"Help me get this bridle off immediately," he shouted.

Jimmy and Shirley sprang to do his bidding.

The bridle came away in Mr. Willing's hands a moment later, and the latter examined it carefully. Gabriel, in the meantime, walking very slowly, made for his stall.

Mr. Willing turned from his examination of the bridle. He held the bit in his hand.

"I was sure I could not be mistaken," he said quietly. "I have seen too many such cases."

"What do you mean, Dad?" said Shirley in alarm.

The others also turned to him anxiously.

"Gabriel's bit," said Mr. Willing calmly, holding it aloft, "has been painted."

"Painted!" cried Shirley.

"Yes. That is the reason you noticed there was something wrong with him.

That is the reason he staggered a moment ago. He is sick. Now, who is responsible for this piece of treachery?"

For a moment there was no reply. Then Shirley, taking a long breath, stepped forward.

"Jimmy," she said quietly, "did I not see you talking with Mr. Jones a few moments ago?"

"Yes, Miss Shirley," replied the boy, realizing what was coming.

Mr. Willing stepped forward with a cry of anger.

"Jones on my place again?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you, sir," replied the boy.

"Didn't want to worry me, eh?" Mr. Willing's face grew red with anger.

He pointed sternly toward the pike. "You," he said to Jimmy, "get your clothes right now and get off this place before I throw you off."

Shirley buried her face in her hands.

CHAPTER XXIV.-AN ACCIDENT AND A CONFESSION.

Jimmy opened his mouth to speak, then bowed his head and turned away.

"Don't be too hard on the boy, Willing," said Mr. Ashton, taking a step forward.

"Hard on him!" repeated Mr. Willing. "How can I be too hard on him? The little scoundrel has sold me out."

"Perhaps he is not to blame," said Leonard.

Mr. Willing turned upon him.

"There have been too many of you trying to run my affairs," he said angrily. "In the future, I shall attend to them myself."

He turned and strode rapidly toward the house where he immediately telephoned for a veterinary to come out and look at Gabriel. Then he went to his own room, where he sat down, pulled out a cigar, and smoked in silence.

"I wish I hadn't spoken," moaned Shirley, as her father walked away.

"Poor Jimmy! Perhaps he is not to blame, after all."

"Still," said Mr. Ashton, "appearances are much against him, particularly after what has gone on before. Certainly Jones would not have approached him again unless he had reason to believe that Jimmy would accept his offer."

"It does look that way," agreed Leonard.

But Shirley refused to be comforted.

"It's all my fault," she cried, and ran to the house, where she threw herself down upon her bed and gave way to tears.

There Mabel found her half an hour later and tried to soothe her.

"There, there," she said, stroking her friend's head. "It will all come out right in the end. If Jimmy is guilty he should be put off the place.

If he isn't, it will be proven."

"I know he isn't!" cried Shirley. "I knew it the minute I spoke. Oh, why did I say anything?"

"You did perfectly right," declared Mabel.

Suddenly Shirley sprang to her feet.

"Has Jimmy gone yet?" she asked, drying her tears as she spoke.

"I don't know," replied Mabel.

Shirley hurried out the door.

"I must see him before he goes," she exclaimed. "Come, maybe we can find him."

The girls left the room hurriedly, and made their way to the front of the house. There, trudging slowly toward the pike-gate, with a bundle over his shoulder, they made out the slight form of Jimmy Smith.

"Jimmy!" called Shirley, but the boy did not look back.

Shirley ran after him, and Mabel followed her friend.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Jimmy turned and looked back. Perceiving Shirley, he faced about again and would have gone on had not the girl called to him.

"Wait a minute, Jimmy."

Jimmy halted and waited until Shirley came up to him.