The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 51

"Don't be alarmed," he said quietly, as the girls rose and ran to him.

"What's the matter?" demanded Shirley, wringing her hands. "Where is Jimmy?"

"He is in there," said d.i.c.k. "But he has been hurt."

"Hurt!" exclaimed both girls in one voice.

"Yes."

"How?"

"Well," said d.i.c.k quietly, "he was struck over the head with a club."

The girls cried out in dismay.

"He is still unconscious," d.i.c.k continued. "I found him on the floor. I tried to revive him, but it was no use. I laid him on the bed."

"What are we to do?" said Mabel. "Gabriel will not be able to run."

"Never mind the race now," said Shirley. "Let's call a doctor for Jimmy.

His life is more important than the race."

She stepped quickly to the telephone and summoned the hotel physician.

Then all went into Jimmy.

The lad had not had time to change into his jockey costume. Apparently he had been struck down the moment he entered the room.

As Shirley bent over him, he moved restlessly and opened his eyes. He saw Shirley, and smiled slightly.

"What's the matter, Jimmy?" asked the girl gently. "How did it happen?"

"I don't know," came the weak reply. "Something hit me as I stepped in the door."

d.i.c.k came up to the bed at this point. In his hand he held a short cudgel.

"Here is the weapon," he said quietly.

"But who did it?" asked Shirley.

"It's some of Jones' work, I should say," said Mabel.

"Of course," agreed d.i.c.k.

At this moment Jimmy tried to sit up.

"What time is it?" he asked in a feeble voice.

Shirley looked at her watch.

"Quarter after twelve," she said.

"Then I must get up," declared Jimmy. "I must get to the track."

A knock sounded at the door, and the hotel physician entered. He made a quick examination.

"Can I ride in the Derby this afternoon?" asked Jimmy eagerly.

The doctor shook his head.

"You'll stay in bed for a week," he said quietly.

"But I must get to the track," said Jimmy. "Mr. Willing is depending on me! I must go."

"It is impossible," said the physician.

"Then what shall we do?" cried the boy. "Who will ride Gabriel?"

"I guess Gabriel will not run," said the physician quietly.

"But he will," cried Shirley, "and he shall win too."

The others looked at the girl in surprise.

"What do you mean?" demanded Mabel.

The girl took a long breath, then said quietly:

"I will ride him!"

The others uttered exclamations of surprise.

"But you can't, Shirley," protested Mabel.

"But I will," came the firm reply.

"Your father would never hear of such a thing."

"He doesn't need to know anything about it. But the rest of you must help me. I'll dress here in Jimmy's clothes. No one will know the difference. I have played Jimmy once and I can do it again. But you, Mabel, and you, d.i.c.k, must keep between me and father as much as possible."

"What will your father say when he fails to see you at the track? He will want to know what has become of you."

"Then you must tell him something that will satisfy him for the time."

Shirley looked at her watch again.

"Twenty minutes past twelve. I shall have to hurry," she said.

Quickly she went to Jimmy's trunk and pulled forth his jockey clothes.