The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 49

Raising her hand, she pointed to the door.

"Leave here at once," she commanded. "Mr. Willing will be back here in a few minutes and he will attend to you."

Jones smiled again.

"I have plenty of time to do what I came for," he said. "Get away from that stall."

Mabel only shrunk back closer.

Gabriel, his head protruding from his stall, watched this scene with dilated eyes and quivering nostrils. He stamped angrily, and uttered several snorts.

As Jones took another step forward, Mabel advanced, as though to meet him. Then, as Jones halted, she put her hand behind her and opened the catch to Gabriel's stall. Quickly she pushed the door back, and leaping suddenly inside, she closed it again.

Jones, with a cry of rage, leaped forward, but as he did so Gabriel tossed his head angrily and the man stepped back in fear.

"Now," said Mabel quietly, "unless you leave here immediately I shall open this door and let Gabriel at you."

"You wouldn't dare," sneered Jones.

He glanced quickly about him, his face alight with an evil smile. He took a few steps back, and stooping, came up with a gun in his hands.

"You had better get down out of the way," he said. "I'll take a shot at Gabriel with this. It won't kill him, but I guess it will do enough damage to keep him out of the race."

He brought the revolver to his shoulder and took deliberate aim.

"Get down quick!" he commanded. "You might get hurt!"

Mabel glanced about her.

Hanging on a nail from the side of the stall she saw a curry comb and brush. With a quick leap she seized them, and then, running forward, she threw them with all her strength.

Her aim was perfect, and true to its mark the heavy brush shot forward, catching Jones squarely in the forehead.

Jones staggered back and dropped his weapon.

But the blow was not hard enough to knock him down, and he sprang up again with a cry of rage and stooped to pick up the gun.

At that instant Mabel opened wide Gabriel's stall.

With an almost human cry, Gabriel, who had been jumping about angrily, charged through the door straight at Jones. The latter saw him coming, and leaped aside, and Gabriel, striking out with his forefeet, missed.

Jones ran quickly toward the door and laid hold of the k.n.o.b.

But before he could turn it the horse was again upon him. Snorting, he shoved out his head, and his teeth met in Jones' arm.

Jones shrieked with the pain of it.

Mabel, cowering down in the stall, began to cry.

Three times Jones, his arm dripping blood, dashed around the place with Gabriel in pursuit. The man was badly frightened, but fear lent fleetness to his feet. He avoided Gabriel's teeth narrowly several times and so far had succeeded in dodging the flying hoofs.

But such a struggle could have but one outcome.

Suddenly Jones found himself in a corner from which there was no escape.

Gabriel reared high in the air, and his forefeet, in their descent, struck Jones squarely upon the head. The man went down in a heap.

Gabriel, seeing his foe prostrate on the floor, stood off and made ready to leap upon him again.

But at that moment the door opened and Jimmy dashed inside, closely followed by Shirley and the others.

Jimmy leapt for Gabriel's halter, but missed.

Once more the animal reared high in the air, and his heavy feet would have crushed out Jones' life had it not been for Shirley's prompt action.

She jumped in front of Gabriel and into the air, caught him by the halter; then, springing aside, she drew herself clear of the heavy hoofs just as they came down with a crash.

But she had succeeded in her object, and Gabriel's feet missed Jones'

head by the fraction of an inch.

Shirley clung tightly to the halter.

For an instant Gabriel's eyes continued to flame, but after one quick glance at the girl who had him, he became quiet. His nostrils still quivered with anger, but the fire had left his eyes. He stood perfectly still.

Leonard bent over the still form of Jones. Stooping, he lifted the man's head to his knee, and at the same moment Jones' consciousness returned.

He took in the scene before him, and staggered to his feet, blood covering his face. He glanced once at the faces about him, and then made for the door.

Mr. Willing intercepted him.

"I have had enough of you. The next time you cross my path I shall turn you over to the authorities. I have a notion to do it right now. Get out of my place, and stay out!"

Without a word, Jones slunk to the door and disappeared.

"Where is Mabel?" demanded Mr. Ashton in great anxiety, at this juncture.

Mabel was not in sight.

All glanced about, and then, from the direction of Gabriel's stall, came a faint moan.

Shirley ran forward ahead of the others, and in an instant had her friend's head in her lap.

"Water quick!" she commanded.

Leonard hastened forward with a bucket of water.

"Is she hurt?" asked Mr. Ashton, excitedly, pushing the others away.

Shirley made a careful examination of her friend.