"Do you realize," said Mr. Willing, "that if I do as you say, and Gabriel wins, and he must, all we shall have is the prize, when we might have four times that much?"

"Is the farm clear?" demanded Shirley.

"Yes, but I was figuring on raising some money on it to recoup my earlier losses."

"Then," said Shirley, "if the farm is clear, and Gabriel wins, we shall have enough. What more do we need?"

Mr. Willing hesitated, and Shirley continued.

"Come, Dad, promise me before it is too late. Mother would wish it, were she alive. You know that. We'll get along some way. Come, Dad, will you promise?"

She stood tip and threw her arms around her father's neck. Mr. Willing held her in a close embrace for several moments, and as he looked over her head he saw, in memory, another face that also seemed to plead with him.

He stepped back and held Shirley off at arms' length, and for a long time gazed at her in silence.

"You are so like your mother," he said quietly, "I can refuse you nothing."

"Then you will promise?" asked Shirley eagerly.

"Yes," said Mr. Willing slowly, "I promise."

"There never was a better Daddy," exclaimed Shirley.

Laughing happily, she threw both arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

"Stop, stop," laughed Mr. Willing, "or you will make me sorry I promised."

Shirley released him, and he patted her on the back affectionately.

"Run away now," he said, "and leave your old Daddy here to think."

With a parting kiss, Shirley left him, and rejoined Mabel on the porch.

CHAPTER VIII.-A ROAD ADVENTURE.

The morning following the girls' arrival, Mr. Willing and Mr. Ashton, who was feeling much better, were seated with the girls around the breakfast table.

"Mabel and I are going to town this morning," said Shirley.

"All right," said Mr. Willing. "I'll tell Frank to hitch up. What time will you be ready?"

"Ten o'clock will be early enough, I reckon," said Shirley. "We probably won't be home until late this afternoon."

It was the first time the girls had been in the little town of Paris, except for a few minutes on their way back from Illinois, since school had closed for the summer vacation. Therefore, they called on some of their girl friends, and spent a very pleasant day.

They did some shopping and it was after five o'clock when they started for home.

"It looks as though there was going to be a storm," said the livery-stable keeper, where they had left their horse.

Mabel glanced at the sky. Huge clouds were gathering in the west.

"They look like wind clouds," said Mabel.

"You had better wait," said the stableman. "You will be caught in the storm."

"Oh, I think we'll make it," said Shirley. "Besides, Dad expects us in time for supper."

"Telephone him," said the man.

"No," said Shirley, "we'll run the risk."

"Well, all right," was the reply, "but you had better hurry."

Shirley shook out the reins, and touched the horse lightly with her whip. The animal started off at a rapid trot.

It was a good three miles home, and Mabel, glancing once more at the sky, urged Shirley to hurry.

"We'll get a good soaking," she said.

"It won't hurt us any," said Shirley. "I'm sure I won't melt, and I don't think you will."

They continued up Main Street, and finally reached the outskirts of the town.

"Guess we can go a little faster now," said Shirley, and touched the horse with her whip.

At that moment there came a brilliant flash of lightning, followed by a terrific peal of thunder. The horse shied and broke into a gallop.

Shirley tightened her hold on the reins, and, with an effort, succeeded in pulling him down to a trot again.

"Well, here's where we turn off, anyhow," said Shirley. "If the rain will hold off for twenty minutes we will be all right."

"And then, just as they turned onto the Bethlehem pike, darkness enveloped them, shutting out the sight of the road ahead. It descended so suddenly and unexpectedly that Mabel cried out in alarm.

"Don't be frightened," said Shirley in a low voice. "I know the road and can drive just as well in the dark."

Nevertheless she was forced to check the horse slightly, and this required great effort, for the animal, badly frightened, was trying to bolt.

Suddenly Shirley's hat went flying from her head, as the wind was blowing a gale. Mabel, her hands free, caught hers as it left her head.

"Mine's gone," cried Shirley.

"Shall we stop and get it?" asked Mabel, raising her voice to make herself heard above the roaring wind.

"I should say not," was the reply. "We'll get home just as quick as we can."