d.i.c.k jumped up.

"Is that so," he cried. "Then I have a score to settle with him."

He advanced toward Jimmy, but Jones stopped him.

"Not now," he said; "at any rate, not if he will do my bidding."

d.i.c.k sat down again.

"Now," said Jones to Jimmy, "I am going to give you one last chance to do as I have asked. I am willing yet to pay the stipulated amount.

However, in case you refuse, I might as well tell you that I shall use other means. Gabriel must not win the Derby. In offering you the chance I have, I am simply taking the easiest way. If you refuse or I think you will play me false, I shall take other steps. What do you say?"

Jimmy got slowly to his feet.

"What other means could you use?" he said.

"Plenty," was the reply. "I might dope the horse, or shoot him in the leg, or I might even burn the stable."

Jimmy shuddered.

"You wouldn't do that," he said.

"Wouldn't I?" exclaimed Jones. "Don't try me. I will go the limit to make sure that Gabriel doesn't win. Now, what is your answer?"

Jimmy drew himself up.

"The same as it was yesterday," he said quietly. "You can't buy me."

"I can't, eh?" exclaimed Jones, springing to his feet. "Let me ask you something. Suppose you should disappear; who would ride Gabriel in the Derby?"

Jimmy was frightened.

"Why, I don't know," he replied. "n.o.body but me can ride Gabriel. But why do you ask that?"

"Because," said Jones slowly, "you are about to disappear."

"Disappear?" repeated Jimmy.

"Exactly. I am going to keep you out of sight until after the race."

Jimmy had surmised what Jones meant at the other's first words, but he had feigned ignorance, playing for time. He had been edging closer and closer toward the door.

Suddenly he darted toward it and laid his hand on the k.n.o.b. Jones and his companion were after him with a shout. Unfortunately for Jimmy, the door opened inward, and he was forced to step back to let it swing wide.

This caused his undoing.

"You would, would you," exclaimed the villain, as he drew Jimmy forcibly back into the room. "Take that, and that, then, and see if it will teach you I am not to be trifled with."

He cuffed Jimmy's ears soundly. Then he hurled the boy into a chair.

"You sit there until I tell you to get up," he said angrily, "or I'll give you a little more."

Jimmy realized that for the time being escape was impossible, and he sat back in his chair, determined to make the best of a bad situation. He said nothing.

"What are you going to do with him, sir?" asked the youth called d.i.c.k.

"Keep him safe until after the race," was the reply.

"But you can't keep him here all that time."

"That's so. I'll have to find some place for him."

"Well," said d.i.c.k, "I know where you can put him."

"Good; where is it?"

"I have an old uncle who lives down the creek. He has a little house down there, and for a small sum he'll do almost anything."

"And you think he'll keep this kid quiet until after the big race?"

"Sure."

"Then you go and fix it up with him. Tell him it will mean $50 to him."

d.i.c.k left the room, and Jones turned to Jimmy.

"You see now what a fool you are," he exclaimed. "You might just as well have the money if you had brains. Now you won't get a cent."

"I don't want it," replied Jimmy quietly, "and if you think you can hold me a prisoner till after the race you are mistaken."

"Is that so?" sneered Jones. "And how do you figure you are going to get away?"

"That is my business," said Jimmy.

Jones laughed aloud. He got up from his chair and went toward the door.

"I'm going out for a few minutes," he said, "and I am going to lock you in. You can yell all you please. No one will pay any attention to you."

He went through the door, and Jimmy heard the key turn in the lock on the outside. No sooner had the man gone than Jimmy walked quickly toward a little window in the back of the room and looked out. Then he shook his head gloomily.

Suddenly he was struck with an idea. He drew a piece of paper and a pencil from his pocket, and seating himself at the table wrote rapidly.

Then again he approached the window.

A few minutes later a small boy pa.s.sed along the street below. Jimmy whistled sharply, and the boy looked up. Jimmy gesticulated violently, and the lad below stopped.

Quickly Jimmy drew out his pocket knife, and a silver quarter-all the money he had-and these he wrapped in the paper upon which he had written, and dropped them through the window.

They fell almost at the boy's feet. The latter stooped and picked them up. He glanced at the address Jimmy had written, then looked up and nodded. He pocketed the knife and the quarter and then hurried away.