The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 15

They found Jimmy Smith in the stable leaning over Gabriel's stall and talking to him in low tones. The lad stepped back and lifted his cap from his head as the two girls approached.

"Are you telling Gabriel that he must win the Derby, Jimmy?" asked Shirley with a bright smile.

"Yes, Miss," was the reply. "Gabriel and I have many talks, and he always promises me that he will win."

"But, suppose he should lose?"

"He can't lose," said Jimmy decisively.

"Are you sure?" asked Shirley sharply.

Jimmy looked at her queerly.

"Why-I-yes-of course he can't," he stammered.

"But suppose something should happen?" persisted Shirley.

"What do you mean?" asked Jimmy, plainly startled.

"Oh, nothing," said Shirley, and changed the subject abruptly.

"Jimmy," she said a few moments later, "I wish you would go up in the loft and see how much hay there is up there."

"All right, Miss," said the boy, and reached for his coat, which hung over the stall door.

"You don't need the coat," said Shirley. "Hurry up, please. Dad is anxious to know right away."

Without another word, but with a sidelong glance at the coat, Jimmy hastened to obey. He clambered up the ladder quickly.

Hardly had his hand disappeared when Shirley stepped quickly forward and took up the coat. Rapidly she explored the pockets, one after another, and, at last, drawing forth a small piece of paste-board, she gave a little cry of triumph.

"I have it," she whispered to Mabel.

She slipped the card into her dress, and hastily put the coat back where she had found it. She was leaning over the stall door talking to Gabriel when Jimmy came down the ladder.

"Plenty of hay for two weeks, Miss Shirley," said Jimmy.

He reached out cautiously and picked up his coat, which he donned with an audible sigh of relief.

"All right, then," said Shirley. "Come, Mabel, we may as well go."

She gave Gabriel another little pat, and led the way from the stable.

"I feel like I had picked somebody's pocket," Shirley confided to Mabel, as they made their way back toward the house.

"You have," replied her friend, "and I don't know whether you were right or not."

"The end will justify the means," said Shirley quietly. "It's for Jimmy's own good, for my father's good, and for the good of others. I am sure I did no wrong."

They sat down on the porch and talked for some moments.

"Look," said Mabel suddenly, "here comes Jimmy. I wonder what is the matter with him. He seems to be looking for something."

In truth, he did seem to be looking for something. The boy seemed greatly excited, and his eyes roved about the ground as he approached.

"It's the card he misses," said Shirley. "He thinks he has lost it."

"You don't suppose he suspects us, do you?"

"I hope not."

Jimmy was close to them now, and Shirley called out: "What's the matter, Jimmy? Lost something?"

Jimmy, unaware of their presence until then, looked up in confusion.

"No-no, Miss Shirley," he stammered, and disappeared.

"Poor Jimmy," said Shirley. "One evil leads to another. He was forced to lie, you see. Come, Mabel, let's go upstairs and have a look at this card, and figure out a letter to Mr. Jones that will do the work."

Mabel followed her friend up the stairs, where both sat down, and Shirley produced the card.

"Mr. A. B. Jones," she read, "Fifth Avenue Hotel, Louisville, Ky."

"Very well, Mr. Jones," she said, "we shall attend to your case."

She turned to Mabel. "What do you think?" she asked. "Would it be better to ask him to meet me in Paris, Lexington, or where?"

"I don't know," replied Mabel. "But it seems to me that Paris is pretty close to your home. Besides, Jimmy is well known in Lexington also."

"True," said Shirley. "I think I shall select Cincinnati."

"Goodness," said Mabel, "that is a long ways."

"So it is," said Shirley, "but I can make an excuse to go there. I can tell father we are going to spend a couple of days with Clara Morton. He will not object."

"Suit yourself," said Mabel. "I reckon it might as well be there as any place else. It probably will be safer too. We can stay with Clara while there."

"My idea exactly," said Shirley. "Now let's see if I can write the proper kind of a letter."

She drew forth some paper-and wrote long and earnestly. Sheet after sheet she tore up, but at last, with a little cry of satisfaction, she took the last sheet, upon which she had just written, and pa.s.sed it to Mabel.

"I think that will do very well."

Mabel read:

"Mr. A. B. Jones:-Dear Sir:-I have considered your offer. I shall be in Cincinnati, Palace Hotel, Friday. If offer is still open, meet me in the lobby at 6 o'clock Friday night. I am going to Cincinnati on an errand for Miss Willing.

"Jimmy Smith."