The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 53

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

He led the way to the scales, where Shirley was weighed.

"Ninety-eight," said Mr. Willing, stepping back. "Good."

The time came at last, and Shirley, seated firmly upon Gabriel's back, rode slowly toward the barrier. Mr. Willing followed, giving last advice.

"Get away as well as you can," he told her, "and give Gabriel his head.

Under no circ.u.mstances use the whip. Let Gabriel run his own race."

Shirley nodded her understanding of these orders, but made no reply. Mr.

Willing stepped back and joined the others.

"I wonder where Shirley is?" he said.

"Oh, perhaps she stopped to talk to some one," said Mabel quietly.

"Well, I guess she is safe enough," said Mr. Willing. "Come."

He led the way to the paddock and the others followed.

After some trouble they succeeded in gaining advantageous places, and turned their eyes toward the track. And at that moment a familiar voice near Mabel said:

"Great Scott! Gabriel is going to run."

Mabel turned and glanced at the speaker. It was Jones, and even as Mabel looked he turned upon the man beside him.

"I thought you told me you had fixed the jockey!" he exclaimed.

"I did," he declared. "I knocked him cold."

"Then how is it that he is in the race?"

"I don't know. I don't see how it is possible. Maybe they got another boy at the last minute."

Jones looked long through his field gla.s.ses.

"No. It's the same," he declared.

Again he whirled upon the man angrily.

"You have betrayed me," he cried.

"It's a lie," said the other.

Jones moved toward him, and the other turned and ran. Jones ran after him.

In the meantime, Shirley, hunched almost on Gabriel's neck, had ridden forth with the others. The reins she held in her right hand with the whip, while with the other she stroked her horse's neck.

"You know me, don't you, Gabriel?" she whispered.

Gabriel's reply was a low whinny.

Shirley patted him gently.

"And we are going to win, aren't we, Gabriel?"

Again the big horse whinnied.

At the post Shirley turned in alongside the others. Upon her right, nearest the rail outside, was another great black horse, and Shirley did not need to be told that this was Jupiter, the animal upon which the bookmakers were depending to win the race.

He was a wicked-looking brute, and his eyes were fiery red.

"I'll have to watch him," thought the girl.

She gazed at the other eight entries. n.o.ble-looking animals they were, the best of Kentucky stock. She noticed several of the jockeys eyeing her queerly.

"Yes, I shall have to be careful," she said.

The signal to line up at the barrier was given.

The high-strung horses moved about nervously. A pistol cracked, and they were off down the track. But the starter called them back. It was a false start.

Shirley showed superb horsemanship. She maneuvered for position as well as any of the rest, and just before the pistol cracked the second time, she was but two removed from the inside rail.

Next to her, closer to the rail, was Jupiter.

"They're off!"

The cry came from the grandstand, and was followed by a prolonged cheer.

Shirley found herself slightly behind the leaders at the first jump, but she did not worry. She knew what Gabriel could do, and she was perfectly satisfied with her position.

In a bunch the field swept down the track. Shirley found herself wedged in between Jupiter and a powerful sorrel on her other side. In this way they continued for the first half-mile.

Gradually the three leaders, Jupiter, Gabriel and the big sorrel forged ahead of the field, and at the three-quarter mark the sorrel dropped behind. He was unable to keep up the terrific pace.

Jupiter was still running slightly ahead and going easily. Not once had his jockey used his whip or urged him to greater effort. Nor had there as yet been any attempt at unfairness.

Shirley held a tight rein upon Gabriel, and the animal had not yet let himself out. In spite of her father's instructions, Shirley was riding her own race. She believed that she knew more about Gabriel than either her father or Jimmy.

And now, with the finish a quarter of a mile ahead, Shirley let Gabriel out slightly, and he came up on even terms with Jupiter in a few strides.

Then Jupiter's rider got busy. He loosened his reins and began to coax.

But Gabriel remained on even terms. Jupiter's jockey stopped coaxing and began to ply his whip, and at the first smart blow, Jupiter leaped ahead.

Shirley let Gabriel out another notch, and then another, and once more the two big black horses were neck and neck. Try as he would, Jupiter could not shake Gabriel off.