
+The train was now whistling for Paris.
+
+"You will, of course, ride out with us," said Shirley.
+
+"I shall be pleased," returned the young man, with a bow.
+
+Mr. Willing met them as they stepped from the train.
+
+Then he saw the young man. He looked at him long and earnestly, and then
+before either of the girls could speak, he said:
+
+"Surely this is Leonard Wolfe?"
+
+"I am," said the young man, smiling and extending his hand.
+
+"I thought I could not be mistaken," said Mr. Willing. "You are your
+father all over again."
+
+He turned to Shirley.
+
+"Mr. Wolfe," he said, "allow me to introduce you to my daughter." He
+turned to Mabel, "and----"
+
+"We have already met, Daddy," laughed Shirley. "Mr. Wolfe made himself
+known to us on the train."
+
+"But how----" began Mr. Willing.
+
+"Never mind now, Daddy," said Shirley. "It's a long story."
+
+"Well," muttered Mr. Willing to himself, "all right, but the young
+people now-a-days aren't like they were in my day."
+
+Then he climbed into the large automobile and Frank started it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.--JIMMY DECIDES.
+
+
+"Somebody's coming, Dad."
+
+It was Shirley who spoke. Mr. Willing looked up from his morning paper
+and turned his eyes toward the distant pike. Between the fields of tall
+hemp, a quarter of a mile away, a solitary horseman was approaching.
+
+"Can't make him out from here," said Mr. Willing, shading his eyes. "I
+wonder who he is?"
+
+"You'll know soon enough, Dad," laughed Shirley. "What's the use of
+wondering?"
+
+"Well, set out a box of cigars," said Mr. Willing, "and make a pitcher
+of lemonade. He'll be thirsty after his ride."
+
+Shirley went towards the pantry, and returned with the lemonade just as
+the rider dismounted. After a glance she started back in surprise.
+
+"Jones," she exclaimed.
+
+For the rider was indeed Mr. Jones, the man whom Shirley had travelled
+to Cincinnati to see.
+
+Shirley ran around the house to where Mabel and young Wolfe were
+swinging in the hammock, in the shade of a giant elm.
+
+"Jones is here," she cried breathlessly, "what shall we do?"
+
+"There is nothing to worry about," said Wolfe. "He will try no
+foolishness here, I'm sure."
+
+"It's not that I am afraid of," returned Shirley, "but if he should talk
+to Jimmy he is likely to find out that he has been fooled."
+
+"We must prevent their meeting," said Mabel.
+
+"But how?" demanded Shirley, in excited tones.
+
+"We'll see what can be done," said Wolfe.
+
+He arose and went quickly to the stable, where he engaged Jimmy in
+conversation. Jimmy should not leave his sight until Jones had taken his
+departure, Wolfe said to himself.
+
+Meantime Mr. Willing and Jones were holding a friendly conversation on
+the front porch. Shirley and Mabel strolled into the parlor, where,
+through the open window, they could hear all that was being said.
+
+"Yes, sir," said Jones, "it is regarded as a forgone conclusion that
+Gabriel will win the Derby. I'm backing him myself. Jupiter is the only
+other entry that has a chance."
+
+"I'm glad to hear you say that," returned Mr. Willing. "I am counting on
+Gabriel winning. If he loses--well, I don't mind telling you, it will
+hurt."
+
+"I suppose you are backing him strong?"
+
+"No," said Mr. Willing, "I'm not. To tell the truth, I am through
+betting."
+
+"Through betting?" asked Jones, in greatest surprise.
+
+"Yes, I have promised my daughter."
+
+"I see," said Jones, and changed the subject. "I wonder if I could get a
+look at Gabriel?"
+
+"Why, certainly. I'll have some one call Jimmy, and he will show you the
+horse."
+
+"Thanks," said Jones, and sat back to wait.
+
+In response to the message delivered to an old negro, Jimmy came to the
+house. He started a little at sight of Jones, but recovered quickly.
+Wolfe followed him.
+
+"Jimmy," said Mr. Willing, "Mr. Jones would like to have a look at the
+winner of the coming Derby. Take him to Gabriel."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Jimmy.
+
+He walked away, Jones following him. Wolfe would have accompanied him,
+but Mr. Willing hailed him.
+
+"Young man," he said, "I wish you would walk up to the pike and see if
+there is any mail in the box. I am expecting an important letter."
+
+Wolfe was at a loss what to do. To leave Jimmy and Jones alone might
+work mischief, but Mr. Willing was not a man who could be put off.
+
+"There's no hope for it," said Wolfe to himself, and set off toward the
+pike.
+
+Shirley and Mabel had overheard the conversation.
+
+"Come," said the former, "we must at least find out what Jones says to
+Jimmy."
+
+They left the house silently, and as silently followed the two to the
+stable. They managed to crawl into the stall next to Gabriel's without
+being discovered.
+
+"Well, how is everything?" asked Jones.
+
+"All right, sir," was the reply.
+
+"How's Gabriel, in condition?"
+
+"Perfectly fit, sir."
+
+"Good; and do you think you can 'pull' him without causing talk? It must
+be neatly done, you know, for should the judges suspect anything they
+will disqualify the winner."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Just what I say. Surely you haven't forgotten our conversation in
+Cincinnati?"
+
+"Cincinnati?" and Jimmy's blank look showed surprise.
+
+"Yes; the little talk we had about letting Jupiter win."
+
+"I don't know what you are talking about," protested Jimmy.
+
+Jones stepped back and looked at Jimmy sternly.
+
+"What are you trying to do, make a fool of me?" he asked. "I suppose
+you'll tell me in a minute you didn't see me in Cincinnati."
+
+"I didn't," replied Jimmy.
+
+Jones gave a long and expressive whistle.
+
+"I see," he said. "Your conscience has troubled you, eh? You are going
+back on your bargain."
+
+"I made no bargain with you," said Jimmy angrily.
+
+"You didn't? I suppose you didn't write me to meet you in Cincinnati?
+And I suppose that while there you didn't accept an offer of $500 to
+pull Gabriel in the Derby?"
+
+"I did not."
+
+Jones took a step forward and laid an angry hand on Jimmy's shoulder.
+
+"Don't you lie to me, you little shrimp," he snarled. "You have made the
+bargain, and you'll live up to it or I'll know the reason why."
+
+Jimmy jerked away angrily.
+
+"I don't know what you are talking about," he exclaimed. "I made no
+bargain with you. I never saw you but once before. Now you had better
+get out of this stable or I shall call Mr. Willing and tell him all I
+know about you."
+
+Jones tried to temporize. He could not disbelieve the evidence of his
+own eyes, and he naturally concluded that Jimmy was feigning ignorance
+for a purpose.
+
+"I see," he exclaimed. "You are a shrewd little chap. Holding out for
+more money, eh? Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll make it $750.
+What do you say to that, eh? See that Gabriel loses the race and I'll
+give you $750. Come, what do you say?"
+
+Jimmy hesitated.
+
+"That's a whole lot of money," persisted Jones.
+
+Jimmy brought his hands together suddenly.
+
+"Not for a million!" he declared stoutly.
+
+Again Jones became angry and, stretching forth a strong hand suddenly,
+took Jimmy by the shoulder and shook him.
+
+"You little whipper-snapper!" he said. "What do you mean by trifling
+with me like that? I'll show you."
+
+He drew back a huge fist, and in another second would have sent it
+crashing into Jimmy's face.
+
+But, at that, Shirley sprang from the stall. Her eyes flashed, and anger
+crimsoned her cheeks. In her hand she carried a short whip she had
+picked up in the stall.
+
+She rushed upon Jones.
+
+"You great big coward!" said Shirley.
+
+Jones, startled, turned just in time to catch the whip across his face.
+Shirley swung it with all her strength. Jones clapped his hands to his
+face and uttered a moan of pain.
+
+Then he turned slowly and, as he removed his hand, a huge welt showed
+where the whip had found its mark.
+
+"You shall answer for that blow," he said through his teeth. "You and
+your father both. I'll break him, if it takes every cent I have."
+
+Shirley eyed him scornfully.
+
+"Leave here at once," she commanded, "or I shall tell my father and he
+will have the niggers drive you off the place."
+
+Jones took a sudden step toward her. Shirley leaped back and again
+raised the whip.
+
+"One step nearer," she said quietly, "and I'll use the whip again."
+
+She drew herself up, and, extending a hand toward the door, cried:
+
+"Go!"
+
+With an evil smile on his lips, Jones bowed to her scornfully, and
+backed through the door. Then Shirley dropped the whip, and walked over
+to Jimmy, who was sitting upon the floor, his face in his hands.
+
+"Never mind, Jimmy," she said. "It was a great temptation and you are
+noble to refuse it."
+
+Jimmy raised his head.
+
+"Then it was you whom Jones saw in Cincinnati?" he asked.
+
+Shirley nodded.
+
+"I knew it," replied Jimmy. "When he was so persistent, I knew that he
+was not lying. Now I understand. Then you must have overheard our first
+conversation?"
+
+"Yes, I did."
+
+"And why didn't you tell your father?"
+
+"Because," said Shirley slowly, "I knew that I could save you from
+yourself. I was sure that you would not fail me, no matter how great the
+temptation; but I knew father would not believe that, if he once learned
+you had even considered the offer."
+
+"Miss Shirley," said Jimmy brokenly, "I can never thank you enough.
+Never will I be tempted again. Never!"
+
+"I am sure of it," replied Shirley, "and for that reason I shall say
+nothing about it to Dad."
+
+"You will find in the future that I am to be trusted," said Jimmy
+simply.
+
+"I am sure of it, Jimmy," Shirley answered quietly.
+
+She held out her hand to him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.--DANGEROUS DAYS.
+
+
+"Jimmy," said Shirley after supper that evening, calling the boy to one
+side, "do you think there is any danger of any one tampering with
+Gabriel?"
+
+"I hadn't thought of that, Miss Shirley," replied Jimmy in some
+surprise. "What made you think of such a thing?"
+
+"I don't know," returned Shirley. "I just happened to think of it."
+
+"It's certain," said Mabel, who came up at that moment, "that Jones and
+his friends will take every means in their power to keep Gabriel from
+winning the race."
+
+"That's just my idea," said Shirley.
+
+"Then, in the future," said Jimmy, "I shall sleep in the stable."
+
+"But what good will that do?" asked Mabel. "You are nothing but a boy.
+You would be no match for them."
+
+"He shall have my revolver," suggested Shirley. She turned to Jimmy.
+"Can you use it?"
+
+"Yes," replied the lad.
+
+"Good; then I shall get it for you at once."
+
+She left them, and, returning a few moments later, placed the weapon in
+Jimmy's hands.
+
+"You will sleep in the stable to-night?" she asked.
+
+"Yes," replied Jimmy. "Jones has not returned to Louisville, and I
+believe he might come back here in the middle of the night."
+
+"So do I," agreed Shirley.
+
+A clock in the house struck eight.
+
+"I'll go to my room and get a few things, and then return to the
+stable," said Jimmy.
+
+Coming downstairs, he bade the girls good-night and went away to his
+unusual quarters.
+
+He went straight to Gabriel's stall.
+
+"I'm going to stay with you to-night, old fellow," he said, patting the
+horse's head.
+
+He climbed up into the loft and threw down an extra quantity of hay,
+which he strewed about the far corner of the stall. On this he spread a
+blanket he had brought with him from the house. Then he extinguished his
+lantern, and lay down.
+
+He did not know how long he had been sleeping when he was awakened by
+the sound of the stall door rattling. Jimmy was a light sleeper. He sat
+up quickly and groped for the revolver he had placed beside him. With
+the weapon in his hand he felt more secure.
+
+Again the door rattled. Jimmy sat perfectly still. Then there came the
+sound of low voices outside.
+
+Gabriel, awakened at this hour of the night, whinnied uneasily. Jimmy
+rose, and slowly and quietly made his way to the animal's side, judging
+his position by the horse's breathing.
+
+He laid a hand upon the animal's back, and Gabriel grew still.
+
+Again the door rattled.
+
+"Sounds like they were trying to find the lock," muttered Jimmy beneath
+his breath.
+
+Still he made no sound.
+
+At first he had thought of lighting his lantern, but second thought had
+shown him the utter foolishness of such action. It might frighten away
+the men on the outside, or else it would make him an easy target should
+they be bent upon serious mischief.
+
+"They'll get the door open in a minute," the boy muttered to himself,
+and he determined to be ready for them.
+
+There was a click, and Jimmy knew that the intruders had succeeded in
+forcing the lock. A moment later the top of the stall door swung inward.
+
+The light from a lantern flashed into Jimmy's face, and he saw a hand
+stretched forth to open the catch of the bottom door. He saw two faces,
+one of which he recognized as that of Jones. The other man he had never
+seen before.
+
+Without stopping to think, Jimmy raised his revolver and fired, even as
+Jones, having caught sight of the lad, uttered an exclamation of dismay.
+
+A groan followed the shot and then Jimmy heard Jones cry:
+
+"Quick, Dick! He is armed. Put out the light!"
+
+A moment more and complete darkness enveloped the stable.
+
+Jimmy dropped to the ground, keeping as close to the wall as he could,
+for he did not want to get in the way of Gabriel's hoofs. Frightened by
+the shot, Gabriel was rearing and plunging about. Several times his
+forefeet came down close to Jimmy's head, but fortunately the lad was
+untouched.
+
+Then, as Gabriel became more quiet, Jimmy again heard a hand fumbling at
+the catch, and caught a muttered voice:
+
+"If we can get in we'll soon settle him!"
+
+Quickly the lad raised the revolver and fired twice. There came a howl
+of anguish, and a voice cried:
+
+"I'm hit."
+
+And then in Jones' voice:
+
+"Some one is coming! Run!"
+
+Jimmy heard the two men racing toward the stable door.
+
+Taking care to avoid Gabriel's hoofs, the lad leaped to the door and in
+a moment was on the outside. He paused, however, to shut and lock the
+door of the stall.
+
+As he reached the other door, he saw two dark figures spring into the
+saddles of waiting horses and go galloping toward the pike.
+
+Jimmy sent another shot after them, and turned as he felt a hand upon
+his arm.
+
+"Here, here, what is the meaning of this?" came Mr. Willing's voice.
+
+Jimmy turned to face his employer.
+
+"Two men just tried to get into Gabriel's stall," he replied.
+
+"What!" exclaimed Mr. Willing, starting back in great surprise.
+
+Jimmy repeated his statement.
+
+"It's true, sir," he added. "I frightened them away before they could do
+any damage, and I think I hit one of them."
+
+"Did you recognize them?"
+
+"One of them," was the lad's reply.
+
+"Who was he?"
+
+"Mr. Jones, sir."
+
+"You mean the man who was here to see me to-day?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Come to the house with me," said Mr. Willing sternly. "There is more to
+this matter than appears on the surface. How did you happen to be
+sleeping in the stable?"
+
+"It was Miss Shirley, sir, who first thought that Gabriel might come to
+harm."
+
+"And what does she know about this matter?"
+
+"She knows all about it, sir."
+
+"I'll wake her now and find out," declared Mr. Willing.
+
+But there was no need to call Shirley, nor Mabel, either, for that
+matter. Both girls had heard the sound of the shots, and had immediately
+arisen from bed and begun to dress. Mabel's father also had been aroused
+and now came from the house with them. As Jimmy and Mr. Willing
+approached, Mr. Ashton called out:
+
+"What's the matter, Willing?"
+
+Mr. Willing explained in a few quick sentences. Then he turned to his
+daughter.
+
+"Come to my room," he said. "I want to ask you some questions."
+
+Shirley, Mabel, and Mr. Ashton followed Mr. Willing and Jimmy.
+
+"Now, Shirley," said Mr. Willing, sternly, "tell me all that you know
+about this matter."
+
+Shirley hesitated, but knew well it was useless. So, starting with the
+first conversation she had overheard between Jones and Jimmy, she told
+it all. At the conclusion of her story, Mr. Willing turned a grave look
+upon Jimmy.
+
+"So you thought of selling me out, eh?"
+
+Jimmy hung his head but made no reply.
+
+"Daddy," interrupted Shirley, "he did no such thing. He was just
+tempted; that's all."
+
+"That he should even listen to the voice of the tempter is enough for
+me," said Mr. Willing. "Smith, you may pack your clothes and leave the
+first thing in the morning."
+
+Jimmy bowed his head, and started to leave the room.
+
+But Shirley ran across the room and stopped him. Standing between him
+and the door through which he would have left, she turned flashing eyes
+upon her father.
+
+"Shame upon you," she said, pointing an accusing finger at him. "But for
+Jimmy, there is no telling what might have happened to Gabriel this
+night. You know as well as I do that Jimmy is perfectly honest. You
+shan't drive him away."
+
+"This is my business," said Mr. Willing.
+
+"And it is mine, too, when I see you doing an injustice," replied
+Shirley. "You would be terribly sorry in the morning, and I don't want
+you to have any such regrets."
+
+"Thank you, Miss Shirley," said Jimmy quietly, "but it is best that I
+go."
+
+He moved toward the door.
+
+Mr. Willing's manner underwent a sudden change. He turned sharply to
+Jimmy.
+
+"Didn't you just hear my daughter tell you to stay?" he demanded.
+
+"Why--why----" began Jimmy.
+
+"Don't stand there and stutter at me," said Mr. Willing. "My daughter's
+wishes must be obeyed. What do you mean by trying to run away?"
+
+In spite of herself, Shirley was forced to smile. Mr. Willing noticed
+this smile, and his face grew red. He turned again to Jimmy, held out
+his hand, and with an effort that was apparent, said:
+
+"Jimmy, I beg your pardon. I should have known better. And forgive my
+last outburst, too. If you know how hard it is for me to admit that I
+was wrong----"
+
+Shirley cut short the rest of the apology by throwing her arms tightly
+about her father's neck.
+
+"You are just the best Daddy in the world," she said, and gave him a
+resounding kiss. "I knew you didn't mean it."
+
+"I wouldn't lose Jimmy for the world," said Mr. Willing.
+
+At this moment a voice was heard in the hall.
+
+"What's the matter?" came Leonard Wolfe's voice. "I thought I heard a
+shot."
+
+"The shot," said Shirley, trying not to smile, "was fired half an hour
+ago. You must have been some distance away if it took this long for the
+sound of it to reach you."
+
+Wolfe's face grew scarlet.
+
+"I----" he began, but Shirley interrupted him.
+
+"It amounts to nothing," she said.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.--MORE TROUBLES FOR JIMMY.
+
+
+Jimmy returned to the stable and the rest went to bed. The night passed
+without further incident.
+
+"Jimmy," said Mr. Willing the following morning, "I want you to go to
+town and buy a new strong lock, one that cannot be opened from the
+outside. We will take no further chances with Jones and his crowd."
+
+"Very well, sir," replied the boy, and a half hour later started on his
+way, riding one of the horses.
+
+The lock purchased, Jimmy, in an unfrequented part of town, was just
+preparing to mount for his homeward journey, when a rude hand was
+suddenly laid on his shoulder. Jimmy turned about quickly and looked
+into the smiling face of Jones.
+
+"You listen to me, son," said Jones. "We haven't been able to get
+together so far, but I still think I can make it worth your while to do
+what I ask."
+
+"I don't want anything to do with you," replied Jimmy.
+
+"Come, now," said Jones, "don't be stubborn. Come with me to where we
+can talk without fear of being overheard."
+
+Jimmy hesitated.
+
+"Perhaps I can learn something," he told himself. Aloud he said: "All
+right."
+
+Jones smiled and led the way down the street. He turned in the door of
+what appeared to be a small hotel, and walked up the steps, Jimmy
+following.
+
+Jones went into a little room, and drew two chairs up to the table that
+stood in the center.
+
+"Now we can get down to business," he said.
+
+Jimmy sat down, and at that moment the door opened again and a newcomer
+appeared upon the scene. He was young, but large and apparently very
+strong. He took a seat at the table without a word. Then Jimmy noticed
+for the first time that his hand was tightly bandaged.
+
+"This, Dick," said Jones to the newcomer and indicating Jimmy, "is the
+youngster who put the bullet through your hand."
+
+Dick jumped up.
+
+"Is that so," he cried. "Then I have a score to settle with him."
+
+He advanced toward Jimmy, but Jones stopped him.
+
+"Not now," he said; "at any rate, not if he will do my bidding."
+
+Dick sat down again.
+
+"Now," said Jones to Jimmy, "I am going to give you one last chance to
+do as I have asked. I am willing yet to pay the stipulated amount.
+However, in case you refuse, I might as well tell you that I shall use
+other means. Gabriel must not win the Derby. In offering you the chance
+I have, I am simply taking the easiest way. If you refuse or I think you
+will play me false, I shall take other steps. What do you say?"
+
+Jimmy got slowly to his feet.
+
+"What other means could you use?" he said.
+
+"Plenty," was the reply. "I might dope the horse, or shoot him in the
+leg, or I might even burn the stable."
+
+Jimmy shuddered.
+
+"You wouldn't do that," he said.
+
+"Wouldn't I?" exclaimed Jones. "Don't try me. I will go the limit to
+make sure that Gabriel doesn't win. Now, what is your answer?"
+
+Jimmy drew himself up.
+
+"The same as it was yesterday," he said quietly. "You can't buy me."
+
+"I can't, eh?" exclaimed Jones, springing to his feet. "Let me ask you
+something. Suppose you should disappear; who would ride Gabriel in the
+Derby?"
+
+Jimmy was frightened.
+
+"Why, I don't know," he replied. "Nobody but me can ride Gabriel. But
+why do you ask that?"
+
+"Because," said Jones slowly, "you are about to disappear."
+
+"Disappear?" repeated Jimmy.
+
+"Exactly. I am going to keep you out of sight until after the race."
+
+Jimmy had surmised what Jones meant at the other's first words, but he
+had feigned ignorance, playing for time. He had been edging closer and
+closer toward the door.
+
+Suddenly he darted toward it and laid his hand on the knob. Jones and
+his companion were after him with a shout. Unfortunately for Jimmy, the
+door opened inward, and he was forced to step back to let it swing wide.
+This caused his undoing.
+
+"You would, would you," exclaimed the villain, as he drew Jimmy forcibly
+back into the room. "Take that, and that, then, and see if it will teach
+you I am not to be trifled with."
+
+He cuffed Jimmy's ears soundly. Then he hurled the boy into a chair.
+
+"You sit there until I tell you to get up," he said angrily, "or I'll
+give you a little more."
+
+Jimmy realized that for the time being escape was impossible, and he sat
+back in his chair, determined to make the best of a bad situation. He
+said nothing.
+
+"What are you going to do with him, sir?" asked the youth called Dick.
+
+"Keep him safe until after the race," was the reply.
+
+"But you can't keep him here all that time."
+
+"That's so. I'll have to find some place for him."
+
+"Well," said Dick, "I know where you can put him."
+
+"Good; where is it?"
+
+"I have an old uncle who lives down the creek. He has a little house
+down there, and for a small sum he'll do almost anything."
+
+"And you think he'll keep this kid quiet until after the big race?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Then you go and fix it up with him. Tell him it will mean $50 to him."
+
+Dick left the room, and Jones turned to Jimmy.
+
+"You see now what a fool you are," he exclaimed. "You might just as well
+have the money if you had brains. Now you won't get a cent."
+
+"I don't want it," replied Jimmy quietly, "and if you think you can hold
+me a prisoner till after the race you are mistaken."
+
+"Is that so?" sneered Jones. "And how do you figure you are going to get
+away?"
+
+"That is my business," said Jimmy.
+
+Jones laughed aloud. He got up from his chair and went toward the door.
+
+"I'm going out for a few minutes," he said, "and I am going to lock you
+in. You can yell all you please. No one will pay any attention to you."
+
+He went through the door, and Jimmy heard the key turn in the lock on
+the outside. No sooner had the man gone than Jimmy walked quickly toward
+a little window in the back of the room and looked out. Then he shook
+his head gloomily.
+
+Suddenly he was struck with an idea. He drew a piece of paper and a
+pencil from his pocket, and seating himself at the table wrote rapidly.
+Then again he approached the window.
+
+A few minutes later a small boy passed along the street below. Jimmy
+whistled sharply, and the boy looked up. Jimmy gesticulated violently,
+and the lad below stopped.
+
+Quickly Jimmy drew out his pocket knife, and a silver quarter--all the
+money he had--and these he wrapped in the paper upon which he had
+written, and dropped them through the window.
+
+They fell almost at the boy's feet. The latter stooped and picked them
+up. He glanced at the address Jimmy had written, then looked up and
+nodded. He pocketed the knife and the quarter and then hurried away.
+
+Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief, and sank into a chair. He was still
+there when Jones returned.
+
+"Decided to make the best of your lot, eh?" said Jones, noticing that,
+apparently, the lad had given up.
+
+"I guess I'll have to," was Jimmy's reply.
+
+"I'm glad you are that sensible. I don't want to use force unless it is
+necessary."
+
+Now Jimmy bethought himself it would be a good plan to temporize with
+his captor.
+
+"Look here, Jones," he said, not deigning to use the prefix, "Mr.," "I
+have been thinking. Why can't we get together on this thing?"
+
+Jones laughed amusedly.
+
+"So you are going to try that on me," he said. "It's too late now, son,
+and I am too old a bird to be caught like that. Think you can fool me,
+eh, and then go back and tell Willing all about it. No. You had your
+chance and you refused; and to tell the truth, I am glad of it. I will
+be money ahead."
+
+Half an hour later Dick returned.
+
+"What luck?" asked Jones.
+
+"The best," was Dick's reply. "My uncle said he would be glad to keep
+him. And he'll guard him carefully, never fear."
+
+"That is settled then. Now how about getting him there?"
+
+"Well, I would say that the thing to do is to get a closed carriage.
+It's still light, you know, and if he made a break we might have
+trouble, for some one would be sure to see us."
+
+"A good plan. Better go now and get a carriage."
+
+Dick again turned toward the door. Jones called after him.
+
+"And do the driving yourself."
+
+Fifteen minutes later Dick returned and announced that the carriage was
+at the door. Jones turned to Jimmy.
+
+"Now," he said harshly, "I want you to understand that I will stand no
+nonsense. Make a false move when you go out the door, or utter a sound,
+and I'll hit you over the head with this," and he displayed an
+evil-looking cane.
+
+Jimmy made no reply, and went through the door between Jones and his
+companion.
+
+At first Jimmy had thought of flight, but the nearness of his captors
+made this impossible. He took his seat without a word, and soon was
+being driven away.
+
+Before a small frame house, at the far end of town, upon the very brink
+of the creek, Dick pulled up, and Jones and Jimmy alighted. As they
+approached the house, an old man came to meet them.
+
+"And is this the boy I am to guard?" he asked.
+
+"It is," replied Jones.
+
+"Well, I'll guard him," was the reply, and the old man bared his ugly
+teeth in a snarl.
+
+He took Jimmy by the coat collar, and twisted it until the boy gasped.
+
+"Get in the house there, you!" he commanded.
+
+Jimmy obeyed. Jones climbed back into the carriage and was soon being
+driven away. The old man followed Jimmy closely, snarling at every step.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.--THE LONG SEARCH.
+
+
+"I wonder what is detaining Jimmy?"
+
+It was Mr. Willing who spoke. Mr. Willing, Mr. Ashton, young Wolfe,
+Shirley and Mabel were still seated at the supper table.
+
+"I can't understand why he wasn't back hours ago," declared Mr. Willing.
+"That's the trouble with boys, you can't depend on them. He has probably
+stopped to play somewhere."
+
+"I don't believe Jimmy would do that," said Shirley. "Besides, he knows
+that he will have to guard Gabriel to-night."
+
+"Perhaps," said Mr. Ashton, "that is the reason he is in no hurry to
+return. The chances are he has had enough of that job, after his
+experience last night."
+
+"I don't believe Jimmy is that kind of a boy, father," said Mabel.
+
+"Nor I," spoke up young Wolfe. "He strikes me as a brave and true lad.
+Perhaps something has happened to him."
+
+"And what could have happened to him?" demanded Mr. Willing. "He knows
+the way home, and if he couldn't get here, certainly he should have
+sense enough to telephone."
+
+"I don't know what to think," said Shirley.
+
+It was Mabel who finally guessed the answer to the mystery.
+
+"Maybe Mr. Jones has waylaid him," she suggested.
+
+Shirley sprang to her feet.
+
+"My gracious!" she exclaimed. "Why didn't we think of that before? Of
+course, that is what's the matter. What shall we do?"
+
+"Be quiet, Shirley," said her father. "In the first place, we do not
+know that that is the reason. And in the second place, even if we did
+there is nothing we could do to-night. And perhaps Mabel's theory is all
+wrong. Jimmy is likely to come strolling in any time."
+
+"I believe Mabel is right," said Leonard. "From what I have heard this
+man Jones would stop at nothing. As Jimmy is not here, I'll volunteer to
+sleep in the stable to-night."
+
+"But I cannot permit that," said Mr. Willing. "You are my guest. I----"
+
+"Nevertheless," Leonard interrupted, "I am going to sleep there. The
+chances are that the conspirators will not be active again to-night, but
+it is always best to be prepared."
+
+"Well," said Mr. Willing, "I won't say no if you insist. I'm sure that I
+shall rest easier, for if anything should happen that Gabriel could not
+run in the Derby----"
+
+He broke off. "Thank you," he added.
+
+"Well," said Mr. Ashton, later in the evening, as they still waited for
+some word from Jimmy, "there is no use sitting up all night. We might as
+well turn in, so we can get busy early in the morning."
+
+This suggestion was acted upon at once. Young Wolfe, with a lantern,
+made his way to the stable, where he took up his vigil just outside
+Gabriel's stall, for the animal would not allow him to enter. The others
+went to bed.
+
+The night passed peacefully, and all were up bright and early in the
+morning.
+
+"I am going to town immediately and see if I can learn anything," said
+Shirley at the breakfast table.
+
+"You'll stay right here," said Mr. Willing decidedly. "I'll do the
+looking myself."
+
+"I'll go too," said Leonard.
+
+"Then why can't we go?" asked Mabel.
+
+"Well," said Mr. Willing, "I have no objection to your going with
+Leonard, because he can keep you out of mischief. I am going to start
+immediately. You can follow as soon you are ready. I'll meet you at
+Wilson's drug store at noon."
+
+He arose and ordered his horse saddled at once, and before half an hour
+had passed he was well started on his journey.
+
+It was fully an hour later before the others were ready to start in the
+large touring car, and by that time Mr. Willing was already in town.
+
+Just as the girls were stepping into the car the distant yard gate
+opened, and the figure of a little boy came into sight.
+
+Mabel was the first to catch sight of him.
+
+"Who is that?" she asked. "At first I thought it was Jimmy."
+
+"We'll wait and see what he wants," Shirley decided.
+
+The youngster came up to them a few moments later.
+
+"What is it, little boy?" asked Mabel.
+
+"I got a note for Mr. Willing," came the reply.
+
+"Who from?"
+
+"I dunno. A fellow threw it out the winder to me."
+
+"A message from Jimmy," exclaimed Shirley, as she jumped from the car.
+"Give it to me," she commanded.
+
+But the boy held back.
+
+"It's for Mr. Willing," he protested.
+
+"I am Mr. Willing's daughter," said Shirley. "Come, give me the note."
+
+She took it from his hand, and opened it eagerly.
+
+"Who's it from, Shirley?" asked Mabel. "Is it from Jimmy?"
+
+"Yes," replied Shirley quietly. "Listen." She read:
+
+"Held prisoner by Jones. Am going to be taken to some house on creek and
+guarded till after race. Don't know where.
+
+"JIMMY."
+
+"I knew it," said Mabel. "I was sure Jimmy was in trouble of some kind."
+
+"But how are we to find the house?" asked Shirley.
+
+"I don't know," replied Mabel.
+
+"We'll have to tackle them all, that's all there is about that," said
+Leonard decidedly. "And the sooner we start the better, if you ask me."
+
+"Let's hurry, then," said Shirley anxiously.
+
+"Wait a moment," said Mabel. "Are you going to let the little boy walk
+back to town?"
+
+"Of course not," replied Shirley. "But I was so excited I forgot all
+about him. Jump in, little boy."
+
+The boy needed no second bidding, and soon the machine was speeding
+toward the pike.
+
+"Can you take us to the place where the note was dropped?" asked
+Shirley.
+
+"Yes'm," was the reply.
+
+True to his word, the little fellow directed the car to the exact spot
+where he had picked up the note.
+
+"You wait here," said young Wolfe, alighting, "and I'll run up and
+interview this fellow Jones, if he's in."
+
+"I'll go too," said Shirley.
+
+"So will I," declared Mabel.
+
+Young Wolfe hesitated.
+
+"You know what your father said."
+
+"Never mind," said Shirley. "Surely there is no danger."
+
+The two girls followed Leonard into the place. Leonard knocked on
+several doors before he received an answer, but an old woman finally
+directed him to the room occupied by Jones and Dick.
+
+Leonard rapped loudly on the door. A moment later the door swung inward,
+and Jones poked his head out.
+
+"What do you want?" he demanded.
+
+"I want to see you," said Leonard briefly, and put his weight against
+the door, as Jones tried to close it.
+
+"You can't come in here," Jones protested.
+
+"But I'm already in, my friend," said Leonard.
+
+"Who are you?" asked Jones.
+
+"Why," said Leonard, "my name is Wolfe, and I am a friend of these young
+ladies here," he added, as the two girls appeared through the door.
+
+Jones took a step back, surprise in his face.
+
+"Well, what do you want?" he demanded.
+
+"We want to know what you have done with Jimmy," declared Shirley,
+approaching closer and clenching her little fists.
+
+"Jimmy?" repeated Jones, trying to look unconcerned. "And who is Jimmy,
+pray?"
+
+"You know who Jimmy is," flared Mabel. "Tell us where he is."
+
+"Oh, you mean Mr. Willing's stable boy?"
+
+"Yes," said Shirley.
+
+"How should I know?" asked Jones, throwing wide his arms in a gesture of
+ignorance.
+
+Young Wolfe stepped close to Jones.
+
+"There is no use pretending ignorance," he said quietly. "Show him the
+note, Shirley."
+
+Shirley drew the note from her handbag and passed it to Jones, who read
+it carefully. Then the latter looked up and smiled.
+
+"I don't blame you for suspecting me, in view of this note," he said
+with a smile, "but just the same I shall have to deny the implication.
+The boy is fooling you. I know nothing of his whereabouts."
+
+"That," said Leonard calmly, "is a lie."
+
+Jones took a threatening step forward, but Leonard did not give an inch.
+
+"A liar, am I?" said Jones. "I'll show you."
+
+His arm came up from his side, and he aimed a terrific blow at Leonard's
+head. But quick as he was Leonard was quicker.
+
+With a movement he avoided the blow, and stepping forward seized Jones'
+arm before the latter could recover himself. He twisted it quickly and
+sharply, and Jones stepped back with a cry of pain.
+
+"None of that," said Leonard sternly. "Now, will you tell us where Jimmy
+is or not?"
+
+"I have told you I don't know," said Jones.
+
+With a sudden wrench he freed his arm and darted through the door before
+Leonard could make a move to stop him.
+
+"After him quick," said Shirley. "He'll get away."
+
+Leonard and the two girls darted through the door and down the steps
+after the fleeing man, but when they reached the sidewalk Jones had
+disappeared.
+
+"We've lost him," she cried.
+
+"Yes," said Mabel, "and he'll hurry to the place where Jimmy is being
+held, and take him some place else. It was a mistake to show him that
+note, for he is aware we know that Jimmy is confined some place on the
+creek."
+
+"Then the best thing to do," said Leonard, "is to get down by the creek.
+We may be fortunate enough to hit the right direction."
+
+"Let's go at once then," said Shirley.
+
+Quickly the three clambered into the car, and Shirley, who was driving,
+started it off with a lurch.
+
+"Let's hope we shall not be too late," she cried over her shoulder, as
+the car, setting speed regulations at naught, gathered headway.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.--ON THE TRAIL.
+
+
+The little town of Paris stretches out for a considerable distance along
+Stoner Creek, and for this reason Shirley realized that the chances of
+picking the locality where Jimmy was held prisoner were slim.
+Nevertheless, there was always the chance that they might be fortunate
+enough to find the place.
+
+The car rushed down Main Street, and turned to the right just off the
+bridge. It was Shirley's plan to get to the extreme edge of the town and
+then come back along the creek slowly. They had made good time, and it
+was hardly probable that Jones could have reached the creek before them.
+
+They reached the northern extremity of the town without a sight of
+Jones, and then turning the car about, Shirley drove south slowly.
+Several times the girl stopped to ask questions of pedestrians, but the
+result was always the same. No one seemed to know Jones, and none knew
+of any house containing a prisoner.
+
+Finally Leonard called upon Shirley to stop.
+
+"I'll get out and do a little inquiring at some of the houses along
+here," he said.
+
+He alighted. At the first house he approached he gained no information,
+nor at the second nor at the third. At the fourth, however, he came upon
+a clue.
+
+"Somebody told me," said the woman who answered his knock, "that a
+closed carriage drove up to old Briggs' house yesterday and that three
+men were in it. One went into the house with Briggs, and the others
+drove away."
+
+"Did you hear what he looked like?"
+
+"Well, he was young. That's all I know."
+
+"And where does this man Briggs live?"
+
+"About eight blocks south, in a little shanty. I know his nephew from
+Cincinnati has been staying with him. Anybody down there can tell you
+where Briggs lives."
+
+Leonard thanked the woman and returned to the waiting automobile. He
+told the girls what he had learned, and Shirley drove the car in the
+direction of Briggs' home.
+
+"Better stop a block away," said Leonard.
+
+Shirley did so, and again Leonard climbed out. Through inquiry he
+learned which was Briggs' house and hastened to it. An old man answered
+his knock.
+
+"Are you Mr. Briggs?" asked Leonard.
+
+"Yes," was the reply. "What do you want?"
+
+There was something in the man's manner that convinced Leonard he was on
+the right track. He determined to try a bold shot.
+
+"I want to see your prisoner," he said sternly.
+
+"Prisoner," echoed the old man, taking a step backward. "What prisoner?"
+
+"The boy you are holding for Jones."
+
+The old man recovered himself.
+
+"I haven't any prisoner," he said.
+
+"Oh, yes you have," said Leonard, "and I want him right now.
+Understand?"
+
+The old man looked at him with an evil leer.
+
+"Get out of here," he shouted, and gave Leonard an unexpected push.
+
+Leonard, taken unaware, stumbled back, and at the same moment the old
+man stepped inside the house, and closed and locked the door.
+
+Leonard sprang forward again and laid hold of the knob. Then he put his
+weight against the door, but it would not budge. He walked back to where
+the girls waited for him.
+
+"He's in there, all right," he said grimly. "But I can't get in."
+
+"Can't you break down the door?" asked Shirley.
+
+"I might," said Leonard, "but if I did I probably would be shot for my
+pains. You can't force your way into a man's house, you know."
+
+"Then what are we to do?" exclaimed Mabel.
+
+"Call the police," said Leonard grimly. "They'll go in, all right,
+whether they have a right to do so or not."
+
+"Let's hurry then," said Shirley anxiously. "There is no telling what
+may happen to Jimmy unless we make haste."
+
+Leonard climbed back into the machine.
+
+"To the police station at once," he said.
+
+Just as the machine started off, Shirley's attention was attracted by a
+man who darted suddenly across the street and into the rear of the house
+Leonard had just left.
+
+"Jones!" she exclaimed.
+
+Leonard and Mabel also had seen the hurrying figure.
+
+"That's who it is, all right," said Mabel.
+
+"There is no doubt about it," declared Leonard. "We'll round them all up
+together."
+
+At the police station Leonard explained the situation in a few words.
+Two men were detailed to go with them and investigate. All climbed into
+the machine, and in a few moments were back before Briggs' home.
+
+Leonard and the two girls approached the door with the two policemen.
+One of the officers rapped loudly upon the door with his club. There was
+no answer, and the policeman rapped again. Still there was no answer.
+
+"Open up, Briggs, or we shall break the door down," called one of the
+officers.
+
+Again no answer.
+
+"Kick her in, Bill," said the first officer.
+
+He suited the action to the word, and there was a resounding crash as
+his boot struck the door a hard blow. The second officer also delivered
+several heavy kicks.
+
+There was the sound of splintering wood, and in a few moments the door
+gave way, shattered. The officers rushed in with poised clubs, and
+Leonard and the two girls followed them closely.
+
+Straight through the house they went, but their quest was vain. There
+was no one there.
+
+Leonard, glancing up, spied what appeared to be an attic.
+
+"Give me a hand up," he called to one of the two policemen.
+
+The latter obeyed and Leonard scrambled up above.
+
+"Be careful," whispered Shirley.
+
+Leonard struck a match and looked around. There was no one there.
+
+"Nobody home," he said, after he had dropped down again.
+
+"Where did they go?" demanded Shirley anxiously.
+
+"My gracious!" exclaimed Mabel. "Why didn't we think of it before?"
+
+"Think of what?" asked Shirley quickly.
+
+"Why, the creek. They have probably escaped in a launch."
+
+Without pausing to reply, Shirley turned and darted from the house
+toward the creek, the others following closely. Several rowboats lay
+idly by, and in one of them, fishing, were two men.
+
+"Did you see anything of Briggs?" demanded Shirley.
+
+"Yes, Miss," said one of the men. "He, and three others, just left in a
+launch. Is anything the matter?"
+
+"Yes," said one of the officers. "They are a bunch of crooks, and have
+kidnapped a boy."
+
+"You don't say," exclaimed one of the fishermen. "Do you want to catch
+'em?"
+
+"Yes," said Shirley eagerly, "but how can we?"
+
+"Well, I have a launch about a hundred yards from here," said the man.
+"She is all ready to move, and can outrun anything on the creek."
+
+As he spoke, he came ashore and started along the bank at a run.
+Shirley, Mabel, Leonard and the two officers followed close at his
+heels.
+
+Another moment, and they came upon a large, powerful launch moored to a
+landing.
+
+"Climb in," said the man.
+
+The others needed no second invitation. Shirley, with the two officers,
+took their places in the bow of the little craft, while Mabel and
+Leonard were forced to remain further aft.
+
+The fisherman pushed the launch off, and scrambled aboard. Then he
+turned quickly to the engine, and a faint sputtering a few moments later
+gave evidence that the launch was ready for the chase.
+
+Gradually the little craft gathered headway, until she seemed to be
+flying through the water. Through scores of rowboats and other small
+boats, she wormed her way at terrific speed, and at last, far ahead, the
+pursuers could make out the form of a second launch, also chugging along
+at full speed.
+
+"We'll get 'em," said the fisherman confidently. "The _Sybil_ can outrun
+anything on the creek."
+
+"The _Sybil_, a pretty name for a launch," Shirley thought, excited as
+she was.
+
+She kept her eyes ahead, and soon it became evident that the pursuers
+were gaining. They were now far beyond the town, and one of the officers
+spoke.
+
+"To tell the truth, we really have no authority out of the city, but
+we'll take a hand just the same. Might makes right, you know."
+
+"We are likely to need you," said Leonard.
+
+Now the _Sybil_ had gained sufficiently for those aboard to make out the
+faces of those in the pursued craft. It was as they had expected. The
+occupants of the first boat were Jones, Briggs, Jimmy and another young
+man, whom none recognized.
+
+"Guess that is Briggs' nephew from Cincinnati," said Leonard,
+remembering the conversation he had had with the woman who told him of
+Briggs' prisoner.
+
+Shirley glanced at the young man in the other boat curiously.
+
+"I seem to have seen him some place before," she said. "I can't place
+him, though."
+
+Suddenly Jones was seen to rise up in the other boat, and Leonard,
+divining his intention, cried out in a loud voice:
+
+"Look out! Duck!"
+
+In spite of their surprise, all obeyed.
+
+From the first boat there came a puff of smoke, followed by a sharp
+crack. Something whined over the _Sybil_.
+
+"They are shooting at us," said Leonard calmly. "You girls keep down in
+the boat."
+
+"Two can play at that game," said one of the officers.
+
+He drew his own revolver, and brought it to bear. But before he could
+fire, Shirley sprang to her feet and seized his arm.
+
+"Careful," she said, "you are likely to hit Jimmy."
+
+The officer lowered his weapon.
+
+At the same moment Jones fired again.
+
+Leonard clapped his right hand to his left shoulder.
+
+Shirley noticed this move.
+
+"What's the matter?" she asked anxiously. "Are you hit?"
+
+"Just a scratch, I guess," replied Leonard quietly. "We'll make them pay
+for that."
+
+"We will," agreed Shirley through clenched teeth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.--DEFEAT.
+
+
+"Look out! He's going to shoot again," cried one of the officers. "Down,
+quick!"
+
+Jones was standing aft in the launch and had levelled his revolver in
+deliberate aim. But before he could pull the trigger, there was an
+unexpected move in the boat.
+
+The third member of the party of conspirators--the young man whose face
+was so strangely familiar to Shirley--suddenly sprang to his feet, and
+before Jones could realize his intention, had wrested the revolver from
+his hand with a quick move. Jones turned upon him angrily, and they
+grappled.
+
+For several moments they swayed unsteadily in the boat, causing it to
+rock violently; and then Jones, putting forth a strenuous effort, sent
+his opponent hurling overboard and by another and more strenuous effort,
+succeeded in regaining his own balance just as it seemed that he, too,
+must tumble into the water.
+
+"Slow down!" cried Shirley to the fisherman. "We must pick him up."
+
+The owner of the boat complied, and steered the craft to where the
+unfortunate youth's head showed above the water at that moment. Leonard
+stretched forth his unwounded arm, and succeeded in dragging the victim
+aboard, where he sank to the bottom of the boat panting.
+
+Shirley took one look at the bedraggled youth, and then exclaimed aloud:
+
+"Dick!"
+
+Their erstwhile opponent looked at her in surprise. It was plain that he
+did not recognize her.
+
+"Don't you know me?" asked Shirley, half laughing.
+
+"No," returned the youth somewhat sullenly.
+
+"Then I'll refresh your memory," said Shirley. "Do you remember a street
+fight in Cincinnati one night not long ago, when your own friends turned
+on you because you befriended a strange youth, who later turned out to
+be a girl?"
+
+Dick's face took on a reddish hue.
+
+"And do you remember escorting the girl home?" continued Shirley, "and
+disappearing before she had an opportunity of thanking you? Do you
+remember me now?"
+
+Dick hung his head sheepishly.
+
+"Yes, I remember," he said.
+
+"And how is it," demanded Shirley, "that I find you mixed up in this
+affair? How do you happen to be on such friendly terms with that
+scoundrel Jones?"
+
+"Well, it's a long story," returned Dick in some confusion.
+
+"I didn't think it of you, Dick," said Shirley. "You proved such a
+valiant champion, that I believed I should always find you fighting on
+the side of the right."
+
+"And so you shall," responded Dick, lifting his head, "if you have
+further need of me. I didn't really know who Jones was when I got mixed
+up with him. And had I known he was plotting against you I would have
+had nothing to do with the affair. I am ready to help you, if you can
+make use of me."
+
+"I knew I couldn't be wrong," said the girl with a bright smile, "and I
+am glad to have you on our side. Perhaps you can tell me why Jones has
+kidnapped Jimmy?"
+
+"He is planning to keep him from riding in the Derby. He says that
+without Jimmy, Gabriel cannot possibly win."
+
+"I see," said Shirley. "It's just as I thought. And where is he taking
+him now?"
+
+"I do not know," was the reply. "He has some safe place in view,
+though."
+
+While the _Sybil_ paused to pick up Dick, the other launch forged ahead,
+and now had disappeared from view around a bend in the creek.
+
+Shirley turned to the owner of the boat.
+
+"Can we catch them?" she asked anxiously.
+
+"Just leave it to me," returned the man grimly. "If they stay in the
+water we'll come up with them before long."
+
+Rounding the bend they again came in sight of the other launch, and as
+they did so Shirley uttered a cry of dismay.
+
+Close into the shore the pursued launch rode gently upon the water. Her
+engines had been stopped, and she had been deserted. There was not a
+soul aboard.
+
+"Where do you suppose they have gone?" demanded Mabel.
+
+"They have taken to the woods," replied Shirley, "and the chances are we
+have lost them altogether."
+
+Jenkins, for as such the owner of the _Sybil_ introduced himself, ran
+his launch close beside the other, and all stepped quickly ashore. In
+the soft mud, footsteps leading toward the woods nearby were plainly
+visible, showing that the fugitives had gone in that direction.
+
+"We'll follow them, if you give the word, Miss Willing," said Dick.
+
+"And Mabel and I will go too," said Shirley.
+
+Dick looked at young Wolfe somewhat dubiously.
+
+"It is hardly girls' work," he replied.
+
+"Right you are," agreed Leonard. "You girls stay here by the boat."
+
+"But we want to go," Mabel pouted. "We are more interested in this than
+any of you."
+
+"The young men are right," said Jenkins firmly. "Jones must be a
+desperate man. You girls are safer here."
+
+"We do not wish to be obstinate," said Shirley. "We know that you are
+doing this for us, and if you tell us to stay here, we shall do so, of
+course."
+
+Jenkins and the two young men breathed a sigh of relief, as did the two
+policemen.
+
+"You wait here until we return then," said Leonard. "Come on, men."
+
+The five disappeared in the woods, leaving the two girls beside the boat
+alone.
+
+"I hope they get them," said Shirley grimly.
+
+"So do I," agreed Mabel.
+
+"I am glad Dick is with us," said Shirley slowly. "Somehow I have a lot
+of confidence in him. You know I have seen him in action and know what
+he can do."
+
+"He is a likeable boy," declared Mabel. "It's too bad he has mixed with
+such bad companions."
+
+"I am going to see if I can't get father to help him," said Shirley.
+"Maybe he would be willing to work on the farm."
+
+"From the way he looked at you," said Mabel, "I should say that he would
+be glad to work any place where you might be."
+
+"The idea, Mabel," said Shirley, but nevertheless her face grew red.
+
+Suddenly both girls were startled by a stealthy tread behind them. They
+wheeled about, and looked into the sneering countenance of Jones.
+
+And beside him was Briggs, and between the two, his hands bound and a
+gag in his mouth, was Jimmy.
+
+"So," said Jones, with an evil smile, "we have captured two more of the
+enemy, eh?"
+
+Neither girl replied.
+
+Jones motioned toward the launch.
+
+"Climb aboard, there, quick!" he commanded.
+
+Both girls hesitated.
+
+"You hear me?" demanded Jones, taking a step forward. "I am not to be
+trifled with. Move now!"
+
+Shirley and Mabel thought better of their hesitancy, and without a word
+climbed aboard the _Sybil_. Jimmy was shoved aboard after them, and then
+came Jones. Briggs stopped to shove the boat off and then clambered
+aboard.
+
+"Straight down the creek," ordered Jones, as Briggs stooped over the
+engine.
+
+The launch moved off slowly.
+
+"You see we gave your friends the slip," smiled Jones. "Now we'll just
+leave them behind."
+
+"What are you going to do with us?" demanded Shirley.
+
+"Never mind," returned her captor. "You'll find out soon enough."
+
+At that moment there came a shout from the shore, and turning, the girls
+saw their friends rushing down toward the water. Jones muttered to
+himself.
+
+"Why couldn't we have had a little better start?"
+
+Shirley rose in her seat and waved to her friends.
+
+"Sit down there," said Jones harshly, half rising.
+
+Shirley obeyed, for she knew that she had been seen, and felt certain of
+speedy relief.
+
+Ashore, the five were hurriedly piling into the other boat, the one
+occupied by Jones when the chase had started, and soon it was coming
+after them. But the _Sybil_ was much faster, as already had been proven,
+and it seemed that there was little likelihood of the pursuers catching
+up with them.
+
+The _Sybil_ gained rapidly and it was plain she would soon run away from
+the pursuer.
+
+Jones, sitting a few feet from Shirley, drew a pipe from his pocket, and
+filled it calmly.
+
+"I hope you young ladies do not object," he said, and struck a match.
+
+Suddenly Shirley jumped to her feet and rushed at Jones, thinking to
+catch him unprepared and push him into the water. But Jones was too
+quick for her. He stood up, stepped aside, and it seemed a miracle that
+Shirley did not go overboard.
+
+Jones smiled.
+
+"I wouldn't try it again if I were you," he said quietly. "I am not to
+be caught napping."
+
+He sat down again, and Shirley resumed her seat.
+
+Now the _Sybil_ lost sight of her pursuer around a bend in the stream.
+From this point on the creek wound about more frequently, and it was
+plain to Shirley that the pursuers were hopelessly outdistanced.
+
+Then Jones spoke to Briggs.
+
+"Run ashore," he commanded.
+
+Briggs obeyed without a word, and a few moments later, they all stepped
+out upon the bank.
+
+"Come," said Jones, "let's get out of sight before our friends arrive."
+
+He motioned the two girls to precede him along what they found to be a
+narrow path.
+
+"Briggs," said Jones, "you go back and start the launch down the creek
+by itself. Then they won't know where we are."
+
+Briggs hastened to obey, and a moment later the _Sybil_ was moving out
+of sight around another bend.
+
+"They won't find us now," said Jones.
+
+Taking advantage of a moment when Jones was not looking, Mabel quietly
+hung her white handkerchief upon a bush. It was in plain view of the
+creek.
+
+Shirley saw her friend's action, but dared not show she had, by even the
+slightest change of expression.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.--APPARENT VICTORY.
+
+
+Meanwhile, where was the second launch and crew? Even going at full
+speed, it was plainly evident to all on board that there was little
+prospect of overtaking the _Sybil_.
+
+When the party had returned to the bank of the stream after an
+unsuccessful search of the little woods, it had not needed the wave of
+Shirley's hand from the _Sybil_ to tell them what had happened. It was
+Dick who spoke first.
+
+"They have doubled back on their tracks and captured the girls and the
+launch," he exclaimed when he noticed Shirley and Mabel were nowhere to
+be seen.
+
+The others cried out in alarm. In the distance they could see the launch
+speeding down the stream. It was at that moment Shirley rose and waved
+to them. Leonard's keen eyes caught the signal, and he cried out:
+
+"Into the other launch quick and after them!"
+
+Hastily jumping aboard, the second launch was put into motion and they
+gave chase at full speed.
+
+But the _Sybil_ gained steadily.
+
+"It's no use," said Jenkins. "We can't catch them. As I told you, the
+_Sybil_ can outrun anything in these parts."
+
+"We'll keep after them anyhow," said Dick. "You never can tell what will
+happen. They may meet with an accident."
+
+And so the five continued their apparently hopeless pursuit. An hour
+later, Leonard, who stood in the extreme bow of the launch, straining
+his eyes ahead, exclaimed aloud. The others looked at him eagerly, and
+he pointed straight ahead.
+
+"There's the _Sybil_," he cried. "She's run ashore. They must have
+landed."
+
+A few minutes later the launch ran up alongside the _Sybil_ and all
+jumped out.
+
+"If we only knew which way they went," said Leonard.
+
+Dick had been looking at the ground carefully. In the soft mud there was
+not a single footprint. Dick looked at the engine of the _Sybil_. It was
+still running.
+
+"They didn't land here," he said quietly.
+
+"What?" exclaimed Leonard.
+
+"I say, they didn't land here."
+
+"How do you make that out?"
+
+"Well, if they had landed here there would certainly be footprints. They
+couldn't have walked through this soft mud without leaving tracks."
+
+"The lad is right," murmured Jenkins.
+
+"Then how do you account for the launch being here?" asked one of the
+policemen.
+
+"Easily," said Dick. "They started the engine and let her go. See, the
+engine is still running, and if she had not been caught in this bunch of
+weeds she would still be going down stream."
+
+"You are right," Leonard agreed. "And there is no telling how far back
+they deserted her. What shall we do?"
+
+"First," said Jenkins, "we'll reoccupy the _Sybil_ and leave the other
+launch here."
+
+"After which," said Dick, "we'll turn back, and go slowly, keeping as
+close to shore as possible. We may be able to find where they landed."
+
+This plan was adopted. Jenkins turned the _Sybil's_ head upstream once
+more, and they started off slowly, keeping close in-shore.
+
+For half an hour they moved along, and then Dick's keen eyes caught
+sight of a piece of white fluttering from a bush fifty feet ahead. He
+looked at it steadily for a few moments, and then gave a start.
+
+"Run in here," he commanded Jenkins.
+
+The latter did as he was told. Dick leaped lightly ashore and approached
+the fluttering piece of white, which he now saw was a handkerchief. He
+picked it up and returned to the boat.
+
+"Do you recognize this?" he asked, passing it to Leonard.
+
+Leonard glanced at it carefully. In one corner were two small initials.
+
+"M.A.," he read. "Mabel Ashton," he exclaimed. "How do you suppose that
+got there?"
+
+"It's plain enough," said Dick simply. "She dropped it there in the
+hopes that we might find it, and so learn where they had landed."
+
+"Then," said Leonard, "there should be footprints."
+
+"Not here," said Dick. "You will notice that the ground is very rocky.
+Evidently that is the reason Jones selected this spot to land."
+
+"By Jove!" said Leonard.
+
+Dick spoke again. "They must have gone this way. We might as well get
+out and look around a bit."
+
+Accordingly all stepped ashore.
+
+"Now," said Dick, "I would suggest that we all spread out, keeping about
+a hundred yards apart, and go straight ahead."
+
+Leonard, who had been scrutinizing the ground carefully, uttered an
+exclamation. The others hurried to him.
+
+"A path!" exclaimed Leonard. "They probably went this way."
+
+"We'll see where the path leads at any rate," said Dick. "Nevertheless I
+suggest that we spread out just the same. They may not have stuck to the
+path."
+
+This plan was acted upon, and the five spread on either side of the
+path. Leonard took the path, while on his right were the two officers,
+each a hundred yards apart, and on his left Jenkins and Dick, also the
+same distance apart.
+
+They started forward.
+
+For half an hour they walked on, and gradually the woods became more
+dense, making progress difficult. Suddenly it began to grow dark.
+
+Leonard glanced at his watch.
+
+"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "It's after six. I had no idea it was so
+late."
+
+He gave a shrill whistle, a prearranged signal, and the others came
+toward him.
+
+"We must try and do something before dark," he explained. "We don't want
+to stay here all night, and we can't give up the chase until we have
+found the girls."
+
+"We shall have to go more swiftly, then," said Dick. "Back to your
+places, men."
+
+All spread out again, and the advance continued.
+
+Suddenly Leonard spied something white in the path ahead of him. He
+stooped and picked it up. It was a second handkerchief. Leonard looked
+for some mark of identification. In a corner he found the initials
+"S.W."
+
+"We are on the right track," he muttered to himself.
+
+And then he stopped still.
+
+Two shrill whistles split the air.
+
+A moment more and the others gathered around him.
+
+"What's the matter?" they asked.
+
+Dick, the last to appear, came up at that moment.
+
+"I've found them," he whispered.
+
+"Where?" demanded the others.
+
+"There is a little shack a short distance ahead," Dick explained. "I
+could see smoke coming from the chimney. I feel sure that Jones,
+thinking he has given us the slip, has ordered a halt."
+
+"Well," said Leonard, "what are we going to do about it? We can't stand
+here all night."
+
+"The thing to do," said Jenkins, "is to surround the place, and then
+close in on them. There are only two of them."
+
+"You'll find there will only be one when it comes to a fight," said Dick
+grimly. "My uncle Briggs won't take a hand."
+
+"So much the better," said Leonard. "Then we have only Jones to contend
+with."
+
+"Right," said Dick, "and Jones is for me to handle."
+
+Leonard looked at him peculiarly.
+
+"Oh, all right," he said. "If that's the way you feel about it I won't
+interfere unless you have need of me."
+
+"I won't have any need of you," was the reply. "But come, let's get
+busy."
+
+It was quite dark now, but the stars already twinkled and there was
+promise of bright moonlight. The five made their way forward stealthily.
+
+Ten minutes later they came within sight of the shanty, and they stopped
+for a moment. Suddenly Dick pointed straight ahead.
+
+"Look," he whispered.
+
+The others gazed in the direction he pointed. There, lying upon the
+ground, they recognized the figures of Jones, Briggs and Jimmy.
+
+"Guess they have let the girls sleep in the house," said Leonard. "Now
+is a good time to advance. The men are asleep."
+
+Cautiously they advanced again, and then, when they were perhaps twenty
+yards from the sleepers, Jones suddenly sat up and looked around.
+
+His eyes fell upon the cautiously-approaching figures, and he jumped to
+his feet with an exclamation of dismay, and turned to run. But Dick was
+too quick for him.
+
+Dashing forward at top speed, he hurled himself forward and caught Jones
+by the legs. Jones came to the ground with a crash.
+
+He was up in a moment, however, and grappling with his assailant. But
+this time Dick was prepared for him, and with solid ground under his
+feet, he was more than a match for the older man.
+
+Backward and forward, backward and forward they swayed, each trying to
+gain a hold by which he might throw the other. And Dick got his first.
+
+Exerting his utmost strength, he heaved as hard as he could, and Jones,
+large though he was, went crashing to the ground, where he lay still.
+
+In falling his head had come in contact with a sharp stone, and he was
+temporarily stunned.
+
+In the meantime, the others had subdued Briggs, and then had stopped to
+watch the struggle between Jones and Dick. That over, Leonard stooped
+and unbound and ungagged Jimmy, and then turned toward the shanty.
+
+"Might as well let the girls out," he said.
+
+He knocked upon the door. There was no response and he knocked again.
+Still no response.
+
+Leonard burst the door in with a single kick of his foot and stepped
+over the threshold. Then he started back in amazement and uttered a low
+cry.
+
+"What's the matter?" demanded Dick, approaching and peering over his
+shoulder.
+
+"Matter!" repeated Leonard. "Matter enough! The girls are not here!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.--AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION.
+
+
+Dick pushed by Leonard and entered the shanty. It was true. There was no
+sign of either Shirley or Mabel.
+
+"What on earth can have happened to them?" asked Leonard anxiously.
+
+"I haven't the slightest idea," returned Dick. "We'll ask Jones."
+
+They stepped outside again.
+
+Upon Leonard's first cry of surprise, Jenkins and the two policemen had
+moved toward the house, and for the moment Jones had been left
+unguarded. The prisoner was not slow to take advantage of his
+opportunity and no sooner had his captors' backs been turned than he
+took to his heels and soon disappeared in the darkness.
+
+Consequently, when Leonard and Dick came from the shanty there was no
+Jones to be found.
+
+Dick turned upon Jenkins and the officers angrily.
+
+"You are a fine bunch, you are," he said with withering scorn. "A nice
+lot of guards I must say. Jones has gone."
+
+The three looked from one to the other sheepishly, and Jenkins opened
+his mouth to speak.
+
+"Never mind," said Dick. "There is no use talking about it now. The
+first thing is to find the girls."
+
+"And where are we to look for them?" demanded Leonard.
+
+Dick shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"You know as much about it as I do," he replied.
+
+"Then," said Leonard, "I suggest that we go first to the launch, to make
+sure that it is all right. Jones is likely to steal it again."
+
+"I guess you are right," said Dick. "Come on."
+
+He stooped for a moment to lift up Jimmy Smith, who still sat on the
+ground. The latter arose slowly and stretched his cramped limbs.
+
+"My, but it feels good to be loose again," he said.
+
+He followed the others toward the creek.
+
+The party made rapid progress for they did not wish Jones to get there
+ahead of them. But their fear was unnecessary, for Jones, once out of
+sight, had sat down, feeling safe in the darkness.
+
+A short time after, the party of searchers arrived at the bank of the
+little stream.
+
+"Great Scott! where's the launch?" exclaimed Leonard.
+
+The others also uttered exclamations of astonishment. There was no sign
+of the _Sybil_.
+
+"Jones must have arrived ahead of us," said Jenkins.
+
+Dick was struck with a sudden idea. He uttered a low chuckle. The others
+turned upon him, and one of the officers said:
+
+"This is no laughing matter. What's so funny, anyhow?"
+
+"Well," said Dick, "I believe I have solved the disappearance of the
+_Sybil_. I am sure that it was not Jones who took it, and Uncle Briggs
+is still where we left him, so it could not have been him."
+
+"Then who was it?" demanded Leonard.
+
+"The two young ladies," replied Dick.
+
+The others gazed at him in surprise.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Jenkins.
+
+"Just what I say. In some manner they succeeded in escaping from the
+shanty before we arrived. Then they must have made their way back here,
+and finding the launch, appropriated it for their own use. You must
+remember that Jones, not we, came here in the _Sybil_. The last the
+girls saw of us we were in the other launch. It was impossible for them
+to tell we had recaptured the _Sybil_."
+
+"I believe you are right," said Leonard.
+
+"I'm sure of it," replied Dick.
+
+"Then what are we to do? We are marooned here for the rest of the
+night."
+
+"Well," said Dick, "we might walk down stream. It's possible we may be
+able to find the other launch, which we abandoned."
+
+"There is no use staying here, that's certain," agreed Leonard. "But the
+chances are we won't find it."
+
+"There is nothing like trying," said Dick briefly. "Come on."
+
+He led the way and the others followed.
+
+Dick's solution of the disappearance had been correct. Left alone in the
+little shanty early in the evening, the two girls had succeeded in
+forcing the door. Peering out and seeing Jones and Briggs fast asleep,
+they had decided to make a break for liberty.
+
+Accordingly they slipped quietly from their prison and were soon lost in
+the darkness. They made their way to the bank of the creek with little
+difficulty, and there came upon the _Sybil_, tied up to a tree.
+
+"We are in luck," said Mabel. "But how does it come that the launch is
+here. This looks like the place we landed, and I saw Briggs start the
+boat down stream."
+
+"Then it can't be the place we landed," returned Shirley. "We must be
+further down stream than we thought."
+
+"But some one has tied the boat up," protested Shirley. "Who do you
+suppose it was?"
+
+"I haven't any idea; and I don't see that it makes any difference. We'll
+get aboard and start upstream immediately. Our absence is likely to be
+discovered, and unless we hurry, we may be recaptured."
+
+"Let's hurry then," said Mabel.
+
+She untied the launch while Shirley stepped aboard and started the
+engine. Then giving the boat a shove, Mabel leaped aboard.
+
+The engine sputtered once or twice, and then began to whirr regularly.
+The launch moved away from the shore.
+
+Under Shirley's firm hand, it came about in a wide circle and started
+upstream. Five minutes later they were rounding a curve that hid the
+starting point.
+
+As the boat went round the bend, Mabel looking back, thought she made
+out several figures standing upon the bank. She told her discovery to
+Shirley.
+
+"I guess Jones has discovered that we have escaped," said Shirley.
+"However, we are safe enough now."
+
+She increased the speed of the little craft, and it rushed on through
+the dark and murky water, both girls keeping a keen lookout ahead.
+
+Neither had any idea how far they were from Paris, for their course had
+been changed so often.
+
+"We'll just have to keep going until we get there," said Shirley.
+
+"I expect your father will be terribly worried," said Mabel.
+
+"I know he will," was the reply. "Poor Dad, he will think I have fallen
+into the hands of the conspirators. He probably has the whole town out
+looking for us."
+
+"What do you suppose has happened to Leonard, Dick and the others?"
+
+"I don't know. They have probably gone further down stream. It isn't
+likely that they noticed the _Sybil_ so close to shore."
+
+For hours, it seemed to the two girls, they continued their journey, and
+at last the first faint signs of dawn appeared in the east.
+
+"I am glad day is coming," said Mabel. "We can see where we are going."
+
+At that moment there came a faint sputtering from the engine, and then
+it came to a dead stop.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Mabel anxiously.
+
+Shirley made a hasty examination.
+
+"Fuel supply exhausted," she said. "No more gasoline."
+
+"My gracious!" ejaculated Mabel, in dismay. "What shall we do?"
+
+"We'll have to wait until it's a little lighter," replied her friend,
+"and then we'll see if we can't paddle ashore. There is no telling how
+far we may be from town, but I reckon we shall have to walk it."
+
+"I suppose there is no help for it," said Mabel. "However, we are out of
+danger."
+
+The boat stood still in the middle of the stream for perhaps half an
+hour, and then both became conscious of a faint chugging far down the
+stream. "Some one coming," said Mabel, "maybe they will give us a lift."
+
+"Perhaps it is Jones," said Shirley uneasily.
+
+"Dear me! I hope not!" sighed Mabel.
+
+"So do I. We have had enough trouble for one day."
+
+They continued to gaze down stream.
+
+A few minutes later a second launch came into view around the bend in
+the creek. The girls were able to make out several figures. It was
+apparent, also, that the men in the boat had seen them.
+
+One stood up, and a faint hail came across the water.
+
+"It must be Jones," said Mabel. "And he has seen us, too. What shall we
+do?"
+
+"We'll try and get ashore," said Shirley quietly.
+
+In the far end of the boat she had seen a pair of oars. She got these
+out hurriedly, and set to work with a will. The _Sybil_ moved shoreward,
+slowly at first, and then more swiftly as Shirley settled herself to her
+task.
+
+Both girls kept close watch on their pursuers. They could not make out
+the faces of its occupants--it was still too dark--nor did they
+recognize the voices that hailed them frequently. It was plain, however,
+that the pursuing launch was gaining.
+
+"It must be Jones," cried Shirley. "Be ready to jump the minute we run
+aground, Mabel."
+
+Mabel signified that she understood, and gathering up her skirts, she
+stood up in the prow of the launch.
+
+A moment later the little craft grounded with a shock. Mabel leaped
+lightly ashore, and turned to lend Shirley a hand. But this was
+unnecessary, for the moment she realized the boat had struck bottom,
+Shirley dropped the oars and also sprang ashore.
+
+Quickly she grasped her friend by the hand.
+
+"Run!" she cried, and suited the action to the word.
+
+Swiftly the two girls sped over the uneven ground toward shelter of a
+dense clump of trees not far away. And they disappeared among these just
+as the second launch grounded and several figures leaped ashore.
+
+The first of the pursuers caught a glimpse of the two figures
+disappearing in the woods, and immediately gave chase. The others
+followed him.
+
+Hearing pursuing footsteps, the girls redoubled their efforts and were
+soon, they believed, safe from pursuit. They sat down quickly, to take a
+much-needed rest.
+
+There came the sound of footsteps crashing through the underbrush.
+Shirley glanced about.
+
+"Up in this tree, quick, Mabel," she exclaimed
+
+She lent her friend a hand, and a minute later they were high up among
+the branches, where they could peer down without being seen. And at that
+moment a voice called out:
+
+"Shirley! Mabel!"
+
+"My gracious!" exclaimed Mabel. "It's Leonard."
+
+The girls looked at each other somewhat sheepishly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.--SAFE.
+
+
+"Shirley! Mabel!" came Leonard's voice again.
+
+"Here we are, Leonard," shouted Mabel.
+
+There was a moment's silence, and then the footsteps came nearer and
+Leonard halted directly under the tree in which the two girls clung.
+
+"Where?" he shouted.
+
+"Right up here," replied Mabel, with a giggle.
+
+This time Leonard placed the sound of Mabel's voice. He glanced up. Far
+above the ground he could just make out what he knew must be the two
+girls.
+
+"Bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "What on earth are you doing up there?"
+
+"Trying to get away from Jones," replied Mabel.
+
+"Well, you are safe enough now. Come down."
+
+"All right," said both girls at once.
+
+While Leonard turned back to hail the other searchers, the two girls
+slipped from the tree. Leonard seized the hand of each.
+
+"Oh!" he exclaimed, "you gave us an awful scare. If it hadn't been for
+Dick, there is no telling when we might have found you."
+
+"What did Dick do?" asked Shirley eagerly.
+
+"Why, he saved us a futile search in the woods. He figured that it was
+you who had taken the _Sybil_ and it was upon his suggestion that we
+came up stream again."
+
+"And did you capture Jones?" demanded Mabel.
+
+"Yes; but he got away again."
+
+"And Jimmy?" asked Shirley eagerly. "Is he safe?"
+
+"Yes. He's around here some place looking for you."
+
+"Then," said Mabel, slowly, "it must have been you we saw on the shore
+just as we escaped."
+
+"It must have been," replied Leonard. "I thought I saw a dark shape
+going up the creek, but I wasn't sure, so I said nothing about it."
+
+"And where did you get the other launch? We saw nothing of it when we
+left."
+
+"We found it a mile down stream, about where we left it when we
+recaptured the _Sybil_."
+
+"So that's the way it was," said Shirley, half to herself. "Had we only
+met you after we escaped we all would have been saved a lot of worry."
+
+"But why didn't you stop when I hailed you in the creek?" asked Leonard,
+fatigue and anxiety beginning to tell on his nerves.
+
+"We thought it was Jones coming after us," Mabel explained.
+
+"I see," replied Leonard.
+
+At that moment, Dick, Jimmy, Jenkins and the policemen came running up.
+
+"Well, I see you have found them," said Jenkins.
+
+He wiped beads of perspiration from his brow--for he had been running.
+
+"I'm glad of it. I must get home at once, or my wife will have the
+entire police force on the lookout for me."
+
+The others laughed.
+
+"Well, that's what I get for being married," said Jenkins. "But come,
+hustle back into the launch and we'll hurry back to town."
+
+"There is no gasoline in the _Sybil_," said Shirley.
+
+"Is that so?" said Jenkins. "Then I'll have to hitch her on behind and
+tow her home."
+
+This was done and the little party was soon turned toward home.
+
+They were closer to Paris than the girls had realized, and half an hour
+later they came in sight of the point from which they had started upon
+the long chase the day before.
+
+As the boat drew close to the little landing, a woman with fiery red
+hair, her sleeves rolled up and a frown on her face, came hurrying
+toward them, and just as Jenkins leaped ashore and tied the boat up, she
+seized him by the ear with her right hand.
+
+"Tom Jenkins," she cried, "it's about time you were getting home. What
+do you mean by running away from me and not coming back?"
+
+"But, Martha," protested Jenkins, his face turning red in confusion, "I
+was only helping these young people out. One of 'em had been kidnapped,
+and----"
+
+"And you had to go along and see the fun, I suppose."
+
+"Well, not exactly," said Mr. Jenkins. "I----"
+
+"You come with me," said Mrs. Jenkins decisively.
+
+She gave Jenkins' ear a sharp twist, and the latter howled with pain.
+
+"Ow! Leggo my ear!" he screamed.
+
+He twitched about, and with effort freed himself and stepped back.
+
+"Let me explain," he said to his wife.
+
+"You can explain when you get to the house," said Mrs. Jenkins angrily.
+"If you ain't there in three minutes, I'll be back after you."
+
+She strode majestically away.
+
+Mr. Jenkins rubbed his ear and grinned ruefully.
+
+"You see how it is," he exclaimed. "A man always gets the worst of it
+somehow when he gets mixed up with somebody else's business."
+
+"We certainly appreciate your aid, Mr. Jenkins," said Shirley, offering
+her hand, which Jenkins grasped heartily.
+
+The others also shook hands with him.
+
+"Well," said Mr. Jenkins, "you know I'm glad to have been of---- All
+right, Martha, I'm coming!"
+
+This last as the voice of his wife once more rang out with the demand:
+
+"Are you coming, Tom Jenkins? Or do I have to come after you?"
+
+He broke off suddenly and hastened toward the house to meet his spouse,
+who was coming toward him with rapid strides.
+
+The girls laughed and the others joined them.
+
+"Poor old Jenkins," said Leonard. "I'll bet he has a tough time."
+
+"It looks that way," said Dick, with a faint smile.
+
+He turned to Shirley.
+
+"Now that you are safe at last," he said quietly, "I guess I may as well
+be going. There is nothing more for me to do."
+
+Shirley was startled.
+
+"Surely you will wait and let my father thank you?" she said.
+
+Dick shook his head.
+
+"It's enough for me to know I have been of service to you," he said. "I
+want no thanks."
+
+"But," protested Shirley, "where are you going?"
+
+"I don't know exactly," replied the boy. "Back to Cincinnati, I guess."
+
+"Do your father and mother live there?" asked the girl.
+
+"I have no father and mother," was the slow response.
+
+"Forgive me," said Shirley impulsively. "I didn't know. What are you
+planning to do?"
+
+Again the lad shook his head.
+
+"I don't know," he said. "I guess I shall find a job of some kind,
+though."
+
+"Surely you will not get mixed up with Jones again?" asked Shirley
+anxiously.
+
+"No," replied Dick. "I am through with Jones and his kind forever."
+
+Shirley breathed a sigh of relief.
+
+"I am glad to hear that," she said. "How would you like to go home with
+us? I am sure Dad can find something for you to do on the farm."
+
+"Thank you," replied Dick. "I am sorry, but I must decline."
+
+Shirley gave it up.
+
+"Well," she said, "you must decide for yourself. But I do want to thank
+you for the aid you have given us, and I shall always be glad to see
+you."
+
+Dick bowed. The others approached and shook hands with him, and then he
+turned to go.
+
+"Come and see us when you can, or at least let us hear from you,"
+Shirley called after him.
+
+Dick turned and bowed once more. Shirley waved her hand to him, and a
+moment later he disappeared.
+
+"Well," said Leonard, "there is no use standing here. Let us get home."
+
+They started up town. At Main Street the two officers left them.
+
+"1 guess we are due for a wigging from the chief," said one.
+
+"Well," said the other. "It was worth it."
+
+Leonard, Jimmy and the two girls bade the officers good-bye and made
+their way to Wilson's drug store. Mr. Wilson himself came running to the
+door as they approached.
+
+"Where have you been?" he demanded. "Your father has been scouring the
+town for you. He is almost frantic."
+
+"We have been rescuing Jimmy," replied Shirley. "Where is Dad now?"
+
+"I guess he is at the police station."
+
+"Then he'll be back in a few minutes," said Shirley. "The officers will
+tell him where we are."
+
+Her prophecy proved correct, and five minutes later Mr. Willing dashed
+breathlessly into the store.
+
+"Shirley," he cried, and clasped his daughter in his arms.
+
+"You almost frightened your father to death," he said, releasing her at
+last. "Where have you been?"
+
+"Didn't the officers tell you?" demanded Shirley.
+
+"They tried to tell me something," was the reply, "but I didn't wait to
+hear them when I learned that you were safe."
+
+Shirley related their adventures and Mr. Willing listened attentively.
+
+"I must put the police after this man Jones," he said, when Shirley had
+concluded.
+
+"I wouldn't do that, Dad," said Shirley. "It's all over now, and there
+is no use causing more talk."
+
+"I don't know but what you are right," agreed Mr. Willing after a pause.
+"Besides, I guess we shall hear no more of him."
+
+"I am sure we shall not," agreed Shirley.
+
+But in this, as we shall see later, all were mistaken.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.--TREACHERY.
+
+
+Young Leonard Wolfe, returning from town two days later, approached Mr.
+Willing with visible excitement.
+
+"What's the matter?" demanded the latter, eyeing the young man
+curiously.
+
+"Matter enough, sir. I saw Jones in town."
+
+"What!" exclaimed Mr. Willing. "I didn't think he would have the nerve
+to show his face in these parts again."
+
+"Nevertheless he was there, sir."
+
+"Did he see you?"
+
+"No, sir. I'll warrant he is up to some mischief."
+
+"Undoubtedly," replied Mr. Willing. "We shall have to be watchful.
+Gabriel must be guarded every moment of the day and night."
+
+"My idea exactly, sir," replied Leonard.
+
+Shirley approached, and noticing the uneasiness of Leonard and her
+father, she asked what was the trouble. Leonard explained.
+
+"He is surely planning more mischief," exclaimed Shirley. "Gabriel must
+be guarded closely."
+
+"Exactly what we had decided upon," declared Leonard. "Somebody, armed,
+must be near him all the time. I am willing to stand one watch."
+
+"Good," said Mr. Willing. "Jimmy, too, is ready. Now I believe the best
+thing to do is to split the day and night into three parts--each watch
+eight hours."
+
+"But who will stand the third watch, Dad?" asked Shirley.
+
+"Frank," declared Mr. Willing.
+
+"But Uncle Frank is so old," protested Shirley.
+
+"He's not too old to use a shotgun," replied Mr. Willing significantly.
+"Besides, I feel sure I can trust him."
+
+"I am sure of that," replied Shirley.
+
+"Call him for me, daughter," said Mr. Willing.
+
+Shirley went on this errand, and a few moments later "Uncle Frank," an
+old negro, stood before them.
+
+Mr. Willing explained the situation in a few words and Uncle Frank
+announced himself as not only willing but eager to stand one of the
+watches.
+
+"Leonard," said Mr. Willing, "you stand the first watch, from six
+o'clock in the morning until two. Jimmy can watch from two until ten,
+and Frank, you stand guard from ten until six in the morning."
+
+Mr. Willing glanced at his watch.
+
+"It is now almost noon," he said. "Leonard, you go to the stable and
+relieve Jimmy until two o'clock. In the meantime, I'll get out my
+double-barreled shotgun and clean it up a bit."
+
+Leonard did as Mr. Willing requested.
+
+The next two days passed quietly, and every one had about come to the
+conclusion that there was nothing more to be feared.
+
+Gabriel was being given a short workout every day now, to prime him for
+the great Derby. Each morning and afternoon Jimmy put him through a
+stiff run along Willing's trial track, and Mr. Willing, after examining
+the racehorse carefully, announced that he was in fine condition.
+
+"He's on edge right now," he declared. "We mustn't train him too fine,
+but we must give him enough work to keep him from growing stale."
+
+The date for the big Derby was fast approaching. Experts and racing men
+from all over the country came to the Willing farm almost daily, seeking
+to have a look at Gabriel, who had been picked almost unanimously to win
+the big race.
+
+In spite of the fact that Gabriel had never been entered against horses
+of such class before, his fame had gone before him, for in some manner,
+in spite of the fact that an effort was made to keep his time in trial
+runs secret, it had leaked out, and there was little question that
+Gabriel would be the favorite upon the day of the Derby.
+
+But to the experts and racehorse men who pleaded to look at the great
+black horse, Mr. Willing turned a deaf ear.
+
+"You'll see him in action in the Derby," he said.
+
+With this the visitors had to be satisfied.
+
+"Monday," said Mr. Willing to Shirley and the others, "we must start for
+Louisville. We want to be on the ground at least a week before the day
+of the race. Besides, Gabriel must have that time to recover from the
+effects of the trip."
+
+"Have you made your arrangements for stabling at the track?" asked
+Leonard.
+
+"Yes. I shall have the same quarters as in years past. This year,
+however, I shall take no other horses, as has been the custom
+heretofore. I do not feel that I have another horse in my string that is
+sure to win a race, so I shall content myself with winning the Derby."
+
+"And Gabriel will win," declared Shirley.
+
+"Let us hope so," said Leonard sincerely.
+
+This conversation took place the Wednesday morning before the Monday set
+for the departure.
+
+"Daddy," said Shirley the following afternoon, "I haven't ridden Gabriel
+for a long time. Can't I work him out to-day?"
+
+Mr. Willing hesitated.
+
+"Why, I see no reason why you cannot," he said finally. "I know Gabriel
+loves you, and perhaps will do more for you than he will even for
+Jimmy."
+
+Shirley clapped her hands and ran toward the stable, where she informed
+Jimmy of her father's decision.
+
+"All right, Miss Shirley," smiled Jimmy. "I know Gabriel will be glad to
+have you ride him."
+
+"I wish I were going to ride him in the Derby," declared Shirley.
+
+"If you did," said Jimmy, "the result would never be in doubt. With you
+on his back, Gabriel would be the first under the wire if he dropped
+over dead a moment later."
+
+Leaning forward upon Gabriel's neck, Shirley patted the horse gently.
+Gabriel did not respond to this loving touch with a whinny of pleasure,
+as was his wont.
+
+Instead he shook his head angrily, and stamped his feet. His jaws worked
+up and down violently and he champed at the bit.
+
+"What on earth ails him?" demanded Shirley in surprise.
+
+"I guess he is just anxious to be on the go," was the lad's reply.
+
+"I never saw him act like that before," said Shirley.
+
+"Nor I. But I guess he will be all right after he gets out on the track
+and gets to going."
+
+Jimmy walked ahead of Shirley and opened the gates for her.
+
+"Don't let him out too much," he warned her. "Just a nice even walk-out
+is all he needs. Don't run him too hard."
+
+Shirley nodded that she understood. Jimmy stepped back, and Shirley,
+leaning forward once more, again patted the noble animal's head. A
+moment later they were off down the track at a swift trot.
+
+They had hardly disappeared around the first turn when a man appeared
+suddenly from behind a big tree and laid his hand on Jimmy's arm. Jimmy
+whirled about.
+
+"Jones!" he exclaimed in the utmost surprise.
+
+"Yes, Jones," said the other with a smile. "I just came out to have a
+look at Gabriel. Before I go back I just wanted to tell you that I do
+not need your services for the success of my plan."
+
+Jimmy stepped close to Jones and doubled up his fists.
+
+"You get off this place immediately," he said angrily.
+
+Jones laughed at him.
+
+"I suppose you will put me off if I don't," he sneered. "Oh, well, I am
+going, so don't worry."
+
+He turned on his heel and stalked away.
+
+And at that moment Shirley flashed by on Gabriel. Down the track she had
+seen Jimmy in conversation with a stranger, and as she whirled by she
+caught sight of Jones' face, and recognized him.
+
+"Strange," she muttered. "What can he be talking to Jimmy about?"
+
+And as she continued around the course Gabriel's actions steadily became
+more peculiar. Twice Shirley urged him to renewed efforts, but after a
+short spurt he slowed down quickly. And as he ran he shook his head
+violently from side to side and champed more fiercely at his bit.
+
+"Something wrong," thought Shirley. "One more round and then back to the
+stable."
+
+On this last round Gabriel slowed down considerably and in spite of all
+Shirley's urging he refused to increase his pace. At the gate this time
+Shirley turned out, and made for the stable.
+
+Jimmy had preceded her there, and was waiting as she rode up. Mr.
+Willing, Leonard, Mr. Ashton and Mabel also stood near.
+
+"Well, how does he go, daughter?" demanded Mr. Willing, as Shirley flung
+herself to the ground.
+
+"There is something the matter with him," said Shirley.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Willing quickly, and stepped forward.
+
+He glanced searchingly at Gabriel, and just then the noble horse
+staggered.
+
+Mr. Willing sprang forward with a cry of alarm.
+
+"Help me get this bridle off immediately," he shouted.
+
+Jimmy and Shirley sprang to do his bidding.
+
+The bridle came away in Mr. Willing's hands a moment later, and the
+latter examined it carefully. Gabriel, in the meantime, walking very
+slowly, made for his stall.
+
+Mr. Willing turned from his examination of the bridle. He held the bit
+in his hand.
+
+"I was sure I could not be mistaken," he said quietly. "I have seen too
+many such cases."
+
+"What do you mean, Dad?" said Shirley in alarm.
+
+The others also turned to him anxiously.
+
+"Gabriel's bit," said Mr. Willing calmly, holding it aloft, "has been
+painted."
+
+"Painted!" cried Shirley.
+
+"Yes. That is the reason you noticed there was something wrong with him.
+That is the reason he staggered a moment ago. He is sick. Now, who is
+responsible for this piece of treachery?"
+
+For a moment there was no reply. Then Shirley, taking a long breath,
+stepped forward.
+
+"Jimmy," she said quietly, "did I not see you talking with Mr. Jones a
+few moments ago?"
+
+"Yes, Miss Shirley," replied the boy, realizing what was coming.
+
+Mr. Willing stepped forward with a cry of anger.
+
+"Jones on my place again?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
+
+"I didn't want to worry you, sir," replied the boy.
+
+"Didn't want to worry me, eh?" Mr. Willing's face grew red with anger.
+He pointed sternly toward the pike. "You," he said to Jimmy, "get your
+clothes right now and get off this place before I throw you off."
+
+Shirley buried her face in her hands.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.--AN ACCIDENT AND A CONFESSION.
+
+
+Jimmy opened his mouth to speak, then bowed his head and turned away.
+
+"Don't be too hard on the boy, Willing," said Mr. Ashton, taking a step
+forward.
+
+"Hard on him!" repeated Mr. Willing. "How can I be too hard on him? The
+little scoundrel has sold me out."
+
+"Perhaps he is not to blame," said Leonard.
+
+Mr. Willing turned upon him.
+
+"There have been too many of you trying to run my affairs," he said
+angrily. "In the future, I shall attend to them myself."
+
+He turned and strode rapidly toward the house where he immediately
+telephoned for a veterinary to come out and look at Gabriel. Then he
+went to his own room, where he sat down, pulled out a cigar, and smoked
+in silence.
+
+"I wish I hadn't spoken," moaned Shirley, as her father walked away.
+"Poor Jimmy! Perhaps he is not to blame, after all."
+
+"Still," said Mr. Ashton, "appearances are much against him,
+particularly after what has gone on before. Certainly Jones would not
+have approached him again unless he had reason to believe that Jimmy
+would accept his offer."
+
+"It does look that way," agreed Leonard.
+
+But Shirley refused to be comforted.
+
+"It's all my fault," she cried, and ran to the house, where she threw
+herself down upon her bed and gave way to tears.
+
+There Mabel found her half an hour later and tried to soothe her.
+
+"There, there," she said, stroking her friend's head. "It will all come
+out right in the end. If Jimmy is guilty he should be put off the place.
+If he isn't, it will be proven."
+
+"I know he isn't!" cried Shirley. "I knew it the minute I spoke. Oh, why
+did I say anything?"
+
+"You did perfectly right," declared Mabel.
+
+Suddenly Shirley sprang to her feet.
+
+"Has Jimmy gone yet?" she asked, drying her tears as she spoke.
+
+"I don't know," replied Mabel.
+
+Shirley hurried out the door.
+
+"I must see him before he goes," she exclaimed. "Come, maybe we can find
+him."
+
+The girls left the room hurriedly, and made their way to the front of
+the house. There, trudging slowly toward the pike-gate, with a bundle
+over his shoulder, they made out the slight form of Jimmy Smith.
+
+"Jimmy!" called Shirley, but the boy did not look back.
+
+Shirley ran after him, and Mabel followed her friend.
+
+Hearing footsteps behind him, Jimmy turned and looked back. Perceiving
+Shirley, he faced about again and would have gone on had not the girl
+called to him.
+
+"Wait a minute, Jimmy."
+
+Jimmy halted and waited until Shirley came up to him.
+
+"Jimmy," cried the girl, "can you ever forgive me? I know you are not
+guilty."
+
+"No," said Jimmy quietly, "I am not guilty. It is true I talked to
+Jones, but he did not even suggest treachery to me."
+
+"I know it! I know it!" declared Shirley. "And it is my fault that Dad
+has acted so."
+
+"It was your duty to your father, Miss Shirley," declared the lad.
+
+"It is good of you to say so," declared the girl, "but what shall we
+do?"
+
+"I shall find employment in town," said Jimmy. "Some day, perhaps, your
+father will learn that he has misjudged me."
+
+"I'll make him see it," declared Shirley. "You shall yet win the Derby
+with Gabriel."
+
+Jimmy smiled sadly.
+
+"I am afraid it is impossible," he replied. "Should you ever need me,
+Mr. Wilson will tell you where to find me. I shall leave my address with
+him. Good-bye."
+
+He turned again, and before Shirley could protest, had continued on his
+way. For long minutes the girl looked after him, and then, stifling a
+sob, she made her way back toward the house.
+
+A sudden cry of anguish came from the direction of the stable. Shirley
+listened intently, and heard another scream.
+
+Shirley dashed in the direction from which it had come.
+
+Reaching the stable she paused for a moment, listening. Nothing but
+silence. But as she was about to move on again, a low groan caught her
+ear. Again she listened. It came from Gabriel's stall.
+
+Shirley hastened forward.
+
+From Gabriel's stall protruded Gabriel's black head. His eyes flamed
+angrily and he uttered snorts of rage.
+
+"What's the matter, Gabriel?" asked Shirley, and ran forward.
+
+Gabriel gave a low whinny, and the fire left his eyes. Shirley opened
+the stall door and stepped inside. And she drew back with a cry of fear.
+
+In the far corner of the stall lay a human form, twisted and out of
+shape. Shirley ran quickly toward it, and started back with a cry:
+
+"Uncle Frank!"
+
+There was no reply from the silent form. Stooping hastily, Shirley laid
+hold of the shoulders and dragged the body from the stall, closing the
+door behind her. Then she bent over the still figure.
+
+The face was caked with blood, and the arms and limbs hung limp. A
+moment and Uncle Frank's eyes opened and he gave vent to a feeble groan.
+
+Shirley laid him down gently, and ran toward the house.
+
+"Dad!" she cried. "Dad! Gabriel has killed Uncle Frank!"
+
+Mr. Willing roused from his reverie with a start and hurried to the
+stable. Others who had heard Shirley's words followed him. Soon every
+human being on the place was crowding around the stable.
+
+Mr. Willing arrived first, and bent over the form of his old servant.
+
+"What's the matter, Frank?" he asked gently.
+
+"Gabriel," gasped the old negro, whose senses had now come back to him.
+"Gabriel! He dun kill me!"
+
+"Oh, it's not as bad as all that," replied Mr. Willing hopefully. He
+turned to the crowd of negroes gathered about. "Telephone for Dr.
+Thompson, quick, one of you. Here," motioning to two others, "help me
+carry him to the house."
+
+Gently the old darky was picked up and carried to the house, where Mr.
+Willing laid him upon a sofa on the porch.
+
+Uncle Frank was perfectly conscious now.
+
+"How did it happen, Frank?" asked Mr. Willing. "Surely you knew Gabriel
+wouldn't allow you in his stall."
+
+"Yessah. But I went--I went in anyhow."
+
+"Why?"
+
+Uncle Frank did not reply. He began to cough.
+
+"Take off his coat, Dad," exclaimed Shirley.
+
+Gently they raised the old negro, and Mr. Willing took hold of his coat.
+Uncle Frank protested vigorously, but Mr. Willing drew the garment off
+anyhow, and threw it to a chair across the room.
+
+It left a trail of greenbacks upon the floor.
+
+Greatly surprised, Shirley stooped and picked them up, and,
+unthinkingly, counted them.
+
+"Five hundred dollars," she exclaimed. "Where in the world did he get
+all this money?"
+
+She considered the point for some minutes, and then exclaimed aloud.
+
+"Look, Dad," she said, and handed him the roll of bills. "These dropped
+out of Uncle Frank's pocket."
+
+Mr. Willing looked at his daughter in astonishment.
+
+"Where on earth did he get that money?" he exclaimed.
+
+Shirley smiled slightly.
+
+"Unless I am greatly mistaken," she said, "this is the same five hundred
+dollars Mr. Jones offered Jimmy Smith if he would 'pull' Gabriel in the
+Derby."
+
+Mr. Willing seemed staggered.
+
+"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "Why, Frank has been with me for years. He
+is as faithful as the day is long."
+
+"Will he get well?" asked Shirley abruptly.
+
+Mr. Willing shook his head.
+
+"There is no chance," he replied. "I knew enough to see that. Hardly a
+rib in his body but is broken. Also, he is badly crushed internally. No,
+he will not live."
+
+"Then," said Shirley, "he must be made to clear Jimmy before he dies."
+
+Mr. Willing was silent for a long time.
+
+"It is hard to believe," he said at last, "but you must be right."
+
+He approached the bed.
+
+"Frank," he said quietly, "why did you sell me out?"
+
+The old negro rolled his eyes but did not reply.
+
+"Frank," said Mr. Willing again, "you are going to die."
+
+"No! No!" cried the old negro.
+
+"It is true," continued Mr. Willing. "Now, Frank, haven't I always
+treated you all right?"
+
+"Yessah!"
+
+"Then tell me why you sold me out."
+
+Still the old negro was silent.
+
+"Frank," said Mr. Willing, "did you put the painted bit in Gabriel's
+stall?"
+
+The old negro nodded.
+
+"Yessah."
+
+He turned his head and sobbed.
+
+"Don't question him any more, Dad," said Shirley, also with tears in her
+eyes. "It is enough that we know Jimmy is innocent. Let him die in
+peace."
+
+Suddenly Frank half rose in the bed, and a fit of coughing shook him.
+
+"The end is near," said Mr. Willing quietly. "The doctor will be too
+late."
+
+The old negro drew himself up high in the bed, and gazed at Mr. Willing.
+Then, slowly, hesitatingly, he extended an old and wrinkled hand.
+
+"Good-bye, suh," he said, in a low voice. "I'se sorry."
+
+Mr. Willing took the hand without a word. A smile lighted up the old
+negro's face. Then, suddenly, he fell back.
+
+Mr. Willing bent over him.
+
+"He is dead," he said, and his voice broke.
+
+Shirley turned quietly toward the door.
+
+"Where are you going?" demanded Mr. Willing, in a low voice.
+
+"I am going to bring Jimmy back."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.--SHIRLEY SAVES JIMMY FROM HIMSELF.
+
+
+Arrived in Paris, Shirley went at once to Mr. Wilson's drug store.
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Wilson, in response to Shirley's question. "Jimmy left
+me this address."
+
+He drew a card from his pocket and passed it to Shirley. The young girl
+glanced at it and then uttered an exclamation of surprise.
+
+The address was the same hotel as that in which Jones had stopped when
+Jimmy fell into his power.
+
+"There was a man with him when he gave me the card," Mr. Wilson
+continued.
+
+"Please describe him," said Shirley anxiously.
+
+Mr. Wilson did so, and Shirley maintained her composure with difficulty.
+
+"Jones," said Shirley to herself as she made her way from the store.
+
+For a moment she hesitated, but for a moment only. Then mounting her
+horse, she set out resolutely for the address given. She climbed the
+dark stairs and went at once to the room Jones had occupied the last
+time she had been there.
+
+Just as she was about to knock she caught the sound of voices from the
+inside. One she immediately recognized as Jones' and the other was
+Jimmy's. Shirley listened.
+
+"Well," said Jones, "I am glad to see that you have come to your senses
+at last. It's about time."
+
+"I guess you are right," said Jimmy, and to Shirley the voice sounded
+somewhat listless.
+
+"You will find," said Jones, "that in the long run the only friend you
+have is yourself. You see how quick Willing jumped onto you--also his
+daughter. No matter how honest you may be, at the first sign of
+dishonesty you are kicked out, guilty or innocent."
+
+"You're right," said Jimmy. "I guess I might as well have the game as
+the name. Now what is it you want me to do?"
+
+"Well," said Jones, "we worked the painted bit trick too soon. The horse
+will have recovered in time for the race. We must find some other way of
+getting at him. Do you know when Willing will move him to Louisville?"
+
+"Yes. He will be driven into Paris Monday morning, and shipped that
+night."
+
+"Good. Then it will be your work to try and slip into the car
+unobserved. I shall give you a certain powder which you can give the
+horse. I'll guarantee a dose of it will lay him up for a month."
+
+Jimmy shuddered slightly.
+
+"It seems a shabby trick to play on Gabriel," he said.
+
+"Well, it's a shabby trick Willing played on you."
+
+"So it is," agreed Jimmy. "But suppose there is another guard with the
+horse? I may not be able to get in."
+
+"In that event I'll take you to Louisville. A chance will turn up there
+sooner or later. You see the trouble is that no one but you can go close
+to him."
+
+"Then how will Mr. Willing race him?"
+
+"Oh, he'll find a jockey some place. They'll bridle the horse some way,
+and once on his back one jockey will ride him as well as another."
+
+"I'm not so sure about that," said Jimmy, "but maybe you're right."
+
+"I know I am. It has been done many a time. Well, how does the plan
+strike you?"
+
+"And you say," said Jimmy, "that if I am successful, you will pay me
+$500?"
+
+"Yes; as soon as the race is over."
+
+"Then I accept."
+
+"Good. I thought you would come to your senses."
+
+Shirley had listened in horror to this conversation. She could scarcely
+believe her ears. She had never dreamed that Jimmy would come to this.
+And she scolded herself roundly, for she believed it was all her fault.
+
+"I brought him to this," she told herself. "Now I shall have to save
+him."
+
+With a sudden movement she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
+
+Jones, who had sat with his back to the door, jumped to his feet and
+faced the intruder. Jimmy, at first sight of Shirley, had turned white;
+but he kept his seat.
+
+"Jimmy," cried Shirley, rushing up to him, "surely you do not mean what
+you have said."
+
+Jimmy did not reply.
+
+"Of course, he means it," declared Jones, striding forward. "Why
+shouldn't he, after the way you people have treated him?"
+
+Shirley ignored Jones, and again spoke to Jimmy.
+
+"We have done you a great injustice," she said simply, "and Dad and I
+are both as sorry as we can be. I have come to take you back home."
+
+Jimmy looked at her in great surprise.
+
+"Take me home?" he repeated. "Has Mr. Willing discovered his error?"
+
+"Frank has confessed," said Shirley quietly. "He is dead."
+
+"Frank dead!" echoed Jimmy, springing to his feet.
+
+"Yes. Gabriel killed him."
+
+Jimmy bowed his head.
+
+"It is retribution," he said slowly. "The same thing might have happened
+to me."
+
+Shirley now drew a roll of bills from her purse--the five hundred
+dollars she had picked up in her father's bedroom when it fell from
+Uncle Frank's pocket. She had brought it with her unconsciously.
+
+She threw the roll of money on the table, and turned to Jones
+scornfully.
+
+"There," she said, "is your blood money. Come, Jimmy."
+
+Slowly Jimmy rose to his feet.
+
+But as the lad started to follow Shirley through the door, Jones sprang
+forward.
+
+"No you don't," he said. "I have had enough of this foolishness." He
+stepped back quickly, and from his hip pocket produced a revolver.
+
+"Now," he said, "you sit down in this chair, or I'll use this."
+
+Jimmy was a lad of discretion. He sat down.
+
+Shirley turned back from the door.
+
+"Now," said Jones, "I want you to understand that I am not to be trifled
+with. You are not going to ride Gabriel in the Derby, not if I have to
+shoot you. Is that plain enough?"
+
+"It's plain enough," said Jimmy.
+
+Jones leaned back in his chair and laughed; then he laid the revolver on
+the table.
+
+"Good," he said. He turned to Shirley and waved his hand. "You see," he
+said, "Jimmy elects to remain here."
+
+"I don't believe it," declared Shirley.
+
+"No, Miss Shirley," said Jimmy, "I don't want to remain here, but it
+looks as though I should have to."
+
+"You don't want to, eh?" said Jones angrily. "Well, I'll make you want
+to remain."
+
+Leaning suddenly forward, he threw out his right hand and clutched Jimmy
+by the collar. With a violent jerk he pulled him from his seat clear
+across the table.
+
+Jimmy squirmed and wriggled, but he could not shake himself free. His
+kicking feet sent the revolver from the table to the floor, but Jones
+did not notice it.
+
+Holding Jimmy high in the air with his left hand, with his right he
+deliberately struck him three heavy blows in the face. Then he let him
+drop to the floor, where the lad lay unconscious.
+
+"There," said Jones, "I guess that will settle you."
+
+"And I guess this will settle you," came Shirley's low voice.
+
+Turning suddenly, Jones stepped back. Shirley stood facing him with one
+outstretched arm, and in her hand she clutched the revolver, which she
+levelled directly at Jones' head.
+
+Jumping quickly around the table just as Jones had dropped Jimmy to the
+floor, Shirley pounced upon the revolver and rose with it in a steady
+hand, as Jones turned.
+
+"Now," she said quietly, keeping the weapon levelled squarely at the
+man's head, "pick Jimmy up and walk out of here ahead of me."
+
+Jones hesitated and Shirley's finger tightened upon the trigger.
+
+"I would advise you to do as I say without delay," she said.
+
+Jones hesitated for only a second longer; then, stooping over, he lifted
+the boy up in his arms and walked out the door.
+
+Keeping the revolver ready, Shirley followed him.
+
+Shirley had left the horse just outside the hotel. Jones stopped near
+the animal.
+
+"Put him across the saddle," Shirley commanded.
+
+Jones obeyed.
+
+"Now," said the girl, "take yourself away from here just as quick as you
+can."
+
+Without a word Jones turned and walked rapidly down the street.
+
+Shirley climbed to the saddle, and taking the reins in her right hand,
+she clutched Jimmy's inert body with her left.
+
+The girl had no means of telling how badly the lad was hurt, and her one
+thought was to get him to a doctor as quickly as possible. It was
+getting late now, and dusk was coming on.
+
+"I guess I had better take him to Mr. Wilson's," said the girl to
+herself.
+
+She turned her horse in that direction.
+
+Mr. Wilson himself came running out of the door as Shirley dismounted,
+and lent a hand to carry Jimmy's unconscious body into the store, where
+they laid him down gently on a sofa in the rear.
+
+Shirley bent over Jimmy anxiously.
+
+"Is he badly hurt, Mr. Wilson?" she asked.
+
+"I am afraid he is," was the slow reply. "His face is badly battered, as
+you can see. He must have been struck a terrible blow. How did it
+happen?"
+
+Shirley explained.
+
+"I'll call a doctor immediately," said Mr. Wilson and hastened to the
+telephone.
+
+The physician arrived a few minutes later.
+
+"He must be taken to the hospital," he declared. "His condition is
+serious."
+
+"Can I do anything, doctor?" asked Shirley.
+
+"No, not now," was the reply.
+
+"Then I shall go home immediately," said the girl.
+
+She left the store quickly, mounted her horse, and headed homeward
+through the rapidly gathering darkness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.--OFF TO THE DERBY.
+
+
+Mr. Willing's anger at the manner in which Jimmy had been injured knew
+no bounds. It was late when Shirley reached home, but her father wanted
+to go to town at once and put the police on Jones' trail.
+
+"I don't think it is necessary, Dad," said Shirley. "I feel sure he will
+trouble us no more."
+
+"But who will ride Gabriel in the Derby?" demanded Mr. Willing.
+
+"Perhaps Jimmy will be well enough to ride when the time comes,"
+suggested Mabel.
+
+"I shall call up the doctor the first thing in the morning and ask the
+extent of his injuries," promised Mr. Willing.
+
+"If possible," said Shirley, "I think it would be best to take Jimmy to
+Louisville with us. We can attend to him carefully there, and help to
+get him in condition for the race."
+
+"A good idea," agreed Mr. Willing, "if the doctor will consent."
+
+"I am sure Jimmy will be all right," said Shirley hopefully. "By the
+way, Dad, how is Gabriel?"
+
+"Better than could be expected," was the reply. "The veterinary said he
+would be perfectly fit in a day or two."
+
+After a few further words, all retired with the exception of Leonard,
+who made his way to the stable, where he was to stand watch, for Mr.
+Willing had not selected a man to take old Frank's place.
+
+In the morning Mr. Willing learned that Jimmy's condition was not as
+serious as had been feared. The doctor did not oppose the plan of taking
+the lad to Louisville on Monday.
+
+"The trip will not hurt him," he declared. "But keep him perfectly quiet
+after you arrive. With careful nursing he should be in shape to ride
+Gabriel to victory."
+
+The days passed slowly, but at last the time for departure came. Besides
+packing her own clothes, Shirley also packed Jimmy's things, and on
+Monday afternoon Mr. Willing, Mr. Ashton, Leonard, Mabel and Shirley,
+with Gabriel tied to the rear of the double carriage, were driven to
+Paris.
+
+Mr. Willing had already shipped his large touring car to Louisville, for
+he believed he would have need of it there.
+
+Leonard had asked to travel with Gabriel and Mr. Willing, after some
+hesitancy, had accepted his offer.
+
+The party went first to the freight depot, where Gabriel was led into a
+car that had been reserved for him. He was tied up at one end, and
+Leonard took up his position at the other. Besides Mr. Willing's shotgun
+the young man was armed with a brace of heavy caliber revolvers.
+
+"The first man that sticks his head in this car is likely to get it shot
+off," said the young man grimly, as the others prepared to leave.
+
+"I am glad that you are here," said Mr. Willing slowly. "I am glad to
+have some one I can trust in charge of Gabriel. We will be waiting for
+you when you reach Louisville."
+
+They shook hands all around and left Gabriel and Leonard alone.
+Immediately the car door was closed, and a few moments later a switch
+engine hooked onto the car and soon it was coupled to a long train. Half
+an hour later the train began to move.
+
+In the meantime the others had made their way to the hospital where
+Jimmy lay. The boy was much better than they had expected to find him,
+and the doctor, who was at the bedside, assured them that he was well on
+the road to recovery.
+
+"Just be careful with him," he told them.
+
+Jimmy was carried to the depot on a stretcher and made comfortable in a
+Pullman car; and soon the party were on their way.
+
+At Lexington there was a long delay, and it was nearly midnight before
+the train pulled out. Shirley and Mabel took turns watching over Jimmy
+during the night, but their vigilance was unnecessary. For the lad, once
+he had closed his eyes, did not open them again until the train was
+nearing Louisville the following morning.
+
+"Where shall we stop, Dad?" asked Shirley, as they prepared to leave the
+train.
+
+"Guess we may as well go to the St. Charles," was the reply.
+
+On the platform he summoned a porter, who picked Jimmy up and carried
+him to a taxi. Mr. Willing climbed in alongside him, and Mr. Ashton and
+the two girls occupied another.
+
+At the hotel Mr. Willing engaged a suite of six rooms, where all could
+be comfortable.
+
+"I'll stay here until Saturday," he told the others. "Then I shall stay
+at the track."
+
+This was Tuesday morning, and the Derby would not be run till the next
+Monday. In the days that followed, the two girls, when they were not
+caring for Jimmy, spent their time sight-seeing around town.
+
+Leonard and Gabriel arrived Wednesday afternoon, and Mr. Willing
+immediately quartered them in his stable at the track, Leonard
+announcing that he had determined to maintain his watch until the last
+moment. Shirley and Mabel made several trips to see the horse, and, of
+course, so did Mr. Willing. There was no doubt in the minds of any that
+the animal was in perfect condition for the race.
+
+"If Jimmy only gets well in time," said Mr. Willing.
+
+The youngster was improving steadily and there seemed little doubt that
+he would be well enough to ride by Monday.
+
+As Shirley and Mabel were walking along Market Street Thursday
+afternoon, the former suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure in the
+crowd. She took Mabel by the hand and hurried forward.
+
+"What's the matter?" demanded her friend.
+
+"I see some one I want to talk to," was the reply, and the girl
+quickened her steps.
+
+And then Mabel saw the reason for her chum's haste. At the same moment
+Shirley called:
+
+"Dick!"
+
+A young man, a few yards ahead of them, turned. As his gaze rested upon
+the two girls he stopped, and lifted his cap.
+
+Shirley approached quickly and extended her hand, which Dick grasped
+warmly. Then he shook hands with Mabel.
+
+"It's good to see you again," he said warmly.
+
+"And I'm glad to see you again," said Shirley. "What are you doing in
+Louisville?"
+
+"I'm working here," was the reply. "I'm office boy in one of the large
+newspaper offices. Some day," he added, "I hope to be a reporter."
+
+"And I am sure it will not be long before you are," declared Shirley.
+"How is it that you are not working this afternoon?"
+
+"I work all night," was the reply. "I go to work at six o'clock."
+
+"Have you seen anything of Jones?" demanded the girl, after some further
+talk.
+
+"I thought I saw him on the street the other day," was the reply, "but I
+am not sure. However, I suppose he is here. Have you had any more
+trouble with him?"
+
+"Yes," replied Shirley, and told him everything that had happened since
+Dick had left them.
+
+"Well," said Dick, "I should advise that Gabriel be carefully guarded.
+Jones is a desperate man. There is no telling what he may attempt."
+
+"I do not believe he will be able to do much damage now," declared
+Shirley. "Leonard is with Gabriel all the time."
+
+"I wouldn't take any chances."
+
+"We won't."
+
+"And you say Jimmy will be in condition to ride?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Good; but I must be leaving you now. I hope I shall see you again
+before you return home," and lifting his hat, Dick turned away.
+
+"Will you go to the Derby with us?" Shirley called after him.
+
+Dick hesitated a moment before replying.
+
+"I shall be glad to," he said at length.
+
+"Then come to the hotel at 10 o'clock Monday morning," said Shirley.
+
+"I'll be there," said the boy, and with another bow he was gone.
+
+Shirley and Mabel returned to the hotel.
+
+"How is everything at the track, Dad?" asked Shirley when her father
+came in a few moments later.
+
+"First rate."
+
+"Have there been any attempts to injure Gabriel?"
+
+"No. Leonard thought he caught sight of Jones out there yesterday, but
+he is not sure. I think he must be mistaken. I reckon we are through
+with Jones."
+
+"I hope so," replied both girls.
+
+"I'll take you all out to-morrow and let you have a look at Gabriel,"
+said Mr. Willing.
+
+"What are we going to do to-night?" asked Shirley.
+
+Mr. Willing smiled at her.
+
+"What would my little girl like to do?" he asked.
+
+"Well, I would like to go to the theater, but there is no one to leave
+with Jimmy."
+
+"I'll stay behind, and you can go with Ashton," declared Mr. Willing.
+
+And this plan, after some discussion, was followed.
+
+It was late when the three returned to the hotel, and knowing that they
+must be up early in the morning, they all went to bed immediately.
+
+"Don't you think Jimmy should have a little exercise, Dad?" asked
+Shirley, just before telling her father good-night.
+
+"I had thought of that," was the reply. "If he is feeling strong enough
+to-morrow afternoon, I shall take him out to the track for a few
+minutes. Besides, he should have a look at the course before the race."
+
+"He is certainly getting along splendidly," declared Shirley. "I feel
+sure a little outing will do him good."
+
+Jimmy, who had overheard this conversation, smiled.
+
+"I should like to see Gabriel," he said quietly. "I want to tell him
+that we must win this race."
+
+"Oh, he knows that now, I'm sure," said Shirley with a laugh. "I've told
+him all about it myself."
+
+"Then there is nothing to be feared," said Jimmy. "Gabriel will do
+anything for you."
+
+"Well, young people," said Mr. Willing, "you have talked enough. It's
+time for you to get to bed."
+
+And soon all were sleeping soundly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.--MABEL PROVES HER COURAGE.
+
+
+The following afternoon, in the touring car, the entire Willing party
+was driven to the track. They went immediately to Gabriel's quarters in
+the training field, where, after a sharp knock upon the door, Leonard
+admitted them.
+
+"Anything new?" asked Mr. Willing, as he entered.
+
+"Not a thing," replied Leonard with a smile. "Everything's quiet and
+serene."
+
+"Good. I've brought you some visitors."
+
+Leonard stepped back, and Shirley, Mabel, Mr. Ashton and Jimmy stepped
+inside.
+
+Although somewhat weak and a trifle pale Jimmy seemed to be almost
+himself again. He walked slowly, but said he was feeling splendidly.
+
+"Where is Gabriel?" he asked.
+
+Leonard pointed and Jimmy hurried forward as fast as his weakened
+condition would permit.
+
+Gabriel received him with a whinny of delight, and throwing his arms
+about the big black horse's neck, Jimmy talked to him long and lovingly.
+
+Then he rejoined the others.
+
+"Gabriel has promised he will win the race," Jimmy whispered to Shirley.
+
+"Then it is just as good as won," declared the girl.
+
+"Jimmy," called Mr. Willing at that moment, "would you like to have a
+look at the course?"
+
+"Yes, sir," replied the boy, and went forward.
+
+"I'm going too," declared Shirley.
+
+"And I," said Ashton.
+
+"I'd like to have a look myself," said Leonard. "I haven't had a chance
+to get out and look about since I have been here."
+
+"But who will stay with Gabriel?" asked Mr. Willing.
+
+"I'll stay," Mabel volunteered.
+
+Mr. Willing hesitated for a moment, then consented.
+
+"I think it will be all right for a few minutes," he said.
+
+"Mabel, don't go too near Gabriel," said Shirley. "He might not like
+it."
+
+"Don't worry," was the laughing rejoinder. "I won't go in his stall. I
+know as well as you do that he wouldn't permit any one but you and Jimmy
+in there."
+
+Mabel sat down in a chair to await the return of the others, who now
+went out the door.
+
+Gabriel, with his head out of his stall door, eyed the girl searchingly;
+and looking up suddenly, Mabel caught his eye and smiled. Gabriel's ears
+twitched, and he didn't seem half as ferocious as usual.
+
+"Strange," mused Mabel. "He never let me get that close to him before."
+
+At that moment the door behind her slammed with a bang. Turning quickly
+Mabel started back with a cry. She was face to face with Jones.
+
+"So," said Jones with a sneering smile, "we meet again! Now you listen
+to me, and do as I say. I haven't much time and I don't want to waste
+any. You get out of here just as fast as you can. Do you hear?"
+
+Mabel made no reply, but backed toward Gabriel's stall. Jones took a
+step forward.
+
+"Do you hear me?" he cried angrily.
+
+Mabel was badly frightened, but tried not to show it.
+
+Raising her hand, she pointed to the door.
+
+"Leave here at once," she commanded. "Mr. Willing will be back here in a
+few minutes and he will attend to you."
+
+Jones smiled again.
+
+"I have plenty of time to do what I came for," he said. "Get away from
+that stall."
+
+Mabel only shrunk back closer.
+
+Gabriel, his head protruding from his stall, watched this scene with
+dilated eyes and quivering nostrils. He stamped angrily, and uttered
+several snorts.
+
+As Jones took another step forward, Mabel advanced, as though to meet
+him. Then, as Jones halted, she put her hand behind her and opened the
+catch to Gabriel's stall. Quickly she pushed the door back, and leaping
+suddenly inside, she closed it again.
+
+Jones, with a cry of rage, leaped forward, but as he did so Gabriel
+tossed his head angrily and the man stepped back in fear.
+
+"Now," said Mabel quietly, "unless you leave here immediately I shall
+open this door and let Gabriel at you."
+
+"You wouldn't dare," sneered Jones.
+
+He glanced quickly about him, his face alight with an evil smile. He
+took a few steps back, and stooping, came up with a gun in his hands.
+
+"You had better get down out of the way," he said. "I'll take a shot at
+Gabriel with this. It won't kill him, but I guess it will do enough
+damage to keep him out of the race."
+
+He brought the revolver to his shoulder and took deliberate aim.
+
+"Get down quick!" he commanded. "You might get hurt!"
+
+Mabel glanced about her.
+
+Hanging on a nail from the side of the stall she saw a curry comb and
+brush. With a quick leap she seized them, and then, running forward, she
+threw them with all her strength.
+
+Her aim was perfect, and true to its mark the heavy brush shot forward,
+catching Jones squarely in the forehead.
+
+Jones staggered back and dropped his weapon.
+
+But the blow was not hard enough to knock him down, and he sprang up
+again with a cry of rage and stooped to pick up the gun.
+
+At that instant Mabel opened wide Gabriel's stall.
+
+With an almost human cry, Gabriel, who had been jumping about angrily,
+charged through the door straight at Jones. The latter saw him coming,
+and leaped aside, and Gabriel, striking out with his forefeet, missed.
+
+Jones ran quickly toward the door and laid hold of the knob.
+
+But before he could turn it the horse was again upon him. Snorting, he
+shoved out his head, and his teeth met in Jones' arm.
+
+Jones shrieked with the pain of it.
+
+Mabel, cowering down in the stall, began to cry.
+
+Three times Jones, his arm dripping blood, dashed around the place with
+Gabriel in pursuit. The man was badly frightened, but fear lent
+fleetness to his feet. He avoided Gabriel's teeth narrowly several times
+and so far had succeeded in dodging the flying hoofs.
+
+But such a struggle could have but one outcome.
+
+Suddenly Jones found himself in a corner from which there was no escape.
+
+Gabriel reared high in the air, and his forefeet, in their descent,
+struck Jones squarely upon the head. The man went down in a heap.
+Gabriel, seeing his foe prostrate on the floor, stood off and made ready
+to leap upon him again.
+
+But at that moment the door opened and Jimmy dashed inside, closely
+followed by Shirley and the others.
+
+Jimmy leapt for Gabriel's halter, but missed.
+
+Once more the animal reared high in the air, and his heavy feet would
+have crushed out Jones' life had it not been for Shirley's prompt
+action.
+
+She jumped in front of Gabriel and into the air, caught him by the
+halter; then, springing aside, she drew herself clear of the heavy hoofs
+just as they came down with a crash.
+
+But she had succeeded in her object, and Gabriel's feet missed Jones'
+head by the fraction of an inch.
+
+Shirley clung tightly to the halter.
+
+For an instant Gabriel's eyes continued to flame, but after one quick
+glance at the girl who had him, he became quiet. His nostrils still
+quivered with anger, but the fire had left his eyes. He stood perfectly
+still.
+
+Leonard bent over the still form of Jones. Stooping, he lifted the man's
+head to his knee, and at the same moment Jones' consciousness returned.
+
+He took in the scene before him, and staggered to his feet, blood
+covering his face. He glanced once at the faces about him, and then made
+for the door.
+
+Mr. Willing intercepted him.
+
+"I have had enough of you. The next time you cross my path I shall turn
+you over to the authorities. I have a notion to do it right now. Get out
+of my place, and stay out!"
+
+Without a word, Jones slunk to the door and disappeared.
+
+"Where is Mabel?" demanded Mr. Ashton in great anxiety, at this
+juncture.
+
+Mabel was not in sight.
+
+All glanced about, and then, from the direction of Gabriel's stall, came
+a faint moan.
+
+Shirley ran forward ahead of the others, and in an instant had her
+friend's head in her lap.
+
+"Water quick!" she commanded.
+
+Leonard hastened forward with a bucket of water.
+
+"Is she hurt?" asked Mr. Ashton, excitedly, pushing the others away.
+
+Shirley made a careful examination of her friend.
+
+"No," she replied. "I don't see a mark. She must have fainted."
+
+Mabel moaned again, and a moment later opened her eyes. Seeing Shirley,
+she threw her arms around her friend's neck and broke into tears again.
+The excitement had been too much for her.
+
+A few minutes later, however, the flow of tears ceased and Mabel sat up.
+
+"Tell us all about it," said Shirley, stroking her chum's hair.
+
+In a few words Mabel complied.
+
+"You are a brave girl," Shirley told her. "Gabriel might have killed you
+when you entered his stall."
+
+"No, he wouldn't do that," was Mabel's reply. "We had already become
+friends."
+
+She rose, walked over to the big horse and threw her arms about his
+neck. Gabriel submitted to the caress.
+
+"Well," said Mr. Willing, "let's get back to the hotel."
+
+Shirley led Gabriel back to his stall, and leaving Leonard once more on
+guard, the others set out for their hotel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.--THE JOCKEY.
+
+
+It was the day of the great race.
+
+Shirley jumped out of bed eagerly, and shook Mabel, who was still
+sleeping soundly.
+
+"Mabel! Mabel!" she called.
+
+Mabel turned sleepily.
+
+"What's the matter?" she asked.
+
+"Time to get up," was the reply. "It's almost eight o'clock. This is
+Derby day."
+
+"So it is," exclaimed Mabel, awake in an instant now.
+
+She jumped out of bed and the girls dressed quickly.
+
+Mr. Willing and the others were already up and dressed when the girls
+came from their rooms, and they all went down to breakfast together.
+
+It was during the meal that Mr. Willing was suddenly called by a page.
+
+"Gentleman to see you sir," said the boy.
+
+Mr. Willing excused himself and left the dining room. He was back in a
+few minutes, however, and said to Shirley:
+
+"The rest of you will have to come to the track by yourselves. I have
+some business to attend to. I'll meet you there. I'll leave the car for
+you."
+
+Mr. Ashton spoke up.
+
+"I have some business matters to see about also," he said. "I'll go with
+you, and Jimmy and the girls can use the car."
+
+This plan was agreed upon.
+
+"By the way, Dad," said Shirley suddenly, as her father rose to go,
+"Dick is going with us."
+
+"Dick!" repeated Mr. Willing. "Who in the world is Dick?"
+
+Shirley explained.
+
+"Bring him by all means," said her father. "I shall be glad to see him."
+
+At the door he turned.
+
+"Meet me in our quarters at 1 o'clock," he said; then to Jimmy: "Jimmy,
+you had better dress here in the hotel."
+
+Jimmy answered that he would do so, and Mr. Willing and Mr. Ashton took
+their departure.
+
+The girls waited impatiently for Dick to arrive. He was announced sharp
+on the stroke of ten, and was shown to their suite.
+
+"We had better leave here about noon," he said. "The crowd will be
+immense and it may take us some time to get to the track."
+
+This was agreed upon.
+
+The four strolled about the street until eleven o'clock, when they
+returned to the hotel for lunch.
+
+Jimmy partook of a very light meal, for he wished to be in exact
+condition for the race. He left the table before the others, announcing
+that he would go upstairs and change to his jockey clothes.
+
+Fifteen minutes later the others followed him.
+
+There was not a sound in the room when the three entered and a peculiar
+feeling came over Shirley.
+
+"Jimmy!" she called suddenly.
+
+There was no answer, and again the girl called.
+
+Still no answer.
+
+"What in the world can be the matter?" asked the girl anxiously. She
+turned to Dick. "Will you go into Jimmy's room and see what is wrong?"
+she asked.
+
+Dick disappeared into the other room and the two girls waited nervously.
+
+They heard Dick's voice raised in an exclamation, and he came dashing
+back.
+
+"Don't be alarmed," he said quietly, as the girls rose and ran to him.
+
+"What's the matter?" demanded Shirley, wringing her hands. "Where is
+Jimmy?"
+
+"He is in there," said Dick. "But he has been hurt."
+
+"Hurt!" exclaimed both girls in one voice.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Well," said Dick quietly, "he was struck over the head with a club."
+
+The girls cried out in dismay.
+
+"He is still unconscious," Dick continued. "I found him on the floor. I
+tried to revive him, but it was no use. I laid him on the bed."
+
+"What are we to do?" said Mabel. "Gabriel will not be able to run."
+
+"Never mind the race now," said Shirley. "Let's call a doctor for Jimmy.
+His life is more important than the race."
+
+She stepped quickly to the telephone and summoned the hotel physician.
+Then all went into Jimmy.
+
+The lad had not had time to change into his jockey costume. Apparently
+he had been struck down the moment he entered the room.
+
+As Shirley bent over him, he moved restlessly and opened his eyes. He
+saw Shirley, and smiled slightly.
+
+"What's the matter, Jimmy?" asked the girl gently. "How did it happen?"
+
+"I don't know," came the weak reply. "Something hit me as I stepped in
+the door."
+
+Dick came up to the bed at this point. In his hand he held a short
+cudgel.
+
+"Here is the weapon," he said quietly.
+
+"But who did it?" asked Shirley.
+
+"It's some of Jones' work, I should say," said Mabel.
+
+"Of course," agreed Dick.
+
+At this moment Jimmy tried to sit up.
+
+"What time is it?" he asked in a feeble voice.
+
+Shirley looked at her watch.
+
+"Quarter after twelve," she said.
+
+"Then I must get up," declared Jimmy. "I must get to the track."
+
+A knock sounded at the door, and the hotel physician entered. He made a
+quick examination.
+
+"Can I ride in the Derby this afternoon?" asked Jimmy eagerly.
+
+The doctor shook his head.
+
+"You'll stay in bed for a week," he said quietly.
+
+"But I must get to the track," said Jimmy. "Mr. Willing is depending on
+me! I must go."
+
+"It is impossible," said the physician.
+
+"Then what shall we do?" cried the boy. "Who will ride Gabriel?"
+
+"I guess Gabriel will not run," said the physician quietly.
+
+"But he will," cried Shirley, "and he shall win too."
+
+The others looked at the girl in surprise.
+
+"What do you mean?" demanded Mabel.
+
+The girl took a long breath, then said quietly:
+
+"I will ride him!"
+
+The others uttered exclamations of surprise.
+
+"But you can't, Shirley," protested Mabel.
+
+"But I will," came the firm reply.
+
+"Your father would never hear of such a thing."
+
+"He doesn't need to know anything about it. But the rest of you must
+help me. I'll dress here in Jimmy's clothes. No one will know the
+difference. I have played Jimmy once and I can do it again. But you,
+Mabel, and you, Dick, must keep between me and father as much as
+possible."
+
+"What will your father say when he fails to see you at the track? He
+will want to know what has become of you."
+
+"Then you must tell him something that will satisfy him for the time."
+
+Shirley looked at her watch again.
+
+"Twenty minutes past twelve. I shall have to hurry," she said.
+
+Quickly she went to Jimmy's trunk and pulled forth his jockey clothes.
+Then she hastened to her own room.
+
+The others waited her return without a word.
+
+"How do I look?" came a voice from the doorway at last.
+
+Jimmy, Dick, Mabel and the doctor took one look and cried out in
+surprise.
+
+"Great Scott! I wouldn't have believed it possible," declared the
+physician.
+
+In her red and blue costume--the Willing colors--Shirley indeed made a
+pretty picture. Her cap was pulled down well over her face and her thick
+hair was coiled up under it. In her hand she held Jimmy's short whip.
+
+"Will I do?" she asked.
+
+"You look enough like this lad to be his twin," said the physician
+quietly. "You'll do."
+
+"We must hurry," declared Shirley. "Ready, Mabel? Ready, Dick?"
+
+"Yes," they answered.
+
+Shirley approached Jimmy.
+
+"I'll try not to lose your reputation," she said gently. "I'll do the
+best I know how, and I am sure that Gabriel will try for me."
+
+"There is no doubt about that," replied Jimmy. "With you on Gabriel's
+back, I feel more certain of the outcome of the race than I would if I
+were there myself."
+
+Shirley held out her hand and the lad grasped it warmly.
+
+"Be very careful," he warned her. "Watch the others closely. They will
+probably try some crookedness, for they must all be in it together. Keep
+as clear of the field as possible, and let Gabriel run his own race."
+
+"I shall remember," said Shirley. "And now good-bye."
+
+She pressed Jimmy's hand gently and stepped toward the door. The
+physician stopped her.
+
+"I want to say," he declared, "that you are the bravest girl I have ever
+seen. I am sure that you will win."
+
+"Thank you, doctor," replied Shirley with a slight smile. "Take good
+care of Jimmy."
+
+"I shall stay right here until you return," said the doctor, knowing
+this would make Shirley less worried about Jimmy during her absence.
+
+Shirley nodded and passed out of the room ahead of her friends.
+
+The Willing touring car stood in front of the hotel, and the
+chauffeur--a man Mr. Willing had hired because he knew the town--was
+waiting.
+
+Shirley stood aside while Mabel and Dick climbed in, and then she got in
+after them.
+
+"To the race track," she commanded, "and hurry."
+
+Mabel looked at her watch.
+
+"Twenty-five minutes to one," she remarked.
+
+"Good," replied Shirley. "We'll make it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.--THE DERBY.
+
+
+All Louisville, it seemed, was at the Derby that day.
+
+From early in the morning until after the races started, crowds
+continued to pour into the grandstand and overflow into the paddock.
+Thousands of women, in brilliant costumes, gave a picturesque touch to
+the scene. It was indeed a gala day.
+
+Gaily decked in bright colors, the grandstand presented an attractive
+appearance. Everywhere happiness and light-heartedness prevailed. It was
+the day of the year when Louisville gave itself over to frolic.
+
+The races were scheduled to start at 2 o'clock, and as the winner of the
+first event flashed under the wire the crowd cheered. But in spite of
+these first events--good races though they were--the crowd waited
+impatiently for the superb horses that were to fight for the Derby.
+
+It was a few minutes after 1 o'clock when Shirley, Mabel and Dick
+reached the track, and hurried to the Willing quarters. Mr. Willing was
+pacing up and down anxiously when they appeared, and Mr. Ashton and
+Leonard were beside him.
+
+Gabriel, all ready for the race, stood quietly nearby.
+
+"Well, here you are at last," said Mr. Willing as the three approached
+them. "Where is Shirley?"
+
+"Oh, she will be here soon," said Mabel. "Don't worry about her. Let me
+introduce Dick Stanley, Mr. Willing, the boy who came so nobly to our
+aid."
+
+Mr. Willing extended his hand and the lad grasped it.
+
+"I am glad to know you," said the former. "Allow me to thank you for the
+service you rendered me."
+
+"It was nothing," said Dick and stepped back.
+
+All this time Shirley had contrived to keep her back to her father, for
+she was well aware that if he should recognize her he would not permit
+her to ride.
+
+At that moment Leonard approached.
+
+He looked sharply at the supposed jockey, and then stepped back suddenly
+and opened his mouth to speak.
+
+Shirley laid a finger to her lips in a quick gesture, and Leonard closed
+his mouth without a word. Nevertheless he continued to stare at her in
+amazement.
+
+Mr. Willing, not suspecting anything of this nature, did not glance
+closely at the jockey, which was fortunate. Shirley kept her cap pulled
+well down, and thus avoided detection.
+
+"The Derby will be called a few minutes after three," said Mr. Willing.
+"Are you ready, Jimmy?"
+
+"Yes, sir," replied Shirley, imitating Jimmy's voice as nearly as she
+could.
+
+"Are you feeling perfectly fit?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Good."
+
+He led the way to the scales, where Shirley was weighed.
+
+"Ninety-eight," said Mr. Willing, stepping back. "Good."
+
+The time came at last, and Shirley, seated firmly upon Gabriel's back,
+rode slowly toward the barrier. Mr. Willing followed, giving last
+advice.
+
+"Get away as well as you can," he told her, "and give Gabriel his head.
+Under no circumstances use the whip. Let Gabriel run his own race."
+
+Shirley nodded her understanding of these orders, but made no reply. Mr.
+Willing stepped back and joined the others.
+
+"I wonder where Shirley is?" he said.
+
+"Oh, perhaps she stopped to talk to some one," said Mabel quietly.
+
+"Well, I guess she is safe enough," said Mr. Willing. "Come."
+
+He led the way to the paddock and the others followed.
+
+After some trouble they succeeded in gaining advantageous places, and
+turned their eyes toward the track. And at that moment a familiar voice
+near Mabel said:
+
+"Great Scott! Gabriel is going to run."
+
+Mabel turned and glanced at the speaker. It was Jones, and even as Mabel
+looked he turned upon the man beside him.
+
+"I thought you told me you had fixed the jockey!" he exclaimed.
+
+"I did," he declared. "I knocked him cold."
+
+"Then how is it that he is in the race?"
+
+"I don't know. I don't see how it is possible. Maybe they got another
+boy at the last minute."
+
+Jones looked long through his field glasses.
+
+"No. It's the same," he declared.
+
+Again he whirled upon the man angrily.
+
+"You have betrayed me," he cried.
+
+"It's a lie," said the other.
+
+Jones moved toward him, and the other turned and ran. Jones ran after
+him.
+
+In the meantime, Shirley, hunched almost on Gabriel's neck, had ridden
+forth with the others. The reins she held in her right hand with the
+whip, while with the other she stroked her horse's neck.
+
+"You know me, don't you, Gabriel?" she whispered.
+
+Gabriel's reply was a low whinny.
+
+Shirley patted him gently.
+
+"And we are going to win, aren't we, Gabriel?"
+
+Again the big horse whinnied.
+
+At the post Shirley turned in alongside the others. Upon her right,
+nearest the rail outside, was another great black horse, and Shirley did
+not need to be told that this was Jupiter, the animal upon which the
+bookmakers were depending to win the race.
+
+He was a wicked-looking brute, and his eyes were fiery red.
+
+"I'll have to watch him," thought the girl.
+
+She gazed at the other eight entries. Noble-looking animals they were,
+the best of Kentucky stock. She noticed several of the jockeys eyeing
+her queerly.
+
+"Yes, I shall have to be careful," she said.
+
+The signal to line up at the barrier was given.
+
+The high-strung horses moved about nervously. A pistol cracked, and they
+were off down the track. But the starter called them back. It was a
+false start.
+
+Shirley showed superb horsemanship. She maneuvered for position as well
+as any of the rest, and just before the pistol cracked the second time,
+she was but two removed from the inside rail.
+
+Next to her, closer to the rail, was Jupiter.
+
+"They're off!"
+
+The cry came from the grandstand, and was followed by a prolonged cheer.
+
+Shirley found herself slightly behind the leaders at the first jump, but
+she did not worry. She knew what Gabriel could do, and she was perfectly
+satisfied with her position.
+
+In a bunch the field swept down the track. Shirley found herself wedged
+in between Jupiter and a powerful sorrel on her other side. In this way
+they continued for the first half-mile.
+
+Gradually the three leaders, Jupiter, Gabriel and the big sorrel forged
+ahead of the field, and at the three-quarter mark the sorrel dropped
+behind. He was unable to keep up the terrific pace.
+
+Jupiter was still running slightly ahead and going easily. Not once had
+his jockey used his whip or urged him to greater effort. Nor had there
+as yet been any attempt at unfairness.
+
+Shirley held a tight rein upon Gabriel, and the animal had not yet let
+himself out. In spite of her father's instructions, Shirley was riding
+her own race. She believed that she knew more about Gabriel than either
+her father or Jimmy.
+
+And now, with the finish a quarter of a mile ahead, Shirley let Gabriel
+out slightly, and he came up on even terms with Jupiter in a few
+strides.
+
+Then Jupiter's rider got busy. He loosened his reins and began to coax.
+But Gabriel remained on even terms. Jupiter's jockey stopped coaxing and
+began to ply his whip, and at the first smart blow, Jupiter leaped
+ahead.
+
+Shirley let Gabriel out another notch, and then another, and once more
+the two big black horses were neck and neck. Try as he would, Jupiter
+could not shake Gabriel off.
+
+Glancing ahead, Shirley saw that the finish was close in front. The
+crowd had gone wild. With the horses rushing for the wire, bedlam had
+broken loose. Flags and pennants waved and men and women shouted
+hoarsely.
+
+But of this Shirley neither heard nor saw anything. Her eyes were fixed
+upon the wire and she knew nothing but that Gabriel must be the first
+under it.
+
+And now, as the two great horses thundered down to the finish, Shirley
+leaned forward on Gabriel's neck and whispered to him. The noble animal
+responded, and with a tremendous leap forged ahead of his rival.
+
+At the same moment, Jupiter's rider, realizing that he could not
+overtake his opponent, lashed out with his whip.
+
+The blow caught Shirley squarely across the face, and she reeled, and
+for a moment Gabriel was almost thrown off his stride. But the gallant
+horse recovered quickly, and with a last desperate effort, leaped
+forward under the wire--a winner by a neck.
+
+Shirley, in great pain, still had the presence of mind to pull Gabriel
+in, and sick and faint, she headed him quickly for the Willing stable.
+
+But Mr. Willing and the others, as well as the rest of the crowd, had
+seen the cowardly act, and a great cry of anger rose in the air. Mr.
+Willing made for his stable at top speed, the others following.
+
+At his stable, Gabriel stopped.
+
+Shirley swayed in the saddle and toppled over; and Mr. Willing, running
+up at that moment, arrived just in time to catch her in his arms.
+
+Gently he laid her on the ground. Her cap fell from her head, and her
+long hair came tumbling down.
+
+Mr. Willing stood still in his surprise.
+
+"Shirley!" he cried, and gathered her up in his arms.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.--THE PUNISHMENT OF JONES.
+
+
+"Shirley!" cried Mr. Willing again, and looked at his daughter in alarm.
+
+At this moment Mabel and Leonard came running up, having outdistanced
+Mr. Ashton.
+
+Mr. Willing turned to them quickly.
+
+"Dr. Thompson is back there in the paddock," he said, pointing. "Hurry!
+and see if you can find him."
+
+Mabel hurried away in response to this command. She was fortunate enough
+to find the physician after a brief search, and she conducted him back
+to where Mr. Willing still held Shirley in his arms.
+
+The doctor laid her gently on the soft ground and bent over her.
+
+"Nothing serious," he said rising at last. "She seems to have fainted
+more because of the excitement than anything else. She'll come to
+presently."
+
+Dr. Thompson proved a good prophet. Five minutes later Shirley opened
+her eyes and smiled up at her father.
+
+"Did we win?" she asked somewhat feebly.
+
+"Yes, you won," replied Mr. Willing in a low voice. "But, Shirley, why
+did you do it?"
+
+"Somebody had to do it, Dad," was the reply. "I knew I was the only one
+that could ride Gabriel outside of Jimmy."
+
+"But I would rather have had Gabriel scratched than to have you take
+such a risk," said Mr. Willing.
+
+"I know that. That's why I didn't tell you."
+
+Mr. Willing turned to Mabel, as Shirley fell back, tired out, and closed
+her eyes.
+
+"What is the matter with Jimmy?" he demanded.
+
+Mabel explained.
+
+Mr. Willing grew very angry.
+
+"I have had enough of this," he declared. "I shall notify the police as
+soon as we get back down town. I'll see that Jones answers for his
+actions. I'll prosecute him to the full extent of the law."
+
+Half an hour later, with Shirley lying in the rear seat, the car, also
+bearing Mr. Willing, Mr. Ashton, Dick, Mabel and Leonard, was speeding
+down town.
+
+By the time it reached the hotel Shirley had so far recovered that she
+was able to make her way to their apartments unassisted. True to his
+promise, the hotel physician had remained with Jimmy all this time.
+
+"And did you win the race?" was his first question, as Shirley entered
+the room.
+
+"Yes," was the girl's smiling rejoinder. "We won."
+
+"Good," cried the physician. He rose from his chair. "You have no
+further need of me," he said, "I shall be going."
+
+He bowed and made his departure.
+
+After a few words with Jimmy, Mr. Willing announced his intention of
+going immediately to the police station and swearing out a warrant
+against Jones. Shirley tried to turn him from his purpose, but in vain.
+Then she declared that she would go with him.
+
+All Mr. Willing's objections went for naught, so the two started out
+together. As they were driving along the street, Shirley cried out
+suddenly and caught her father by the arm.
+
+"What's the matter now?" he demanded.
+
+"There is Jones," said Shirley, pointing to the sidewalk.
+
+Mr. Willing followed the direction of her finger. Sure enough, there was
+Jones, deep in conversation with another man.
+
+Mr. Willing ordered the chauffeur to stop the car, and he leaped out.
+
+"What are you going to do, Dad?" called Shirley, in alarm.
+
+Mr. Willing vouchsafed no reply.
+
+He walked directly up to Jones, who at that moment was looking the other
+way. He took him by the arm and swung him about, so that they stood face
+to face.
+
+As Jones, greatly surprised, would have stepped back, Mr. Willing raised
+one arm, and deliberately slapped the man across the face.
+
+"Perhaps that will teach you, sir," he exclaimed, "to let me and mine
+alone in the future."
+
+Jones was no coward. He wiped a few drops of blood from his lips, and
+stepping suddenly forward, aimed a heavy blow at Mr. Willing.
+
+But the latter, in spite of his age, was still agile and strong. He
+sprang to one side, and avoided the blow, but then, stepping in close,
+sent his fist into the other's face with all his power.
+
+Jones struck the sidewalk like a log. His companion took to his heels.
+
+A crowd, attracted by the scuffle, began to gather.
+
+Presently Jones pulled himself together and scrambled to his feet. Mr.
+Willing still stood with clenched fists and set lips.
+
+"Have you had enough?" he asked. "Or shall I give you another dose?"
+
+For one moment it seemed that Jones would renew the fight; but after a
+look at the rapidly gathering crowd, he turned and walked away.
+
+"Three cheers for the old boy," shouted a youngster in the crowd.
+
+The cheers were given with a will.
+
+At that moment a hand was laid on Mr. Willing's shoulder. The latter
+turned to face a policeman.
+
+"You are under arrest," said the officer. "Come with me."
+
+In vain Mr. Willing protested. The officer was firm. Finally Mr. Willing
+consented to go without trouble.
+
+"If you'll step into my car, I'll drive you to the station," he said.
+
+The policeman accepted this offer.
+
+Shirley, perceiving her father in the hands of the law, was frightened.
+Mr. Willing reassured her, however, when he stepped into the car, and
+ordered the chauffeur to drive to police headquarters.
+
+As they continued down the street, the crowd gave three more ringing
+cheers. Mr. Willing was forced to smile.
+
+At the police station Mr. Willing had little difficulty explaining
+matters satisfactorily to the sergeant, and he was allowed to go.
+
+"You did perfectly right," declared the old sergeant.
+
+He shook hands with Mr. Willing and his daughter, and wished them good
+luck. The latter then returned to their hotel.
+
+"I guess that was enough punishment for Jones," said Mr. Willing
+cheerfully in relating the occurrence to Mr. Ashton a short time later.
+
+"Indeed it was," was the reply, "and it also saved you a lot of court
+trouble and notoriety."
+
+"Right you are," agreed Mr. Willing.
+
+Two days longer the party stayed in Louisville, and then set out for
+home. Jimmy's injuries were getting along nicely and no serious results
+were anticipated. The mark on Shirley's face, caused by the blow of the
+whip, was also rapidly disappearing.
+
+An hour before it was time for their train to leave, Dick was announced.
+Shirley welcomed him warmly, as did Mr. Willing.
+
+"My daughter has told me of you," said the latter, "and I should be glad
+to have you go home with us. I can offer you work on my farm."
+
+"Thank you, sir," replied Dick, "but, for the present, I prefer to
+remain here."
+
+"But," protested Mr. Willing, "surely you have not such a remunerative
+place here that makes you so anxious to stay?"
+
+"No, sir. I am only an office boy in a big newspaper office, but some of
+these days, sir, I hope to climb. Within the year I expect to be on the
+reportorial staff of the _Star_."
+
+"Well, you know your own mind best. However, I should be pleased to have
+you go with us."
+
+"And I should be pleased to go, sir."
+
+"Perhaps he will come and spend Christmas with us," suggested Shirley.
+
+"I certainly shall, if it is possible," replied the lad. "But you know,
+Miss Willing, a newspaper man works holidays as well as others. However,
+it may be that I can get off."
+
+"You must get away," declared Shirley. "We shall expect you."
+
+"I will do my best," the lad promised.
+
+"Well," said Mr. Willing, "we shall have to be getting down toward the
+station. It is getting late."
+
+Dick shook hands all around and bowed himself out
+
+"A very manly and likeable boy," said Mr. Willing, as he disappeared
+through the door.
+
+"Indeed he is," replied Shirley.
+
+An hour later the party was speeding along in the direction of
+Lexington.
+
+Gabriel already had been shipped home, and they knew that they would
+find him there, safe and sound, when they returned. Shirley had not seen
+the horse since just after the race, and was anxious to call upon him in
+his own home.
+
+So, the first thing after their arrival at the farm, she, Mabel, Leonard
+and Jimmy made straight for Gabriel's stall. The racehorse received them
+with whinnies of joy.
+
+"Good old Gabriel," said Shirley, dashing into the stall and throwing
+her arms around the animal's neck. "I knew you would win for us. And
+think what you have accomplished. You have saved the farm for Dad and
+me."
+
+The others now approached, and Gabriel put aside his customary
+unfriendliness toward strangers, and allowed all to pat him to their
+hearts' content.
+
+"Well," said Leonard, "I have had the time of my life here, and I am
+sorry to say that I shall have to leave you to-morrow."
+
+"Leave us?" exclaimed Shirley in surprise.
+
+"Yes. I start home to-morrow night."
+
+Both girls heard this piece of news with regret, for both had become
+greatly attached to young Wolfe.
+
+At this juncture Jimmy, who was now able to get around, turned to
+Shirley.
+
+"And had it not been for you, Miss Shirley," he said seriously, "there
+is no telling what might have happened to me. Certainly you saved me
+from myself."
+
+Shirley extended her hand, and the boy grasped it warmly.
+
+"I could never have rested in peace had you gone away, Jimmy Smith," she
+said with a faint smile. "I shall never forget that it was a few
+unthoughtful words of mine that almost sent you on the wrong road."
+
+"Don't talk like that, Miss Shirley," said Jimmy. "You know better."
+
+"Of course, she does," said Leonard and Mabel in the same voice.
+
+"Well," said Shirley, laughing, "we won't argue about it. Everything has
+turned out all right, and I am sure that each of us has had a good
+time."
+
+"Indeed we have," exclaimed the others.
+
+                   *       *       *       *       *
+
+Here for the time being, we shall take our leave of the girls, their
+fathers and friends. But we shall meet them again before long, in a
+second volume entitled "The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Christmas
+Holidays" or "A Four-Weeks' Tour with the Glee Club."
+
+                                THE END
+
+
+
+
+The Girl Comrade's Series
+
+ALL AMERICAN AUTHORS.
+
+ALL COPYRIGHT STORIES.
+
+A carefully selected series of books for girls, written by popular
+authors. These are charming stories for young girls, well told and full
+of interest. Their simplicity, tenderness, healthy, interesting motives,
+vigorous action, and character painting will please all girl readers.
+
+HANDSOME CLOTH BINDING.
+
+PRICE, 60 CENTS.
+
+A BACHELOR MAID AND HER BROTHER. By I. T. Thurston.
+
+ALL ABOARD. A Story For Girls. By Fanny E. Newberry.
+
+ALMOST A GENIUS. A Story For Girls. By Adelaide L. Rouse.
+
+ANNICE WYNKOOP, Artist. Story of a Country Girl. By Adelaide L. Rouse.
+
+BUBBLES. A Girl's Story. By Fannie E. Newberry.
+
+COMRADES. By Fannie E. Newberry.
+
+DEANE GIRLS, THE. A Home Story. By Adelaide L. Rouse.
+
+HELEN BEATON, COLLEGE WOMAN. By Adelaide L. Rouse.
+
+JOYCE'S INVESTMENTS. A Story For Girls. By Fannie E. Newberry.
+
+MELLICENT RAYMOND. A Story For Girls. By Fannie E. Newberry.
+
+MISS ASHTON'S NEW PUPIL. A School Girl's Story. By Mrs. S. S. Robbins.
+
+NOT FOR PROFIT. A Story For Girls. By Fannie E. Newberry.
+
+ODD ONE, THE. A Story For Girls. By Fannie E. Newberry.
+
+SARA, A PRINCESS. A Story For Girls. By Fannie E. Newberry.
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the
+publishers.
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23d Street, New York
+
+
+
+
+The Girl Chum's Series
+
+ALL AMERICAN AUTHORS.
+
+ALL COPYRIGHT STORIES.
+
+A carefully selected series of books for girls, written by popular
+authors. These are charming stories for young girls, well told and full
+of interest. Their simplicity, tenderness, healthy, interesting motives,
+vigorous action, and character painting will please all girl readers.
+
+HANDSOME CLOTH BINDING.
+
+PRICE, 60 CENTS.
+
+BENHURST, CLUB, THE. By Howe Benning.
+
+BERTHA'S SUMMER BOARDERS. By Linnie S. Harris.
+
+BILLOW PRAIRIE. A Story of Life in the Great West. By Joy Allison.
+
+DUXBERRY DOINGS. A New England Story. By Caroline B. Le Row.
+
+FUSSBUDGET'S FOLKS. A Story For Young Girls. By Anna F. Burnham.
+
+HAPPY DISCIPLINE, A. By Elizabeth Cummings.
+
+JOLLY TEN, THE; and Their Year of Stories. By Agnes Carr Sage.
+
+KATIE ROBERTSON. A Girl's Story of Factory Life. By M. E. Winslow.
+
+LONELY HILL. A Story For Girls. By M. L. Thornton-Wilder.
+
+MAJORIBANKS. A Girl's Story. By Elvirton Wright.
+
+MISS CHARITY'S HOUSE. By Howe Benning.
+
+MISS ELLIOT'S GIRLS. A Story For Young Girls. By Mary Spring Corning.
+
+MISS MALCOLM'S TEN. A Story For Girls. By Margaret E. Winslow.
+
+ONE GIRL'S WAY OUT. By Howe Benning.
+
+PEN'S VENTURE. By Elvirton Wright.
+
+RUTH PRENTICE. A Story For Girls. By Marion Thorne.
+
+THREE YEARS AT GLENWOOD. A Story of School Life. By M. E. Winslow.
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the
+publishers.
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23d Street, New York.
+
+
+
+
+THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS SERIES
+
+By CAROLYN JUDSON BURNETT
+
+Handsome Cloth Binding
+
+Price, 40c. per Volume
+
+_Splendid Stories of the Adventures of a Group of Charming Girls_
+
+THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS' VACATION ADVENTURES; or, Shirley Willing
+to the Rescue.
+
+THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS' CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS; or, A Four Weeks'
+Tour with the Glee Club.
+
+THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS IN THE MOUNTAINS; or, Shirley Willing on a
+Mission of Peace.
+
+THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS ON THE WATER; or, Exciting Adventures on a
+Summer's Cruise Through the Panama Canal.
+
+THE MILDRED SERIES
+
+By MARTHA FINLEY
+
+Handsome Cloth Binding
+
+Price, 40c. per Volume
+
+_A Companion Series to the famous "Elsie" Books by the Same Author_
+
+    MILDRED KEITH
+    MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE
+    MILDRED AT ROSELANDS
+    MILDRED AT HOME
+    MILDRED AND ELSIE
+    MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS
+    MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the
+publishers.
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23d Street, New York.
+
+
+
+
+THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SERIES
+
+By HILDEGARD G. FREY.
+
+The only series of stories for Camp Fire Girls endorsed by the officials
+of the Camp Fire Girls Organization.
+
+PRICE, 40 CENTS PER VOLUME
+
+THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The Winnebagos go Camping.
+
+  This lively Camp Fire group and their Guardian go back to Nature in
+  a camp in the wilds of Maine and pile up more adventures in one
+  summer than they have had in all their previous vacations put
+  together. Before the summer is over they have transformed Gladys,
+  the frivolous boarding school girl, into a genuine Winnebago.
+
+THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The Wohelo Weavers.
+
+  It is the custom of the Winnebagos to weave the events of their
+  lives into symbolic bead bands, instead of keeping a diary. All
+  commendatory doings are worked out in bright colors, but every time
+  the Law of of the Camp Fire is broken it must be recorded in black.
+  How these seven live wire girls strive to infuse into their school
+  life the spirit of Work, Health and Love and yet manage to get into
+  more than their share of mischief, is told in this story.
+
+THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, The Magic Garden.
+
+  Migwan is determined to go to college, and not being strong enough
+  to work indoors earns the money by raising fruits and vegetables.
+  The Winnebagos all turn a hand to help the cause along and the
+  "goings-on" at Onoway House that summer make the foundations shake
+  with laughter.
+
+THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along the Road That Leads the Way.
+
+  The Winnebagos take a thousand mile auto trip. The "pinching" of
+  Nyoda, the fire in the country inn, the runaway girl and the
+  dead-earnest hare and hound chase combine to make these three weeks
+  the most exciting the Winnebagos have ever experienced.
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the
+publishers.
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23d Street, New York.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Blue Grass Seminary Girls'
+Vacation Adventures, by Carolyn Judson Burnett
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