CHAPTER X.--SETTING THE TRAP.
They found Jimmy Smith in the stable leaning over Gabriel's stall andtalking to him in low tones. The lad stepped back and lifted his capfrom his head as the two girls approached.
"Are you telling Gabriel that he must win the Derby, Jimmy?" askedShirley with a bright smile.
"Yes, Miss," was the reply. "Gabriel and I have many talks, and healways promises me that he will win."
"But, suppose he should lose?"
"He can't lose," said Jimmy decisively.
"Are you sure?" asked Shirley sharply.
Jimmy looked at her queerly.
"Why--I--yes--of course he can't," he stammered.
"But suppose something should happen?" persisted Shirley.
"What do you mean?" asked Jimmy, plainly startled.
"Oh, nothing," said Shirley, and changed the subject abruptly.
"Jimmy," she said a few moments later, "I wish you would go up in theloft and see how much hay there is up there."
"All right, Miss," said the boy, and reached for his coat, which hungover the stall door.
"You don't need the coat," said Shirley. "Hurry up, please. Dad isanxious to know right away."
Without another word, but with a sidelong glance at the coat, Jimmyhastened to obey. He clambered up the ladder quickly.
Hardly had his hand disappeared when Shirley stepped quickly forward andtook up the coat. Rapidly she explored the pockets, one after another,and, at last, drawing forth a small piece of paste-board, she gave alittle cry of triumph.
"I have it," she whispered to Mabel.
She slipped the card into her dress, and hastily put the coat back whereshe had found it. She was leaning over the stall door talking to Gabrielwhen Jimmy came down the ladder.
"Plenty of hay for two weeks, Miss Shirley," said Jimmy.
He reached out cautiously and picked up his coat, which he donned withan audible sigh of relief.
"All right, then," said Shirley. "Come, Mabel, we may as well go."
She gave Gabriel another little pat, and led the way from the stable.
"I feel like I had picked somebody's pocket," Shirley confided to Mabel,as they made their way back toward the house.
"You have," replied her friend, "and I don't know whether you were rightor not."
"The end will justify the means," said Shirley quietly. "It's forJimmy's own good, for my father's good, and for the good of others. I amsure I did no wrong."
They sat down on the porch and talked for some moments.
"Look," said Mabel suddenly, "here comes Jimmy. I wonder what is thematter with him. He seems to be looking for something."
In truth, he did seem to be looking for something. The boy seemedgreatly excited, and his eyes roved about the ground as he approached.
"It's the card he misses," said Shirley. "He thinks he has lost it."
"You don't suppose he suspects us, do you?"
"I hope not."
Jimmy was close to them now, and Shirley called out: "What's the matter,Jimmy? Lost something?"
Jimmy, unaware of their presence until then, looked up in confusion.
"No--no, Miss Shirley," he stammered, and disappeared.
"Poor Jimmy," said Shirley. "One evil leads to another. He was forced tolie, you see. Come, Mabel, let's go upstairs and have a look at thiscard, and figure out a letter to Mr. Jones that will do the work."
Mabel followed her friend up the stairs, where both sat down, andShirley produced the card.
"Mr. A. B. Jones," she read, "Fifth Avenue Hotel, Louisville, Ky."
"Very well, Mr. Jones," she said, "we shall attend to your case."
She turned to Mabel. "What do you think?" she asked. "Would it be betterto ask him to meet me in Paris, Lexington, or where?"
"I don't know," replied Mabel. "But it seems to me that Paris is prettyclose to your home. Besides, Jimmy is well known in Lexington also."
"True," said Shirley. "I think I shall select Cincinnati."
"Goodness," said Mabel, "that is a long ways."
"So it is," said Shirley, "but I can make an excuse to go there. I cantell father we are going to spend a couple of days with Clara Morton. Hewill not object."
"Suit yourself," said Mabel. "I reckon it might as well be there as anyplace else. It probably will be safer too. We can stay with Clara whilethere."
"My idea exactly," said Shirley. "Now let's see if I can write theproper kind of a letter."
She drew forth some paper--and wrote long and earnestly. Sheet aftersheet she tore up, but at last, with a little cry of satisfaction, shetook the last sheet, upon which she had just written, and passed it toMabel.
"I think that will do very well."
Mabel read:
"Mr. A. B. Jones:--Dear Sir:--I have considered your offer. I shall be in Cincinnati, Palace Hotel, Friday. If offer is still open, meet me in the lobby at 6 o'clock Friday night. I am going to Cincinnati on an errand for Miss Willing.
"Jimmy Smith."
Mabel read the letter over several times.
"I guess it is all right," she said at last. "There is only one thing Iwould suggest."
"What is it?"
"I would add a line and say, 'Under no circumstances write me!'"
"Good," said Shirley. "I'll do it."
She did, and then addressing an envelope, the two girls walked up to themail box at the pike and waited the passing of the rural mail carrier.They did not wish the letter to remain in the box unguarded, becausesome one might see it.
But with the letter in the mailman's hands, Shirley felt morecomfortable. The two girls walked back to the house.
"With good luck," said Shirley, "that is, if Dad doesn't object, weshould be able to leave here Thursday morning. We will send Clara atelegram from town telling her to meet us. Now we'll go and see what Dadhas to say."
"So you want to go away again, eh?" said Mr. Willing, after Shirley hadsuggested the trip. "And how long do you want to be gone?"
"Until Sunday or Monday, Dad," said Shirley.
"Well," said Mr. Willing, after a long pause, "I can see no reason whyyou cannot go if Mr. Ashton doesn't object."
"I am sure he won't," said Mabel.
"Better go and ask him then," said Mr. Willing.
Mabel hurried to obey, and returned in a few moments with her father'sconsent.
"You want to go Thursday?" asked Mr. Willing. "Why, that's day afterto-morrow."
"I know that," said Shirley with a smile.
"All right," said Mr. Willing. "I am going to town this afternoon. I'llsend Clara a telegram myself to meet you."
The matter settled, Shirley and Mabel began their preparations for thetrip.
"I don't anticipate much trouble," said Shirley. "Of course you nevercan tell just what will happen, and for that reason I am going to takemy little pocket revolver."
"Then I shall take mine, too," said Mabel.
"That is hardly necessary," said Shirley, "for, of course, I shall seeMr. Jones alone."
"Aren't you going to let me go with you?" demanded Mabel.
"No," said Shirley, "that might spoil everything. Mr. Jones mightsuspect something even if he didn't recognize either of us."
"But I can't let you face the danger alone," protested Mabel.
"Who said anything about danger?" demanded Shirley.
"Why, didn't you?" asked Mabel.
"No."
"Then why do you take your revolver?"
"Well," said Shirley with a smile, "it is always best to be prepared forthe unexpected."
"Well, I suppose you will have it your own way," said Mabel.
Shirley smiled.
"In this, yes," she replied.
The two days passed slowly for both girls, but at length the time cameto go. The first thing in the morning, making sure that Jimmy was in thestable, Shirley made her way to his room and appropriated one of his oldsuits--one that she w
as sure he would not miss. This she packed in hersuitcase.
"I shall have to buy a wig in Cincinnati," she told Mabel.
Clara met the girls at the train, and they were soon whirled to herWalnut Hills home in a large automobile. There they were to remain untilthe following afternoon, when Mabel would accompany Shirley downtown.
The next day, shortly before five o'clock, Shirley slipped her dress onover her suit of boy's clothes, and leaving Clara behind in spite ofmany protests, the two girls took the street car down town. On FourthStreet they found a little store where Shirley was fortunate enough tofind a wig of the right shade.
In a secluded corner in the railroad station, when there was no onenear, Shirley quickly stripped off her dress and stood revealed in herboy's clothing. Donning wig and cap, she handed Mabel the discardeddress to put into the satchel brought for that purpose.
"Now," said Shirley, "go back to Clara's and, under some pretext orother, wait on the porch for me after every one has gone to bed. I'llnot come until I am sure they have all retired."
"All right," Mabel agreed, "and, Shirley, be very careful."
"I shall be, never fear," was the reply, and the young girl bade herfriend good-bye and started for the rendezvous.