The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' Vacation Adventures Part 54

Glancing ahead, Shirley saw that the finish was close in front. The crowd had gone wild. With the horses rushing for the wire, bedlam had broken loose. Flags and pennants waved and men and women shouted hoa.r.s.ely.

But of this Shirley neither heard nor saw anything. Her eyes were fixed upon the wire and she knew nothing but that Gabriel must be the first under it.

And now, as the two great horses thundered down to the finish, Shirley leaned forward on Gabriel's neck and whispered to him. The n.o.ble animal responded, and with a tremendous leap forged ahead of his rival.

At the same moment, Jupiter's rider, realizing that he could not overtake his opponent, lashed out with his whip.

The blow caught Shirley squarely across the face, and she reeled, and for a moment Gabriel was almost thrown off his stride. But the gallant horse recovered quickly, and with a last desperate effort, leaped forward under the wire-a winner by a neck.

Shirley, in great pain, still had the presence of mind to pull Gabriel in, and sick and faint, she headed him quickly for the Willing stable.

But Mr. Willing and the others, as well as the rest of the crowd, had seen the cowardly act, and a great cry of anger rose in the air. Mr.

Willing made for his stable at top speed, the others following.

At his stable, Gabriel stopped.

Shirley swayed in the saddle and toppled over; and Mr. Willing, running up at that moment, arrived just in time to catch her in his arms.

Gently he laid her on the ground. Her cap fell from her head, and her long hair came tumbling down.

Mr. Willing stood still in his surprise.

"Shirley!" he cried, and gathered her up in his arms.

CHAPTER x.x.x.-THE PUNISHMENT OF JONES.

"Shirley!" cried Mr. Willing again, and looked at his daughter in alarm.

At this moment Mabel and Leonard came running up, having outdistanced Mr. Ashton.

Mr. Willing turned to them quickly.

"Dr. Thompson is back there in the paddock," he said, pointing. "Hurry!

and see if you can find him."

Mabel hurried away in response to this command. She was fortunate enough to find the physician after a brief search, and she conducted him back to where Mr. Willing still held Shirley in his arms.

The doctor laid her gently on the soft ground and bent over her.

"Nothing serious," he said rising at last. "She seems to have fainted more because of the excitement than anything else. She'll come to presently."

Dr. Thompson proved a good prophet. Five minutes later Shirley opened her eyes and smiled up at her father.

"Did we win?" she asked somewhat feebly.

"Yes, you won," replied Mr. Willing in a low voice. "But, Shirley, why did you do it?"

"Somebody had to do it, Dad," was the reply. "I knew I was the only one that could ride Gabriel outside of Jimmy."

"But I would rather have had Gabriel scratched than to have you take such a risk," said Mr. Willing.

"I know that. That's why I didn't tell you."

Mr. Willing turned to Mabel, as Shirley fell back, tired out, and closed her eyes.

"What is the matter with Jimmy?" he demanded.

Mabel explained.

Mr. Willing grew very angry.

"I have had enough of this," he declared. "I shall notify the police as soon as we get back down town. I'll see that Jones answers for his actions. I'll prosecute him to the full extent of the law."

Half an hour later, with Shirley lying in the rear seat, the car, also bearing Mr. Willing, Mr. Ashton, d.i.c.k, Mabel and Leonard, was speeding down town.

By the time it reached the hotel Shirley had so far recovered that she was able to make her way to their apartments una.s.sisted. True to his promise, the hotel physician had remained with Jimmy all this time.

"And did you win the race?" was his first question, as Shirley entered the room.

"Yes," was the girl's smiling rejoinder. "We won."

"Good," cried the physician. He rose from his chair. "You have no further need of me," he said, "I shall be going."

He bowed and made his departure.

After a few words with Jimmy, Mr. Willing announced his intention of going immediately to the police station and swearing out a warrant against Jones. Shirley tried to turn him from his purpose, but in vain.

Then she declared that she would go with him.

All Mr. Willing's objections went for naught, so the two started out together. As they were driving along the street, Shirley cried out suddenly and caught her father by the arm.

"What's the matter now?" he demanded.

"There is Jones," said Shirley, pointing to the sidewalk.

Mr. Willing followed the direction of her finger. Sure enough, there was Jones, deep in conversation with another man.

Mr. Willing ordered the chauffeur to stop the car, and he leaped out.

"What are you going to do, Dad?" called Shirley, in alarm.

Mr. Willing vouchsafed no reply.

He walked directly up to Jones, who at that moment was looking the other way. He took him by the arm and swung him about, so that they stood face to face.