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."