CHAPTER XXX.--THE PUNISHMENT OF JONES.
"Shirley!" cried Mr. Willing again, and looked at his daughter in alarm.
At this moment Mabel and Leonard came running up, having outdistancedMr. Ashton.
Mr. Willing turned to them quickly.
"Dr. Thompson is back there in the paddock," he said, pointing. "Hurry!and see if you can find him."
Mabel hurried away in response to this command. She was fortunate enoughto find the physician after a brief search, and she conducted him backto where Mr. Willing still held Shirley in his arms.
The doctor laid her gently on the soft ground and bent over her.
"Nothing serious," he said rising at last. "She seems to have faintedmore because of the excitement than anything else. She'll come topresently."
Dr. Thompson proved a good prophet. Five minutes later Shirley openedher eyes and smiled up at her father.
"Did we win?" she asked somewhat feebly.
"Yes, you won," replied Mr. Willing in a low voice. "But, Shirley, whydid you do it?"
"Somebody had to do it, Dad," was the reply. "I knew I was the only onethat could ride Gabriel outside of Jimmy."
"But I would rather have had Gabriel scratched than to have you takesuch a risk," said Mr. Willing.
"I know that. That's why I didn't tell you."
Mr. Willing turned to Mabel, as Shirley fell back, tired out, and closedher eyes.
"What is the matter with Jimmy?" he demanded.
Mabel explained.
Mr. Willing grew very angry.
"I have had enough of this," he declared. "I shall notify the police assoon as we get back down town. I'll see that Jones answers for hisactions. I'll prosecute him to the full extent of the law."
Half an hour later, with Shirley lying in the rear seat, the car, alsobearing Mr. Willing, Mr. Ashton, Dick, Mabel and Leonard, was speedingdown town.
By the time it reached the hotel Shirley had so far recovered that shewas able to make her way to their apartments unassisted. True to hispromise, the hotel physician had remained with Jimmy all this time.
"And did you win the race?" was his first question, as Shirley enteredthe room.
"Yes," was the girl's smiling rejoinder. "We won."
"Good," cried the physician. He rose from his chair. "You have nofurther need of me," he said, "I shall be going."
He bowed and made his departure.
After a few words with Jimmy, Mr. Willing announced his intention ofgoing immediately to the police station and swearing out a warrantagainst Jones. Shirley tried to turn him from his purpose, but in vain.Then she declared that she would go with him.
All Mr. Willing's objections went for naught, so the two started outtogether. As they were driving along the street, Shirley cried outsuddenly and caught her father by the arm.
"What's the matter now?" he demanded.
"There is Jones," said Shirley, pointing to the sidewalk.
Mr. Willing followed the direction of her finger. Sure enough, there wasJones, deep in conversation with another man.
Mr. Willing ordered the chauffeur to stop the car, and he leaped out.
"What are you going to do, Dad?" called Shirley, in alarm.
Mr. Willing vouchsafed no reply.
He walked directly up to Jones, who at that moment was looking the otherway. He took him by the arm and swung him about, so that they stood faceto face.
As Jones, greatly surprised, would have stepped back, Mr. Willing raisedone arm, and deliberately slapped the man across the face.
"Perhaps that will teach you, sir," he exclaimed, "to let me and minealone in the future."
Jones was no coward. He wiped a few drops of blood from his lips, andstepping suddenly forward, aimed a heavy blow at Mr. Willing.
But the latter, in spite of his age, was still agile and strong. Hesprang to one side, and avoided the blow, but then, stepping in close,sent his fist into the other's face with all his power.
Jones struck the sidewalk like a log. His companion took to his heels.
A crowd, attracted by the scuffle, began to gather.
Presently Jones pulled himself together and scrambled to his feet. Mr.Willing still stood with clenched fists and set lips.
"Have you had enough?" he asked. "Or shall I give you another dose?"
For one moment it seemed that Jones would renew the fight; but after alook at the rapidly gathering crowd, he turned and walked away.
"Three cheers for the old boy," shouted a youngster in the crowd.
The cheers were given with a will.
At that moment a hand was laid on Mr. Willing's shoulder. The latterturned to face a policeman.
"You are under arrest," said the officer. "Come with me."
In vain Mr. Willing protested. The officer was firm. Finally Mr. Willingconsented to go without trouble.
"If you'll step into my car, I'll drive you to the station," he said.
The policeman accepted this offer.
Shirley, perceiving her father in the hands of the law, was frightened.Mr. Willing reassured her, however, when he stepped into the car, andordered the chauffeur to drive to police headquarters.
As they continued down the street, the crowd gave three more ringingcheers. Mr. Willing was forced to smile.
At the police station Mr. Willing had little difficulty explainingmatters satisfactorily to the sergeant, and he was allowed to go.
"You did perfectly right," declared the old sergeant.
He shook hands with Mr. Willing and his daughter, and wished them goodluck. The latter then returned to their hotel.
"I guess that was enough punishment for Jones," said Mr. Willingcheerfully in relating the occurrence to Mr. Ashton a short time later.
"Indeed it was," was the reply, "and it also saved you a lot of courttrouble and notoriety."
"Right you are," agreed Mr. Willing.
Two days longer the party stayed in Louisville, and then set out forhome. Jimmy's injuries were getting along nicely and no serious resultswere anticipated. The mark on Shirley's face, caused by the blow of thewhip, was also rapidly disappearing.
An hour before it was time for their train to leave, Dick was announced.Shirley welcomed him warmly, as did Mr. Willing.
"My daughter has told me of you," said the latter, "and I should be gladto have you go home with us. I can offer you work on my farm."
"Thank you, sir," replied Dick, "but, for the present, I prefer toremain here."
"But," protested Mr. Willing, "surely you have not such a remunerativeplace here that makes you so anxious to stay?"
"No, sir. I am only an office boy in a big newspaper office, but some ofthese days, sir, I hope to climb. Within the year I expect to be on thereportorial staff of the _Star_."
"Well, you know your own mind best. However, I should be pleased to haveyou go with us."
"And I should be pleased to go, sir."
"Perhaps he will come and spend Christmas with us," suggested Shirley.
"I certainly shall, if it is possible," replied the lad. "But you know,Miss Willing, a newspaper man works holidays as well as others. However,it may be that I can get off."
"You must get away," declared Shirley. "We shall expect you."
"I will do my best," the lad promised.
"Well," said Mr. Willing, "we shall have to be getting down toward thestation. It is getting late."
Dick shook hands all around and bowed himself out
"A very manly and likeable boy," said Mr. Willing, as he disappearedthrough the door.
"Indeed he is," replied Shirley.
An hour later the party was speeding along in the direction ofLexington.
Gabriel already had been shipped home, and they knew that they wouldfind him there, safe and sound, when they returned. Shirley had not seenthe horse since just after the race, and was anxious to call upon him inhis own home.
So, the first thing after their arrival at the farm, she, Mabel, Leonardand Jimmy made stra
ight for Gabriel's stall. The racehorse received themwith whinnies of joy.
"Good old Gabriel," said Shirley, dashing into the stall and throwingher arms around the animal's neck. "I knew you would win for us. Andthink what you have accomplished. You have saved the farm for Dad andme."
The others now approached, and Gabriel put aside his customaryunfriendliness toward strangers, and allowed all to pat him to theirhearts' content.
"Well," said Leonard, "I have had the time of my life here, and I amsorry to say that I shall have to leave you to-morrow."
"Leave us?" exclaimed Shirley in surprise.
"Yes. I start home to-morrow night."
Both girls heard this piece of news with regret, for both had becomegreatly attached to young Wolfe.
At this juncture Jimmy, who was now able to get around, turned toShirley.
"And had it not been for you, Miss Shirley," he said seriously, "thereis no telling what might have happened to me. Certainly you saved mefrom myself."
Shirley extended her hand, and the boy grasped it warmly.
"I could never have rested in peace had you gone away, Jimmy Smith," shesaid with a faint smile. "I shall never forget that it was a fewunthoughtful words of mine that almost sent you on the wrong road."
"Don't talk like that, Miss Shirley," said Jimmy. "You know better."
"Of course, she does," said Leonard and Mabel in the same voice.
"Well," said Shirley, laughing, "we won't argue about it. Everything hasturned out all right, and I am sure that each of us has had a goodtime."
"Indeed we have," exclaimed the others.
* * * * *
Here for the time being, we shall take our leave of the girls, theirfathers and friends. But we shall meet them again before long, in asecond volume entitled "The Blue Grass Seminary Girls' ChristmasHolidays" or "A Four-Weeks' Tour with the Glee Club."
THE END