"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
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