For a moment Mabel was too stunned to speak. She sat down upon the edge of the bed again.

"Run away now," said her father. "I'll try and sleep some more."

She kissed her father gently, and made her way from the room.

On the porch she met Mr. Willing.

"Why didn't you tell me Father was so very sick?" she demanded.

"Pshaw!" he replied. "I don't think it amounts to anything."

"You know what the doctor believes is the matter with him?"

"Yes."

"Consumption?"

Mr. Willing bowed his head in a.s.sent.

CHAPTER VI.-A PLOT DISCOVERED.

At this moment Mabel heard Shirley calling. Accompanied by Mr. Willing, she made her way around the house, where her friend stood awaiting her.

"Let's go and look at the horses, Mabel," said Shirley.

In spite of a certain sadness caused by her father's condition, Mabel agreed, and the two girls made their way to the large stable a quarter of a mile from the farmhouse.

Shirley flung open the door and dashed inside.

"We'll call on Gabriel first," she called back over her shoulder.

Mabel followed her.

Straight to the stall of the young animal of splendid pedigree Shirley led the way. It had been months since she had last seen this horse, but the n.o.ble creature recognized her footsteps and whinnied in delight at her approach.

Unmindful of the possibility that the horse might step upon her, Shirley ran into the stall and, reaching up, threw both arms around his glossy black neck. Gabriel trembled with happiness, and then thrust his nose into her hand.

"See," laughed Shirley, "he wants his lump of sugar. Did you think I had forgotten you?" she asked.

Again Gabriel whinnied.

Gabriel took the lump of sugar from the girl's hand and munched it contentedly. Then he pleaded for more.

"No, sir," said Shirley, stepping back. "One lump is all you get; you should know better than to ask for more. If Dad knew I had given you even one, he wouldn't like it."

She stepped farther back and surveyed the animal with a critical eye.

"And so," she said, speaking to Gabriel, "you are going to win the Derby for Dad and me this year."

She patted him affectionately upon the head and stroked his mane.

Gabriel rubbed his head up and down against her arm.

"Come, Shirley," said Mabel at this juncture, "don't stand there talking to Gabriel all day. We must pay our respects to some of the other horses."

"All right," her friend agreed and, giving Gabriel a parting pat, she followed her friend from the stall.

All along the length of the stable the heads of other horses appeared above their stall doors as the two girls pa.s.sed along, and everywhere they were greeted with whinnies of welcome and delight; for there was not a horse there who did not love the two girls.

But of all the horses in her father's "string," Shirley loved Gabriel most, for he was her own personal property. Descended from a long line of distinguished and powerful racehorses, Gabriel had been presented to Shirley by Mr. Willing when the horse was nothing but a colt. His pedigree was of the best, and now, in the approaching Derby to be run in Louisville the following month, Shirley and Mr. Willing both looked to him to maintain the supremacy of the Willing stable.

Besides Jimmy Smith, Mr. Willing's diminutive sixteen-year-old jockey, none but Shirley had ever sat upon Gabriel's back. Many had tried, but the result had always been the same. A quick leap to the saddle, a few stiff bucks and jumps by Gabriel, and the would-be rider was rolling on the ground.

But now when Shirley decided upon a little run, Gabriel always received her with joy and was as gentle as a kitten while she rode him. They often had long gallops together, and were the best of friends.

Gabriel was now three years old, and had been entered for the Derby.

There was no doubt in Shirley's mind that he would be the first under the wire at the end of the mile-and-a-quarter run in Louisville, when the great day, August 31st, arrived.

The two girls spent perhaps an hour in the stable, and as they were about to leave, Shirley decided to see Gabriel once more, and so approached his stall.

Suddenly she halted in her tracks and laid a warning finger to her lips.

Mabel also stopped.

"What is it?" she whispered.

"I thought I heard strange voices in there," said Shirley, pointing to Gabriel's stall.

"Impossible," returned Mabel in a low voice. "Gabriel wouldn't allow a stranger in there. He would kick him to pieces."

Silently she approached closer, and stood still, listening intently.

Then only the two girls heard a voice they recognized.

"Jimmy," said Mabel. "You were mistaken, Shirley."

She started to go closer, but Shirley stopped her with a whispered word of caution.

"There is some one else there, too! Listen."

"Yes," came the voice of Jimmy Smith, "he is in fine shape, as you see.

He will be in perfect condition for the Derby. He is sure to win."

"Yes, he'll win, all right," was the answer, in a voice that neither Shirley nor Mabel recognized. "He'll win unless something happens."

"But what can happen to him?" inquired Jimmy. "He is being nursed carefully. I am attending to him myself. No other hand but mine touches him, unless it is that of Miss Shirley; and I have promised to have him perfectly fit for the big race."