The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 45

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."

s.h.i.+rley 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 s.h.i.+rley, had turned white; but he kept his seat.

"Jimmy," cried s.h.i.+rley, rus.h.i.+ng 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?"

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

s.h.i.+rley 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 s.h.i.+rley 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.

s.h.i.+rley 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 s.h.i.+rley and waved his hand. "You see," he said, "Jimmy elects to remain here."

"I don't believe it," declared s.h.i.+rley.

"No, Miss s.h.i.+rley," 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 s.h.i.+rley's low voice.