"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.