Then she hastened to her own room.

The others waited her return without a word.

"How do I look?" came a voice from the doorway at last.

Jimmy, d.i.c.k, Mabel and the doctor took one look and cried out in surprise.

"Great Scott! I wouldn't have believed it possible," declared the physician.

In her red and blue costume-the Willing colors-Shirley indeed made a pretty picture. Her cap was pulled down well over her face and her thick hair was coiled up under it. In her hand she held Jimmy's short whip.

"Will I do?" she asked.

"You look enough like this lad to be his twin," said the physician quietly. "You'll do."

"We must hurry," declared Shirley. "Ready, Mabel? Ready, d.i.c.k?"

"Yes," they answered.

Shirley approached Jimmy.

"I'll try not to lose your reputation," she said gently. "I'll do the best I know how, and I am sure that Gabriel will try for me."

"There is no doubt about that," replied Jimmy. "With you on Gabriel's back, I feel more certain of the outcome of the race than I would if I were there myself."

Shirley held out her hand and the lad grasped it warmly.

"Be very careful," he warned her. "Watch the others closely. They will probably try some crookedness, for they must all be in it together. Keep as clear of the field as possible, and let Gabriel run his own race."

"I shall remember," said Shirley. "And now good-bye."

She pressed Jimmy's hand gently and stepped toward the door. The physician stopped her.

"I want to say," he declared, "that you are the bravest girl I have ever seen. I am sure that you will win."

"Thank you, doctor," replied Shirley with a slight smile. "Take good care of Jimmy."

"I shall stay right here until you return," said the doctor, knowing this would make Shirley less worried about Jimmy during her absence.

Shirley nodded and pa.s.sed out of the room ahead of her friends.

The Willing touring car stood in front of the hotel, and the chauffeur-a man Mr. Willing had hired because he knew the town-was waiting.

Shirley stood aside while Mabel and d.i.c.k climbed in, and then she got in after them.

"To the race track," she commanded, "and hurry."

Mabel looked at her watch.

"Twenty-five minutes to one," she remarked.

"Good," replied Shirley. "We'll make it."

CHAPTER XXIX.-THE DERBY.

All Louisville, it seemed, was at the Derby that day.

From early in the morning until after the races started, crowds continued to pour into the grandstand and overflow into the paddock.

Thousands of women, in brilliant costumes, gave a picturesque touch to the scene. It was indeed a gala day.

Gaily decked in bright colors, the grandstand presented an attractive appearance. Everywhere happiness and light-heartedness prevailed. It was the day of the year when Louisville gave itself over to frolic.

The races were scheduled to start at 2 o'clock, and as the winner of the first event flashed under the wire the crowd cheered. But in spite of these first events-good races though they were-the crowd waited impatiently for the superb horses that were to fight for the Derby.

It was a few minutes after 1 o'clock when Shirley, Mabel and d.i.c.k reached the track, and hurried to the Willing quarters. Mr. Willing was pacing up and down anxiously when they appeared, and Mr. Ashton and Leonard were beside him.

Gabriel, all ready for the race, stood quietly nearby.

"Well, here you are at last," said Mr. Willing as the three approached them. "Where is Shirley?"

"Oh, she will be here soon," said Mabel. "Don't worry about her. Let me introduce d.i.c.k Stanley, Mr. Willing, the boy who came so n.o.bly to our aid."

Mr. Willing extended his hand and the lad grasped it.

"I am glad to know you," said the former. "Allow me to thank you for the service you rendered me."

"It was nothing," said d.i.c.k and stepped back.

All this time Shirley had contrived to keep her back to her father, for she was well aware that if he should recognize her he would not permit her to ride.

At that moment Leonard approached.

He looked sharply at the supposed jockey, and then stepped back suddenly and opened his mouth to speak.

Shirley laid a finger to her lips in a quick gesture, and Leonard closed his mouth without a word. Nevertheless he continued to stare at her in amazement.

Mr. Willing, not suspecting anything of this nature, did not glance closely at the jockey, which was fortunate. Shirley kept her cap pulled well down, and thus avoided detection.

"The Derby will be called a few minutes after three," said Mr. Willing.

"Are you ready, Jimmy?"

"Yes, sir," replied Shirley, imitating Jimmy's voice as nearly as she could.

"Are you feeling perfectly fit?"