The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 24

"That's a whole lot of money," persisted Jones.

Jimmy brought his hands together suddenly.

"Not for a million!" he declared stoutly.

Again Jones became angry and, stretching forth a strong hand suddenly, took Jimmy by the shoulder and shook him.

"You little whipper-snapper!" he said. "What do you mean by trifling with me like that? I'll show you."

He drew back a huge fist, and in another second would have sent it crashing into Jimmy's face.

But, at that, Shirley sprang from the stall. Her eyes flashed, and anger crimsoned her cheeks. In her hand she carried a short whip she had picked up in the stall.

She rushed upon Jones.

"You great big coward!" said Shirley.

Jones, startled, turned just in time to catch the whip across his face.

Shirley swung it with all her strength. Jones clapped his hands to his face and uttered a moan of pain.

Then he turned slowly and, as he removed his hand, a huge welt showed where the whip had found its mark.

"You shall answer for that blow," he said through his teeth. "You and your father both. I'll break him, if it takes every cent I have."

Shirley eyed him scornfully.

"Leave here at once," she commanded, "or I shall tell my father and he will have the n.i.g.g.e.rs drive you off the place."

Jones took a sudden step toward her. Shirley leaped back and again raised the whip.

"One step nearer," she said quietly, "and I'll use the whip again."

She drew herself up, and, extending a hand toward the door, cried:

"Go!"

With an evil smile on his lips, Jones bowed to her scornfully, and backed through the door. Then Shirley dropped the whip, and walked over to Jimmy, who was sitting upon the floor, his face in his hands.

"Never mind, Jimmy," she said. "It was a great temptation and you are n.o.ble to refuse it."

Jimmy raised his head.

"Then it was you whom Jones saw in Cincinnati?" he asked.

Shirley nodded.

"I knew it," replied Jimmy. "When he was so persistent, I knew that he was not lying. Now I understand. Then you must have overheard our first conversation?"

"Yes, I did."

"And why didn't you tell your father?"

"Because," said Shirley slowly, "I knew that I could save you from yourself. I was sure that you would not fail me, no matter how great the temptation; but I knew father would not believe that, if he once learned you had even considered the offer."

"Miss Shirley," said Jimmy brokenly, "I can never thank you enough.

Never will I be tempted again. Never!"

"I am sure of it," replied Shirley, "and for that reason I shall say nothing about it to Dad."

"You will find in the future that I am to be trusted," said Jimmy simply.

"I am sure of it, Jimmy," Shirley answered quietly.

She held out her hand to him.

CHAPTER XV.-DANGEROUS DAYS.

"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."