The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 44

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 s.h.i.+rley, "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 s.h.i.+rley, 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.

s.h.i.+rley 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.-s.h.i.+RLEY SAVES JIMMY FROM HIMSELF.

Arrived in Paris, s.h.i.+rley went at once to Mr. Wilson's drug store.

"Yes," said Mr. Wilson, in response to s.h.i.+rley's question. "Jimmy left me this address."

He drew a card from his pocket and pa.s.sed it to s.h.i.+rley. 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 s.h.i.+rley anxiously.

Mr. Wilson did so, and s.h.i.+rley maintained her composure with difficulty.

"Jones," said s.h.i.+rley 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. s.h.i.+rley 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 s.h.i.+rley 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 s.h.i.+pped that night."

"Good. Then it will be your work to try and slip into the car un.o.bserved. 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."