GOING SOME

A ROMANCE OF STRENUOUS AFFECTION

BY

REX BEACH

SUGGESTED BY THE PLAY BY REX BEACH AND PAUL ARMSTRONG

ILLUSTRATED BY MARK FENDERSON

CHAPTER I

Four cowboys inclined their bodies over the barbed-wire fencewhich marked the dividing-line between the Centipede Ranch andtheir own, staring mournfully into a summer night such as onlythe far southwestern country knows. Big yellow stars hung thickand low-so low that it seemed they might almost be plucked by anupstretched hand-and a silent air blew across thousands of openmiles of land lying crisp and fragrant under the velvet dark. 

And as the four inclined their bodies, they inclined also theirears, after the strained manner of listeners who feel anguish atwhat they hear. A voice, shrill and human, pierced the night likea needle, then, with a wail of a tortured soul, died away amiddiscordant raspings: the voice of a phonograph. It was their own, or had been until one overconfident day, when the Flying HeartRanch had risked it as a wager in a foot-race with theneighboring Centipede, and their own man had been too slow. As ithad been their pride, it remained their disgrace. Dearly had theyloved, and dearly lost it. It meant something that looked likehonor, and though there were ten thousand thousand phonographs, in all the world there was not one that could take its place. 

The sound ceased, there was an approving distant murmur of men'svoices, and then the song began:

 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Lift up your voice and sing--"

Higher and higher the voice mounted until it reached again itsfirst thin, ear-splitting pitch. 

"Still Bill" Stover stirred uneasily in the darkness. "Why 'n'ell don't they keep her wound up?" he complained. "Gallagher'sgot the soul of a wart-hog. It's criminal the way he massacresthat hymn. "

From a rod farther down the wire fence Willie answered him, in aboy's falsetto:

"I wonder if he does it to spite me?"

"He don't know you're here, " said Stover. 

The other came out of the gloom, a little stoop-shouldered manwith spectacles. 

"I ain't noways sure, " he piped, peering up at his lanky foreman. "Why do you reckon he allus lets Mrs. Melby peter out on myfavorite record? He done the same thing last night. It looks likean insult. "

"It's nothing but ignorance, " Stover replied. "He don't want notrouble with you. None of 'em do. "

"I'd like to know for certain. " The small man seemed torn bydoubt. "If I only knew he done it a-purpose, I'd git him. I bet Icould do it from here. "

Stover's voice was gruff as he commanded: "Forget it! Ain't itbad enough for us fellers to hang around like this every nightwithout advertising our idiocy by a gun-play?"

"They ain't got no right to that phonograph, " Willie averred, darkly. 

"Oh yes, they have; they won it fair and square. "

"Fair and square! Do you mean to say Humpy Joe run that foot-raceon the square?"

"I never said nothin' like that whatever. I mean we bet it, andwe lost it. Listen! There goes Carara's piece!"

Out past the corral floated the announcement in a man's metallicsyllables:

"_The Baggage Coach Ahead, _ as sung by Helena Mora for theEcho Phonograph, of New York and Pa-a-aris!"

From the dusk to the right of the two listeners now issued softSpanish phrases. 

"_Madre de Dios!_ 'The Baggage Car in Front!' T'adora Mora!God bless 'er!"

During the rendition of this affecting ballad the two cow-menremained draped uncomfortably over the barbed-wire barrier, lostin rapturous enjoyment. When the last note had died away, Stoverroused himself reluctantly. 

"It's time we was turnin' in. " He called softly, "Hey, Mex!"

"_Si, Senor!_"

"Come on, you and Cloudy. _Vamos!_ It's ten o'clock. "

He turned his back on the Centipede Ranch that housed thetreasure, and in company with Willie, made his way to the ponies. Two other figures joined them, one humming in a musical baritonethe strains of the song just ended. 

"Cut that out, Mex! They'll hear us, " Stover cautioned. 

"_Caramba!_ This t'ing is brek my 'eart, " said the Mexican, sadly. "It seem like the Senorita Mora is sing that song to me. Mebbe she knows I'm set out 'ere on cactus an' listen to her. Ah, I love that Senorita ver' much. "

The little man with the glasses began to swear in his highfalsetto. His ear had caught the phonograph operator in anothermusical mistake. 

"That horn-toad let Mrs. Melby die again to-night, " said he. "It's sure comin' to a runnacaboo between him and me. If somebodydon't kill him pretty soon, he'll wear out that machine before wegit it back. "

"Humph! It don't look like we'd ever get it back, " said Stover. 

One of the four sighed audibly, then vaulting into his saddle, went loping away without waiting for his companions. 

"Cloudy's sore because they didn't play _Navajo, "_ saidWillie. "Well, I don't blame 'em none for omittin' that war-dance. It ain't got the class of them other pieces. While it'sdevised to suit the intellect of an Injun, perhaps; it ain't inthe runnin' with _The Holy City, _ which tune is the sweetestand sacredest ever sung. "

Carara paused with a hand upon the neck of his cayuse. 

"Eet is not so fine as _The Baggage Car in Front, "_ hedeclared. 

"It's got it beat a mile!" Willie flashed back, harshly. 

"Here you!" exclaimed Stover, "no arguments. We all have ourfavorites, and it ain't up to no individual to force his likesand dislikes down no other feller's throat. " The two men headdressed mounted their broncos stiffly. 

"I repeat, " said Willie: "_The Holy City_, as sung by Mrs. Melby, is the swellest tune that ever hit these parts. "

Carara muttered something in Spanish which the others could notunderstand. 

"They're all fine pieces, " Stover observed, placatingly, whenfairly out of hearing of the ranch-houses. "You boys have eachgot your preference. Cloudy, bein' an Injun, has got his, and Irise to state that I like that monologue, _Silas on FifthAvenoo_, better than all of 'em, which ain't nothin' ag'instmy judgment nor yours. When Silas says, 'The girl opened hervalise, took our her purse, closed her valise, opened her purse, took out a dime, closed her purse, opened her valise, put in herpurse, closed her valise, give the dime to the conductor, got anickel in change, then opened her valise, took out her purse, closed her valise-'" Stover began to rock in his saddle, thenburst into a loud guffaw, followed by his companions. "Gosh!That's awful funny!"

"_Si! si!_" acknowledged Carara, his white teeth showingthrough the gloom. 

"An' it's just like a fool woman, " tittered Willie. "That's sureone ridic'lous line of talk. "

"Still Bill" wiped his eyes with the back of a bony hand. "I knowthat hull monologue by heart, but I can't never get past thatspot to save my soul. Right there I bog down, complete. " Again heburst into wild laughter, followed by his companions. "I don'tsee how folks can be so dam' funny!" he gasped. 

"It's natural to 'em, like warts, " said Willie; "they're bornwith it, the same as I was born to shoot straight with eitherhand, and the same as the Mex was born to throw a rope. He don'tknow how he does it, and neither do I. Some folks can say funnythings, some can sing, like Missus Melby; some can run foot-races, like that Centipede cook--" Carara breathed an eloquentMexican oath. 

"Do you reckon he fixed that race with Humpy Joe?" inquiredStover. 

"Name's Skinner, " Willie observed. "It sure sounds bad. "

"I'm sorry Humpy left us so sudden, " said Still Bill. "We'd oughtto have questioned him. If we only had proof that the race wascrooked--"

"You can so gamble it was crooked, " the little man averred. "ThemCentipede fellers never done nothin' on the square. They gotHumpy Joe, and fixed it for him to lose so they could get thattalkin'-machine. That's why he pulled out. "

"I'd hate to think it, " said the foreman, gloomily; then after amoment, during which the only sound was that of the muffled hoof-beats: "Well, what we goin' to do about it?"

"Humph! I've laid awake nights figurin' that out. I reckon we'lljust have to git another foot-racer and beat Skinner. He ain'tthe fastest in the world. "

"That takes coin. We're broke. "

"Mebbe Mr. Chapin would lend a helpin' hand. "

"No chance!" said Stover, grimly. "He's sore on foot-racin'. Saysit disturbs us and upsets our equalubrium. "

Carara fetched a deep sigh. 

"It's ver' bad t'ing, Senor. I don' feel no worse w'en mygran'mother die. "

The three men loped onward through the darkness, weighted heavilywith disappointment. 

Affairs at the Flying Heart Ranch were not all to Jack Chapin'sliking. Ever since that memorable foot-race, more than a monthbefore, a gloom had brooded over the place which even thepresence of two Smith College girls, not to mention that of Mr. Fresno, was unable to dissipate. The cowboys moped about likemelancholy shades, and neglected their work to discuss thedisgrace that had fallen upon them. It was a task to get any ofthem out in the morning, several had quit, the rest werequarrelling among themselves, and the bunk-house had already beenthe scene of more than one encounter, altogether too sanguinaryto have originated from such a trivial cause as a foot-race. Itwas not exactly an auspicious atmosphere in which to entertain ahouseful of college boys and girls, all unversed in the ways ofthe West. 

The master of the ranch sought his sister Jean, to tell herfrankly what was on his mind. 

"See here, Sis, " he began, "I don't want to cast a cloud overyour little house-party, but I think you'd better keep yourfriends away from my men. "

"Why, what is the matter?" she demanded. 

"Things are at a pretty high tension just now, and the boys havehad two or three rows among themselves. Yesterday Fresno tried to'kid' Willie about _The Holy City;_ said it was written as acoon song, and wasn't sung in good society. If he hadn't been aguest, I guess Willie would have murdered him. "

"Oh, Jack! You won't let Willie murder anybody, not evenBerkeley, while the people are here, will you?" coaxed MissChapin, anxiously. 

"What made you invite Berkeley Fresno, anyhow?" was therejoinder. "This is no gilded novelty to him. He is a Westernman. "

Miss Chapin numbered her reasons sagely. "In the first place--Helen. Then there had to be enough men to go around. Last andbest, he is the most adorable man I ever saw at a house-party. He's an angel at breakfast, sings perfectly beautifully--you knowhe was on the Stanford Glee Club--"

"Humph!" Jack was unimpressed. "If you roped him for Helen Blaketo brand, why have you sent for Wally Speed?"

"Well, you see, Berkeley and Helen didn't quite hit it off, andMr. Speed is--a friend of Culver's. " Miss Chapin blushedprettily. 

"Oh, I see! I thought myself that this affair had something to dowith you and Culver Covington, but I didn't know it had lapsedinto a sort of matrimonial round-up. Suppose Miss Blake shouldn'tcare for Speed after he gets here?"

"Oh, but she will! That's where Berkeley Fresno comes in. Whentwo men begin to fight for her, she'll have to begin to form apreference, and I'm sure it will be for Wally Speed. Don't yousee?"

The brother looked at his sister shrewdly. "It seems to me youlearned a lot at Smith. "

Jean tossed her head. "How absurd! That sort of knowledge isperfectly natural for a girl to have. " Then she teased: "But youadmit that my selection of a chaperon was excellent, don't you, Jack?"

"Mrs. Keap and I are the best of friends, " Jack averred, withsupreme dignity. "I'm not in the market, and a man doesn't marrya widow, anyhow. It's too old and experienced a beginning. "

"Nonsense! Roberta Keap is only twenty-three. Why, she hardlyknew her husband, even! It was one of those sudden, impulsiveaffairs that would overwhelm any girl who hadn't seen a man forfour years. And then he enlisted in the Spanish War, and waskilled. "

"Considerate chap!"

"Roberta, you know, is my best friend, after Helen. Do be nice toher, Jack. " Miss Chapin sighed. "It is too bad the otherscouldn't come. "

"Yes, a small house-party has its disadvantages. By-the-way, what's that gold thing on your frock?"

"It's a medal. Culver sent it to me. "

"Another?"

"Yes, he won the intercollegiate championship again. " Miss Chapinproudly extended the emblem on its ribbon. 

"I wish to goodness Covington had been here to take Humpy Joe'splace, " said the young cattle-man as he turned it over. "The boysare just brokenhearted over losing that phonograph. "

"I'll get him to run and win it back, " Jean offered, easily. Herbrother laughed. "Take my advice, Sis, and don't let Culver mixup in this game! The stakes are too high. I think that Centipedecook is a professional runner, myself, and if our boys werebeaten again--well, you and mother and I would have to move outof New Mexico, that's all. No, we'd better let the memory of thatdefeat die out as quickly as possible. You warn Fresno not tojoke about it any more, and I'll take Mrs. Keap off your hands. She may be a widow, she may even be the chaperon, but I'll do it;I will do it, " promised Jack--"for my sister's sake. "

CHAPTER II

Helen Blake was undeniably bored. The sultry afternoon was verylong--longer even than Berkeley Fresno's autobiography, and quiteas dry. It was too hot and dusty to ride, so she took refuge inthe latest "best seller, " and sought out a hammock on the vine-shaded gallery, where Jean Chapin was writing letters, while thedisconsolate Fresno, banished, wandered at large, vaguely injuredat her lack of appreciation. 

Absent-mindedly, the girls dipped into the box of bonbons betweenthem. Jean finished her correspondence and essayed conversation, but her companion's blond head was bowed over the book in herlap, and the effort met with no response. Lulled by thesomniferous droning of insects and lazy echoes from afar, MissChapin was on the verge of slumber, when she saw her guestrapidly turn the last pages of her novel, then, with a chocolatebetween her teeth, read wide-eyed to the finish. Miss Blakeclosed the book reluctantly, uncurled slowly, then stared outthrough the dancing heat-waves, her blue eyes shadowed withromance. 

"Did she marry him?" queried Jean. 

"No, no!" Helen Blake sighed, blissfully. "It was infinitelyfiner. She killed herself. "

"I like to see them get married. "

"Naturally. You are at that stage. But I think suicide is moreglorious, in many cases. "

Miss Chapin yawned openly. "Speaking of suicides, isn't thisranch the deadest place?"

"Oh, I don't think so at all. " Miss Blake picked her wayfastidiously through the bonbons, nibbling tentatively at severalbefore making her choice. "Oh yes, you do, and you needn't bepolite just because you're a guest. " "Well, then, to be astruthful as a boarder, it _is_ a little dull. Not for ourchaperon, though. The time doesn't seem to drag on her hands. Jack certainly is making it pleasant for her. "

"If you call taking her out to watch a lot of bellowing calvesget branded, entertainment, " Miss Chapin sighed. 

"I wonder what makes widows so fascinating?" observed theyouthful Miss Blake. 

"I hope I never find out. " Jean clutched nervously at the goldmedal on her dress. "Wouldn't that be dreadful!"

"My dear, Culver seems perfectly healthy. Why worry?"

"I--I wish he were here. "

Miss Blake leaned forward and read the inscription on hercompanion's medal. "Oh, isn't it heavy!" feeling it reverently. 

"Pure gold, like himself! You should have seen him when he wonit. Why, at the finish of that race all the men but Culver weremaking the most horrible faces. They were simply _dead_. "

Miss Blake's hands were clasped in her lap. "They all makefaces, " said she. "Have you told Roberta about your engagement?"

"No, she doesn't dream of it, and I don't want her to know. I'mso afraid she'll think, now that mother has gone, that I askedher here just as a chaperon. Perhaps I'll tell her when Culvercomes. "

"I adore athletes. I wouldn't give a cent for a man who wasn'tathletic. "

"Does Mr. Speed go in for that sort of thing?"

"Rather! The day we met at the Yale games he had medals all overhim, and that night at the dance he used the most wonderfulathletic language--we could scarcely understand him. Mr. Covington must have told you all about him; they are chums, youknow. "

Miss Chapin furrowed her brows meditatively. 

"I have heard Culver speak of him, but never as an athlete. Haveyou and Mr. Speed settled things between you, Helen? I mean, hashe--said anything?"

Miss Blake flushed. 

"Not exactly. " She adjusted a cushion to cover her confusion, then leaned back complacently. "But he has stuttered dangerouslyseveral times. "

A musical tinkle of silver spurs sounded in the distance, andaround the corner of the cook-house opposite came Carara, theMexican, his wide, spangled sombrero tipped rakishly over oneear, a corn-husk cigarette drooping from his lips. Evidently hispresence was inspired by some special motive, for he glancedsharply about, and failing to detect the two girls behind thedistant screen of vines, removed his cigarette and whistledthrice, like a quail, then, leaning against the adobe wall, curled his black silken mustaches to needle-points. 

"It's that romantic Spaniard!" whispered Helen. "What does hewant?"

"It's his afternoon call on Mariedetta, the maid, " said Jean. "They meet there twice a day, morning and afternoon. "

"A lovers' tryst!" breathed Miss Blake, eagerly. "Isn't hegraceful and picturesque! Can we watch them?"

"'Sh-h! There she comes!"

From the opposite direction appeared a slim, swarthy Mexicangirl, an Indian water-jug balanced upon her shoulders. She wasclad in the straight-hanging native garment, belted in with asash; her feet were in sandals, and she moved as silently as ashadow. 

During the four days since Miss Blake's arrival at the FlyingHeart Ranch she had seen Mariedetta flitting noiselessly here andthere, but had never heard her speak. The pretty, expressionlessface beneath its straight black hair had ever retained its woodenstolidity, the velvety eyes had not laughed nor frowned norsparkled. She seemed to be merely a part of this far southwesternpicture; a bit of inanimate yet breathing local color. Now, however, the girl dropped her jug, and with a low cry glided toher lover, who tossed aside his cigarette and took her in hisarms. From this distance their words were indistinguishable. 

"How perfectly romantic, " said the Eastern girl, breathlessly. "Ihad no idea Mariedetta could love anybody. "

"She is a volcano, " Jean answered. 

"Why, it's like a play!"

"And it goes on all the time. "

"How gentle and sweet he is! I think he is charming. He is not atall like the other cowboys, is he?"

While the two witnesses of the scene were eagerly discussing it, Joy, the Chinese cook, emerged from the kitchen bearing a bucketof water, his presence hidden from the lovers by the corner ofthe building. Carara languidly released his inamorata from hisembrace and lounged out of sight around the building, pausing atthe farther corner to waft her a graceful kiss from the ends ofhis fingers, as with a farewell flash of his white teeth hedisappeared. Mariedetta recovered her water-jug and glided onwardinto the court in front of the cook-house, her face masklike, hermovements deliberate as usual. Joy, spying the girl, grinned ather. She tossed her head coquettishly and her step slackened, whereupon the cook, with a sly glance around, tapped her gentlyon the arm, and said:

"Nice l'il gally. "

"The idea!" indignantly exclaimed Miss Blake from her hammock. 

But Mariedetta was not offended. Instead she smiled over hershoulder as she had smiled at her lover an instant before. 

"Me like you fine. You like pie?" Joy nodded toward the door tothe culinary department, as if to make free of his hospitality, at the instant that Carara, who had circled the building, cameinto view from the opposite side, a fresh cigarette between hislips. His languor vanished at the first glimpse of the scene, andhe strode toward the white-clad Celestial, who dove through theopen door like a prairie dog into its hole. Carara followed athis heels. 

"It serves him right!" cried Miss Blake, rising. "I hope Mr. Carara--"

A din of falling pots and pans issued from the cook-house, mingled with shrill cries and soft Spanish imprecations; then, with one long-drawn wail, the pandemonium ceased as suddenly asit had commenced, and Carara issued forth, black with anger. 

"Ha!" said he, scowling 'at Mariedetta, who had retreated, herhand upon her bosom. He exhaled a lungful of cigarette smokethrough his nostrils fiercely. "You play wit' me, eh?"

"No! no!" Mariedetta ran to him, and, seizing his arm, cooedamorously in Spanish. 

"Bah! _Vamos!"_ Carara flung her from him, and stalked away. 

"Well, of all the outrageous things!" said Miss Blake. "Why, shewas actually flirting with that Chinaman. "

"Mariedetta flirts with every man she can find, " said Jean, calmly, "but she doesn't mean any harm. She'll marry Carara sometime--if he doesn't kill her. "

"Kill her!" Miss Blake's eyes were round. "He wouldn't do_that!"_

"Indeed, yes. He is a Mexican, and he has a terrible temper. "

Miss Blake sank back into the hammock. "How perfectly dreadful!And yet-it must be heavenly to love a man who would kill you. "

Miss Chapin lost herself in meditation for an instant. "Culver isalmost like that when he is angry. Hello, here comes ourforeman!"

Stover, a tall, gangling cattle-man with drooping grizzledmustache, came shambling up to the steps. His weather-beatenchaps were much too short for his lengthy limbs, the collar ofhis faded flannel shirt lacked an inch of meeting at the throat, its sleeves were shrunken until his hairy hands hung down liketassels. He was loose and spineless, his movements tempered withthe slothfulness of the far Southwest. His appearance gave onethe impression that ready-made garments are never long enough. Hedusted his boots with his sombrero and cleared his throat. 

"'Evening, Miss Jean. Is Mr. Chapin around?"

"I think you'll find him down by the spring-house. Can I doanything for you?"

"Nope!" Stover sighed heavily, and got his frame gradually intomotion again. 

"You're not looking well, Stover. Are you ill?" inquired MissChapin. 

"Not physical, " said the foreman, checking the movement which hadnot yet communicated itself the entire length of his frame. "Ireckon my sperret's broke, that's all. "

"Haven't you recovered from that foot-race?"

"I have not, and I never will, so long as that ornery Centipedeoutfit has got it on us. "

"Nonsense, Stover!"

"What have they done?" inquired Miss Blake, curiously. "I haven'theard about any foot-race. "

"You tell her, " said the man, with another sigh, and a hopelessgesture that told the depth of his feelings. 

"Why, Stover hired a fellow a couple of months ago as a horse-wrangler. The man said he was hungry, and made a good impression, so we put him on. "

Here Stover slowly raised one booted foot and kicked his othercalf. "The boys nicknamed him Humpy Joe--"

"Why, poor thing! Was he humpbacked?" inquired Helen. 

"No, " answered Still Bill. "Humpback is lucky. We called himHumpy Joe because when it came to running he could sure get upand hump himself. "

"Soon after Joseph went to work, " Jean continued, "the Centipedeoutfit hired a new cook. You know the Centipede Ranch--the oneyou see over yonder by the foot-hills. "

"It wasn't 'soon after, ' it was simuletaneous, " said Stover, darkly. "We're beginnin' to see plain at last. " He went on as ifto air the injury that was gnawing him. "One day we hear thatthis grub-slinger over yonder thinks he can run, which same is aswelcome to us as the smell of flowers on a spring breeze, forHumpy Joe had amused us in his idle hours by running jack-rabbitsto earth--"

"Not really?" said Miss Blake. 

"Well, no, but from what we see we judge he'd ought to limp ahundred yards in about nothing and three-fifths seconds, so weframe a race between him and the Centipede cook. "

"As a matter of fact, there has been a feud for years between thetwo outfits, " Jean offered. 

"With tumulchous joy we bet our wages and all the loose gear wehave, and in a burst of childish enthusiasm we put up--thetalking-machine. "

"A phonograph?"

"Yes. An Echo Phonograph, " said Miss Chapin. 

"Of New York and Paris, " added Stover. 

"Our boys won it from this very Centipede outfit at a bronco-busting tournament in Cheyenne. "

"Wyoming. " Stover made the location definite. 

"The Centipede crowd took their defeat badly on Frontier Day, andswore to get even. "

"And was Humpy Joe defeated?" asked Helen. 

"Was he?" Still Bill shook his head sadly, and sighed for a thirdtime. "It looked like he was running backward, miss. "

"But really he was only beaten a foot. It was a wonderful race. Isaw it, " said Jean. "It made me think of the races at college. "

Miss Blake puckered her brows trying to think. 

"Joseph, " she said. "No, I don't think I have seen him. "

Stover's lips met grimly. "I don't reckon you have, miss. Sincethat race he has been hard to descry. He passed from viewhurriedly, so to speak, headed toward the foot-hills, and leapingfrom crag to crag like the hardy shamrock of the Swiss Yelps. "

Miss Blake giggled. "What made him hurry so?"

"Us!" Stover gazed at her solemnly. "We ain't none of us been thesame since that foot-race. You see, it ain't the financial valueof that Echo Phonograph, nor the 'double-cross' that hurts: it'sthe fact that the mangiest outfit in the Territory has trimmed usout of the one thing that stands for honor and excellence and'scientific attainment, ' as the judge said when we won it. Thattalking-machine meant more to us than you Eastern folks canunderstand, I reckon. "

"If I were you I would cheer up, " said Miss Blake, kindly, andwith some importance. "Miss Chapin has a college friend comingthis week, and he can win back your trophy. "

Stover glanced up at Jean quickly. 

"Is that right, Miss Chapin?"

"He can if he will, " Jean asserted. 

"Can he run?"

"He is the intercollegiate champion, " declared that young lady, with proud dignity. 

"And do you reckon he'd run for us and the Echo Phonograph of NewYork and Paris, if we framed a race? It's an honor!"

But Miss Chapin suddenly recalled her brother's caution of theday before, and hesitated. 

"I--I don't think he would. You see, he is an amateur--he mightbe out of training--"

"The idea!" exclaimed Miss Blake, indignantly. "If Culver won'trun, I know who will!" She closed her lips firmly, and turned tothe foreman. "You tell your friends that we'll see you get yourtrophy back. "

"Helen, I--"

"I mean it!" declared Miss Blake, with spirit. 

Stover bowed loosely. "Thank you, miss. The very thought of itwill cheer up the gang. Life 'round here is blacker 'n a spadeflush. I think I'll tell Willie. " He shambled rapidly off aroundthe house. 

"Helen dear, I don't want Culver to get mixed up in this affair, "explained Miss Chapin, as soon as they were alone. "It's allutterly foolish. Jack doesn't want him to, either. "

"Very well. If Culver doesn't feel that he can beat that cookrunning, I know who will try. Mr. Speed will do anything I ask. It's a shame the way those men have been treated. "

"But Mr. Speed isn't a sprinter. "

"Indeed!" Miss Blake bridled. "Perhaps Culver Covington isn't theonly athlete in Yale College. I happen to know what I'm talkingabout. Naturally the two boys have never competed against eachother, because they are friends--Mr. Speed isn't the sort to racehis room-mate. Oh! he wouldn't tell me he could run if it werenot true. "

"I don't think he will consent when he learns the truth. "

"I assure you, " said Miss Blake, sweetly, "he will be delighted. "

CHAPTER III

It was still early in the afternoon when Jack Chapin and theyouthful chaperon found the other young people together on thegallery. 

"Here's a telegram from Speed, " began Jack. 

"It's terribly funny, " said Mrs. Keap. "That Mexican brought itto us down at the spring-house. "

Miss Blake lost her bored expression, and sat up in the hammock. 

"'Mr. Jack Chapin, '" read the owner of the Flying Heart Ranch. "'Dear Jack: I couldn't wait for Covington, so meet with brass-band and fireworks this afternoon. Have flowers in bloom in thelittle park beside the depot, and see that the daisies nod tome. --J. Wallingford Speed. '"

"Park, eh?" said Fresno, dryly. "Telegraph office, water-tank, and a cattle-chute. Where does this fellow think he is?"

"Here is a postscript, " added Chapin. 

"'I have a valet who does not seem to enjoy the trip. Divide akiss among the girls. '"

"Well, well! He's stingy with his kisses, " observed Berkeley. "Who is this humorous party?"

"He was a Freshman at Yale the year I graduated, " explained Jack. 

"Too bad he never got out of that class. " It was evident that Mr. Speed's levity made no impression upon the Glee Club tenor. "Hehates to talk about himself, doesn't he?"

"I think he is very clever, " said Miss Blake, warmly. 

"How well do you know him?"

"Not as well as I'd like to. "

Fresno puffed at his little pipe without remarking at this. 

"Well, who wants to go and meet him?" queried Jack. 

"Won't you?" asked his sister. 

"I can't. I've just got word from the Eleven X that I'm wanted. The foreman is hurt. I may not be back for some time. "

"Nigger Mike met me, " observed Fresno, darkly. 

"Then Nigger Mike for Speed, " laughed the cattle-man. "I've toldCarara to hitch up the pintos for me. I must be going. "

"I'll see that you are safely started, " said the young widow; andleaving the trio on the gallery, they entered the house. 

When they had gone, Jean smiled wisely at Helen. "Roberta's sucha thoughtful chaperon, " she observed, whereupon Miss Blakegiggled. 

As for Mrs. Keap, she was inquiring of Jack with genuinesolicitude:

"Do you really mean that you may be gone for some time?"

"I do. It may be a week; it may be longer; I can't tell until Iget over there. "

"I'm sorry. " Mrs. Keap's face showed some disappointment. 

"So am I. "

"I shall have to look out for these young people all by myself. "

"What a queer little way you have of talking, as if you wereyears and years old. "

"I do feel as if I were. I--I--well, I have had an unhappyexperience. You know unhappiness builds months into years. "

"When Jean got up this house-party, " young Chapin began, absently, "I thought I should be bored to death. But--I haven'tbeen. You know, I don't want to go over there?" He nodded vaguelytoward the south. 

"I thought perhaps it suited your convenience. " His companionwatched him gravely. "Are you quite sure that your sister'sguests have not--had something to do with this suddendetermination?"

"I am quite sure. I never liked the old Flying Heart so much as Ido to-day. I never regretted leaving it so much as I do at thismoment. "

"We may be gone before you return. "

Young Chapin started. "You don't mean that, really?" Mrs. Keapnodded her dark head. "It was all very well for me to chaperonHelen on the way out from the East, but--it isn't exactly regularfor me to play that part here with other young people to lookafter. "

"But you understand, of course--Jean must have explained to you. Mother was called away suddenly, and she can't get back now. Yousurely won't leave--you _can't_. " Chapin added, hopefully:"Why, you would break up Jean's party. You see, there's nobodyaround here to take your place. "

"But--"

"Nonsense! This is an unconventional country. What's wrong withyou as a chaperon, anyway? Nobody out here even knows what achaperon is. And I'll be back as soon as I can. "

"Do you really think that would help?" Roberta's eyes laughedhumorously. 

"I'm not thinking of the others, I'm thinking of myself, "declared the young man, boldly. "I don't want you to go before Ireturn. You must not! If you go, I--I shall follow you. " Hegrasped her hand impulsively. 

"Oh!" exclaimed the chaperon. "This makes it even more impossible. Go! _Go!_" She pushed him away, her color surging. "Go to yourold Eleven X Ranch right away. "

"But I mean it, " he declared, earnestly. Then, as she retreatedfarther: "It's no use, I sha'n't go now until--"

"You have known me less than a week!"

"That is long enough. Roberta--"

Mrs. Keap spoke with honest embarrassment. "Listen! Don't you seewhat a situation this is? If Jean and Helen should ever discover--"

"Jean planned it all; even this. "

Mrs. Keap stared at him in horrified silence. 

"You do love me, Roberta?" Chapin undertook to remove the girl'shands from her face, when a slight cough in the hall behindcaused him to turn suddenly in time to see Berkeley Fresnopassing the open door. 

"There! You see!" Mrs. Keap's face was tragic. "_You see!_"She turned and fled, leaving the master of the ranch in themiddle of the floor, bewildered, but a bit inclined to be happy. A moment later the plump face of Berkeley Fresno appearedcautiously around the door-jamb. He coughed again gravely. 

"I happened to be passing, " said he. "You'll pardon me?"

"This is the most thickly settled spot in New Mexico!" Chapindeclared, with an artificial laugh, choking his indignation. 

Fresno slowly brought his round body out from concealment. 

"I came in to get a match. "

"Why don't you carry matches?"

Fresno puffed complacently upon his pipe. "This, " he mused, ashis host departed, "eliminates the chaperon, and that helpssome. "

Still Bill Stover lost no time in breaking the news to the boys. 

"There's something comin' off, " he advised Willie. "We've gotanother foot-runner!"

If he had hoped for an outburst of rapture on the part of thelittle gun man he was disappointed, for Willie shifted hisholster, smiled evilly through his glasses, and inquired, withominous restraint:

"Where is he?"

Being the one man on the Flying Heart who had occasion to wear agun, Willie seldom smiled from a sense of humor. Here it may besaid that, deceived at first by his scholarly appearance, hisfellow-laborers had jibed at Willie's affectation of a swingingholster, but the custom had languished abruptly. When it becameknown who he was, the other ranch-hands had volubly declared thatthis was a free country, where a man might exercise a widediscretion in the choice of personal adornment; and as for them, they avowed unanimously that the practice of packing a Colts wasone which met with their most cordial approbation. In timeWillie's six-shooter had become accepted as a part of the localscenery, and, like the scenery, no one thought of remarking uponit, least of all those who best knew his lack of humor. He hadcome to them out of the Nowhere, some four years previously, andwhile he never spoke of himself, and discouraged reminiscence inothers, it became known through those vague uncharted channels bywhich news travels on the frontier, that back in the TexasPanhandle there was a limping marshal who felt regrets at mentionof his name, and that farther north were other men who had asuperstitious dread of undersized cow-men with spectacles. Therewere also stories of lonesome "run-ins, " which, owing to Willie'ssecretiveness and the permanent silence of the otherparticipants, never became more than intangible rumors. But hewas a good ranchman, attended to his business, and the sheriff'soffice was remote, so Willie had worked on unmolested. 

"This here is a real foot-runner, " said Stover. 

"Exactly, " agreed the other. "Where is he?"

"He'll be here this afternoon. Nigger Mike's bringin' him overfrom the railroad. He's a guest. "

"Oh!"

"Yep! He's intercollegit champeen of Yale. "

"Yale?" repeated the near-sighted man. "Don't know's I ever beenthere. Much of a town?"

"I ain't never travelled East myself, but Miss Jean and thelittle yaller-haired girl say he's the fastest man in the world. I figgered we might rib up something with the Centipede. " StillBill winked sagely. 

"See here, do you reckon he'd run?"

"Sure! He's a friend of the boss. And he'll run on the level, too. He can't be nothin' like Humpy. "

"If he is, I'll git him, " said the cowboy. "Oh, I'll git himsure, guest or no guest. But how about the phonograph?"

"The Centipede will put it up quick enough; there ain't nosentiment in that outfit. "

"Then it sounds good. "

"An' it'll work. Gallagher's anxious to trim us again. Some folkscan't stand prosperity. "

Willie spat unerringly at a grasshopper. "Lord!" said he, "it'stoo good! It don't sound possible. "

"Well, it is, and our man will be here this evenin'. Watch outfor Nigger Mike, and when he drives up let's give this party awelcome that'll warm his heart on the jump. There's nothin' likea good impression. "

"I'll be on the job, " assured Willie. "But I state right here andnow, if we do get a race there ain't a-goin' to be no chance ofour losin' for a second time. "

And Stover went on his way to spread the tidings. 

It was growing dark when the rattle of wheels outside the ranch-house brought the occupants to the porch in time to see NiggerMike halt his buck-board and two figures prepare to descend. 

"It's Mr. Speed!" cried Miss Blake. Then she uttered a scream asthe velvet darkness was rent by a dozen tongues of flame, while ashrill yelping arose, as of an Apache war-party. 

"It's the boys, " said Jean. "What on earth has possessed them?"

But Stover had planned no ordinary reception, and the pandemoniumdid not cease until the men had emptied their weapons. 

Then Mr. J. Wallingford Speed came stumbling up the steps andinto the arms of his friends, the tails of his dust-coatstreaming. 

"Really? This is more than I expected, " he gasped; then turning, doffed his straw hat to the half-revealed figures beyond thelight, and cried, gayly: "Thank you, gentlemen! Thank you formissing me!"

"Yow--ee!" responded the cowboys. 

"How do you do, Miss Chapin!" Speed shook hands with his hostess, and in the radiance from the open doorway she saw that his facewas round and boyish, and his smile peculiarly engaging. 

She welcomed him appropriately; then said: "This reception isquite as startling to us as to you. You know, Mr. Speed, that wehave with us a friend of yours. " She slightly drew Helen forward. "And this is Mrs. Keap, who is looking after us a bit whilemother is away. Roberta, may I present Mr. Covington's friend, and ask you to be good to him?"

"Don't forget me, " said Fresno, pushing into the light. 

"Mr. Berkeley Fresno, of Leland Stanford University. "

"Hello, Frez!" Speed thrust out his hand warmly. Not so theCalifornian. He replied, with hauteur:

"Fresno! F-r-e-s-n-o"; and allowed the new-comer to grasp a limp, moist hand. 

"Ah! Go to the head of the class! I'm sorry you broke your wrist, however. " The Eastern lad spoke lightly, and gave the palm ahearty squeeze, then turned to Jean. 

"I dare say you are all disappointed, Miss Chapin, that Culverdidn't come with me, but he'll be along in a day or so. I simplycouldn't wait. " He avoided glancing at Helen Blake, whoseanswering blush was lost in the darkness. 

"I did think when you drove up that might be Mr. Covington withyou, " Miss Chapin remarked, wistfully. 

"Oh no, that's my man. " Speed glanced around him. "And, by-the-way, where is he?"

The sound of angry voices came through the gloom, then out intothe light came Still Bill Stover, Willie, and Carara, draggingbetween them a globular person who was rebelling loudly. 

"Stover, what is this?" questioned Miss Chapin, stepping to theedge of the veranda. 

"This gent stampedes in the midst of our welcome, " explained theforeman, "so we have to rope him before he gets away. " It wasseen now that Carara's lariat was tightly drawn about the newarrival's waist. 

Then the valet broke into coherent speech, but he spoke a tonguenot common to his profession. 

"Nix on that welcome stuff, " he burst forth, in husky, alcoholicaccents; "that goes on the door-mat!" It was plain that he wasvery angry. "If that racket means welcome, I don't want it. Takethat clothes-line off of me. " Carara loosened the noose, and hiscaptive rolled up the steps mopping his face with hishandkerchief. 

"What made you run away?" demanded Speed. 

"Any time a bunch of bandits unhitch their gats, I'm on my way, "sputtered the fat man. "I'm gun-shy, see? And when this hold-upcomes off I beat it till that Cuban rummy with the medals on hisdicer rides a live horse up my back. "

"You don't appreciate the honor, " explained his employer; thenturning to the others, he announced: "Will you allow me tointroduce Mr. Lawrence Glass? He isn't really a valet, you know, Miss Chapin, and he doesn't care for the West yet. It is hisfirst trip. "

"I have heard my brother speak of Larry Glass, " said Jean, graciously. 

Mr. Glass courtesied awkwardly, and swinging his right foot backof his left, tapped the floor with his toe. "You were a trainerat Yale when Jack was there?"

"That's me, " Mr. Glass wheezed. "I'm there with the big rub, too. Wally said he was going to train during vacation, so he staked meto a trip out here, and I came along to look after him. "

"Come into the house, " said Jean. "Stover will see to yourbaggage. "

As they entered, Mr. Berkeley Fresno saw the late arrival bendover Helen Blake, and heard him murmur:

"The same unforgettable eyes of Italian blue. "

And Mr. Fresno decided to dislike Wally Speed, even if itrequired an effort. 

CHAPTER IV

It was on the following morning that Miss Blake made bold torequest her favor from J. Wallingford Speed. They had succeededin isolating themselves upon the vine-shaded gallery at the rearof the house, and the conversation had been largely of athletics, but this, judging from the rapt expression of the girl, was asubject of surpassing interest. Speed, quick to take a cue, plunged on. 

"I would have made the Varsity basket-ball team myself if Ihadn't been so tiny, " said Helen. "I have always wanted to betall, like Roberta. "

"I shouldn't care for that, " said the young man. "You know shewas a wonderful player?"

"So I've heard. "

"Do you know, " mused Helen, "I have never forgotten what you toldme that first day we met. I think it was perfectly lovely ofyou. "

"What was that?" Now it must be admitted that J. WallingfordSpeed, in his relations with the other sex, frequently foundhimself in a position requiring mental gymnastics of a highorder; but, as a rule, his memory was good, and he seldom crossedhis own trail, so to speak. In this instance he was utterlywithout remembrance, however, and hence was non-committal. 

"What you told me about your friendship for Mr. Covington. Ithink it is very unselfish of you. "

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, " ventured the young man, vainly rackinghis brain. "Nobody could help liking Culver. "

"Yes; but how many men would step aside and let their best friendwin prize after prize and never undertake to compete againsthim?" Speed blushed faintly, as any modest man might have done. 

"Did I tell you that?" he inquired. 

"Indeed you did. "

"Then please don't speak of it to a mortal soul. I must have saida great deal that first day, but--"

"But I _have_ spoken of it, and I said I thought it was fineof you. "

"You have spoken of it?"

"Yes; I told Jean. "

The Yale man undertook to change the conversation abruptly, butMiss Blake was a determined young lady. She continued:

"Of course, it was very magnanimous of you to always step asidein favor of your best friend; but it isn't fair to yourself--itreally isn't. And so I have arranged a little plan whereby youcan do something to prove your prowess, and still not interferewith Mr. Covington in the least. "

Speed cleared his throat nervously. "Tell me, " he said, "what itis. "

And Miss Blake told him the story of the shocking treachery ofHumpy Joe, together with the miserable undoing of the FlyingHeart. "Why, those poor fellows are broken-hearted, " sheconcluded. "Their despair over losing that talking-machine wouldbe funny if it were not so tragic. I told them you would win itback for them. And you will, won't you? Please!" She turned herblue eyes upon him appealingly, and the young man was lost. 

"I'll take ten chances, " he said. "Where does the raffle comeoff?"

"Oh, it isn't a raffle, it's a foot-race. You must run with thatCentipede cook. "

"I! Run a race!" exclaimed the young college man, aghast. 

"Yes, I've promised that you would. You see, this isn't like acollege event, and Culver isn't here yet. "

"But he'll be here in a day or so. " Speed felt as if a very largeman were choking him; he decided his collar was too tight. 

"Oh, I've talked it all over with Jean. She doesn't want Culverto run, anyhow. "

"Why not?" inquired he, suspiciously. 

"I don't know, I'm sure. "

"If Miss Chapin doesn't want Culver to run, you surely wouldn'twant me to. "

"Not at all. If Mr. Covington knew the facts of the case, hewould be only too happy to do it. And, you see, _you_ knowthe facts. "

Speed was about to shape a gracious but firm refusal of theproffered honor when Still Bill Stover appeared at the steps, doffed his faded Stetson, and bowed limply. 

"Mornin', Miss Blake. " To the rear Speed saw three other men--anIndian, tall, swart, and saturnine, who walked with a limp; apicturesque Mexican with a spangled hat and silver spurs, evidently the captor of Lawrence Glass on the evening previous;and an undersized little man with thick-rimmed spectacles and aheavy-hanging holster from which peeped a gun-butt. All weresmiling pleasantly, and seemed a bit abashed. 

"Good-morning, Mr. Stover, " said Helen, pleasantly. "This is Mr. Speed, of whom I spoke to you yesterday. " Stover bowed again andmumbled something about the honor of this meeting, and Miss Blakecast her eyes over the other members of the group, saying, graciously: "I'm afraid I can't introduce your friends; I haven'tmet them. "

The loquacious foreman came promptly to the rescue, rejoicing inan opportunity of displaying his oratorical gifts. 

"Then I'll make you acquainted with the best brandin' outfit inthese parts. " He waved a long, bony arm at the Mexican, whoflashed his white teeth. "This Greaser is Aurelio Maria Carara. Need I say he's Mex, and a preemeer roper?" Carara bowed, andswept the ground with his high-peaked head-piece. "The Madurogent yonder is Mr. Cloudy. His mother being a Navajo squaw, namedhim, accordin' to the rights and customs of her tribe, selectingthe title of Cloudy-but-the-Sun-Shines, which same has proved amisnomer, him bein' a pessimist for fair. "

Miss Blake and her companion smiled and nodded, at which Stover, encouraged beyond measure, elaborated. 

"He's had a hist'ry, too. When he reaches man's real-estate theInjun agent ropes, throws, and hog-ties him, then sends him Eastto be cultivated. He spends four years kickin' a football--"Speed interrupted, with an exclamation of genuine interest. 

"Oh, it's true as gospel, " the foreman averred. "When he goeslame in his off leg they ship him back, and in spite of themhandicaps he has become one rustlin' savage at a round-up. "

"What college did you attend?" inquired Speed, politely. Thequestion fell upon unresponsive ears. Cloudy did not stir noralter the direction of his sombre glance. 

"He don' talk none, " Stover explained. "Conversation, which Iesteem as a gift deevine, is a lost art with him. I reckon hedon't average a word a week. What language he did know he hasforgot, and what he ain't forgot he distrusts. "

Turning to the near-sighted man who had been staring at thecollege youth meanwhile, the spokesman took a deep breath, andsaid, simply yet proudly, as if describing the _piece deresistance_ of this exhibition:

"The four-eyed gent is Willie, plain Willie, a born range-rider, _and the best hip shot this side of the Santa Fe trail!_"

Speed beheld an undersized man of indeterminate age, hollow-chested, thin-faced, gravely benignant. It was not alone hisglasses that lent him a scholarly appearance; he had the stoopedshoulders, the thoughtful intensity of gaze, the gentle, hesitating backwardness of a book-raised man. There were tutorsat Yale quite as colorless, characterless and indefinite, andimmensely more forceful. In place of the revolver at his belt, itseemed as if Willie should have carried a geologist's pick, abutterfly-net, or a magnifying-glass: one was prepared to hearhim speak learnedly of microscopy, or even, perhaps, ofsettlement work. As a cowboy he was utterly out of place, and itwas quite impossible to take Stover's words seriously. Nevertheless, Speed acknowledged the introduction pleasantly, while the benevolent little man blinked back of his lenses. Stover addressed himself to Miss Blake. 

"I told the boys what you said, miss, and we four has come as adelegation to find out if it goes. "

"Mr. Speed and I were just talking about it when you came, " saidHelen. "I'm sure he will consent if you add your entreaties tomine. "

"It would sure be a favor, " said the cow-man, at which the othersdrew nearer, as if hanging on Speed's answer. Even Cloudy turnedhis black eyes upon the young man. 

The object of their co-operate gaze shifted his feetuncomfortably and felt minded to flee, but the situation wouldnot permit of it. Besides, the affair interested him. His mindwas working rapidly, albeit his words were hesitating. 

"I--I'm afraid I'm not in shape to run, " he ventured. But Stoverwould have none of this modesty, admirable as it might appear. 

"Oh, I talked with your trainer just now. I told him you wastipped off to us as a sprinter. "

"What did he say?" inquired Speed, with alarm. 

"He said 'no' at first, till I told him who let it out; then helaughed, and said he guessed you was a runner, but you didn'twork at it regular. I asked him how good you was, and he saidnone of the college teams would let you run. That's good enoughfor us, Mr. Speed. "

"But I'm not in condition, " objected the youth, with a sigh ofgratitude at Glass's irony. 

"I reckon he knows more about that than you do. We covered thatpoint too, and Mr. Glass said you was never better than you areright now. Anyhow, you don't have to bust no records to beat thiscook. He ain't so fast. "

"It would sure be a kind-hearted act if you'd do it for us, " saidthe little man in his high, boyish voice. It was a shock todiscover that he spoke in a dialect. "There's a heap of sentimentconnected with this affair. You see, outside of being a prizethat we won at considerable risk, there goes with this phonographa set of records, among which we all have our special favorites. Have you ever heard Madam-o-sella Melby sing _The HolyCity_?"

"I didn't know she sang it, " said Speed. 

"Take it from me, she did, and you've missed a heap. "

"You bet, " Stover agreed, in a hushed, awed tone. 

"Well, you must have heard Missus Heleney Moray in _The BaggageCoach Ahead_?" queried the scholarly little man. At mention ofhis beloved classic, Carara, the Mexican, murmured, softly:

"Ah! _The Baggage Car_--Te'adora Mora! God bless 'er!"

"I must confess I've never had the pleasure, " said Speed, whereupon the speaker regarded him pityingly, and Stover, jealousthat so much of the conversation had escaped him, inquired:

"Can it be that you never heard that monologue, _Silas on FifthAvenoo_?"

Again Speed shook his head. 

As if the very memory were hilariously funny, Still Bill'sshoulders heaved, and stifled laughter caused his Adam's apple torace up and down his leathern throat. Swallowing his merriment atlength, he recited, in a choking voice, as follows: "Silas goesup Fifth Avenoo and climbs into a bus. There is a girl settin'opposite. He says, 'The girl opened her valise, took out herpurse, closed her valise, opened her purse, took out a dime, closed her purse, opened her valise, put in her purse, closed hervalise, handed the dime to the conductor, got a nickle in change, opened her valise, took out her purse, closed her valise, openedher purse--'"

At this point the speaker fell into ungovernable hysteria andexploded, rocking back and forth, slapping his thighs andhiccoughing with enjoyment. Willie followed him, as did Carara. Even Cloudy showed his teeth, and the two young people on theporch found themselves joining in from infection. It was patentthat here lay some subtle humor sufficient to convulse the FarWestern nature beyond all reason; for Stover essayed repeatedlyto check his laughter before gasping, finally: "Gosh 'lmighty! Inever can get past that place. He! He! He! Whoo-hoo! That's sureridic'lous, for fair. " He wiped his eyes with the back of a sun-browned hand, and his frame was racked with barking coughs. "Iknow the whole blame thing by heart, but-I can't recite it toyou. I bog down right there. Seems like some folks is thedarndest fools!"

Speed allowed this good-humor to banish his trepidation, andassured the foreman that _Silas on Fifth Avenue_ must indeedbe a very fine monologue. 

"It's my favorite, " said Still Bill, "but we all have our picks. Cloudy here likes _Navajo_, which I agree is attuned toplease the savage year, but to my mind it ain't in the runnin'with _Silas. _"

"You see what the phonograph means to these gentlemen, " said MissBlake. "I think it's a crying shame that they were cheated out ofit, don't you?"

Speed began to outline a plan hastily in his mind. 

"I assured them that you would win it back for them, and--"

"We sure hope you will, " said Willie, earnestly. 

"Amen!" breathed the lanky foreman, his cheeks still wet from histears of laughter, but his face drawn into lines of eagerness. 

"Please! For my sake!" urged Helen, placing a gentle little handupon her companion's arm. 

Speed closed his eyes, so to speak, and leaped in the dark. 

"All right, I'll do it!"

"Yow-ee!" yelled Stover. "We knew you would!" Willie was beamingbenignantly through his glasses, while both Carara and Cloudyshowed their heartfelt gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Blake. Nowwe'll show up that shave-tail Centipede crowd for what it is. "

"Wait!" Speed checked the outburst. "I'll consent uponconditions. I'll run, provided you can arrange the race for an'unknown. '"

"What does that mean?" Helen asked. 

"It means that I don't want my name known in the matter. Insteadof arranging for Mr. Whatever-the-Cook's-Name-Is to run a racewith J. W. Speed, he must agree to compete against arepresentative of the Flying Heart ranch, name unknown. "

"I don't think that is fair!" cried the girl. "Think of thehonor. "

"Yes, but I'm an amateur. I'd lose my standing. "

"That goes for us, " said Stover. "We don't care what name you rununder. We'll frame the race. Lordy! but this is a gloriousevent. "

"We can't thank you enough, " Willie piped. "You're a true sport, Mr. Speed, and we aim to see that you don't get the worst of itin no way. This here race is goin' to be on the square-you hearme talk-in'. No double-cross this time. " Unconsciously thespeaker's hand strayed to the gun at his belt, while his smilewas grim. Speed started. 

"What day shall we set?" inquired Stover. 

Wally rapidly calculated the date of Culver's arrival, and said:"A week from Saturday. " Covington would soon be _en route_, and was due to arrive a few days thereafter. 

"We'd like to make it to-morrow, " ventured Willie. 

"Oh, but I must have a chance to get in trim, " said the collegeman. 

"One week from Saturday goes, " announced Stover, "and we thankyou again. " Turning to Carara, he directed: "Rope your buckskin, and hike for the Centipede. Tell 'em to unlimber their coin. I'lldraw a month's wages in advance for every son-of-a-gun on theFlying Heart, and we'll arrange details to-night. "

"_Si_, " agreed Carara. "I go. "

"And don't waste no time neither, " directed Willie. "You tearlike a jack-rabbit ahead of a hot wind. "

Carara tossed his cigarette aside, and the sound of his spurs waslost around the corner of the house. 

"This makes a boy of me, " the last speaker continued. "I can hearthe plaintiff notes of Madam-o-sella Melby once again. "

CHAPTER V

Larry Glass discovered his protege on the rear porch engrossedwith Miss Blake, and signalled him from afar; but the young manignored the signal, and the trainer strolled up to the steps. 

"Hello, Larry! What's on your mind?" inquired Speed. 

"I'd like to see you. " Glass, clad in his sportiest garments, seemed utterly lacking in the proper appreciation of a valet'sposition. He treated his employer with a tolerant good-nature. 

Miss Blake excused herself and went into the house, whereupon hercompanion showed his irritation. "See here, Larry, don't you knowbetter than to interrupt me in the midst of a hammock talk?"

"Oh, that's all right, " wheezed the trainer. "As long as youdidn't spill her out, she'll be back. "

"Well, what is it?"

"I had a stomach-laugh slipped to me just now. " He began toshake. 

"So you broke up my tete-a-tete to tell me a funny story?"

"Listen here. These cowboys have got you touted for a foot-runner. " This time Glass laughed aloud, hoarsely. "They haveframed a race with a ginny down the block. "

"All right, I'll run. "

Mr. Glass's face abruptly fell into solemn lines. "Quit yourkiddin', Wally; you couldn't run a hundred yards in twentyminutes. These guys are on the level. They've sent General Garciaover to cook it. "

"Yes. The race comes off in ten days. "

Glass allowed his mouth to drop open and his little eyes to peerforth in startled amazement. 

"Then it's true? I guess this climate is too much for you, " hesaid. "When did you feel this comin' on?"

Speed laughed. "I know what I'm doing. " With an effort atrestraint, the trainer inquired:

"What's the idea?"

"I'll tell you how it came up, Larry. I--I'm very fond of MissBlake. That's why I broke the record getting out here as soon asI was invited. Well, she believes, from something I said--one ofthose odd moments, you know--that I'm a great athlete, and shetold those cowboys that I'd gladly put on my spiked shoes andcarry their colors to victory. You've heard about thephonograph?"

Glass smiled wearily. "I can't hear nothing else. The gang isdaffy on grand opera. "

"When I was accused of being an athlete I couldn't deny it, couldI?"

"I see. You was stringin' the gal, and she called you, eh?"

"I wouldn't express it in quite those terms. I may haveexaggerated my abilities slightly. " Glass laughed. "She is such agreat admirer of athletics, it was quite natural. Any man wouldhave done the same. She got me committed in front of the cowboys, and I had to accept--or be a quitter. "

Glass nodded appreciatively. "All the same, " said he, "you've gotmore nerve than a burglar. How you goin' to side-step?"

"I made the match for an 'unknown. '" Speed winked. "Covingtonwill be here in a day or two. I'll wire him to hurry up. Fortunately I brought a lot of athletic clothes with me, so I'llgo into training under your direction. When Covington gets hereI'll let _him_ run. "

The fat man sighed with relief. "Now I'm hep. I was afraid you'dtry to go through with it. "

"Hardly. I'll sprain an ankle, or something. She'll be there withthe sympathy. See? Covington will run the race; the cowboys willget their phonograph; and I'll get--well, if I can beat out thisNative Son tenor singer, I'll invite you to the wedding. Therewasn't any other way out. "

Glass mopped his brow. "You had me wingin' for a while, but Iplugged your game with the cowboys. Pawnee Bill and his Congressof Rough Riders think you're a cyclone. "

"It's the first chance I ever had to wear that silk running-suit. Who knows, maybe I _can_ run!"

"Nix, now! Don't kid yourself too far. This thing is funny enoughas it stands. "

"Oh, I dare say it looks like a joke to you, but it doesn't tome, Larry. If I don't marry that girl, I--I'll go off my balance, that's all, and I'm not going to overlook any advantage whatever. Fresno sings love-songs, and he's got a mint of money. Well, I'mgoing to work this athletic pose to death. I'm going intotraining, I'm going to talk, eat, sleep, live athletics for aweek, and when I'm unexpectedly crippled on the eve of the race, it is going to break my heart. Understand! I am going to be sodesperately disappointed that I'll have to choose between suicideand marriage. The way I feel now, I think I'll choose marriage. But you must help. "

"Leave it to me, Bo!"

"In the first place, I want some training-quarters. "

"That's right, don't be a piker. "

"And I want you to boost. "

"I'm there! When do we begin?"

"Right away. Unpack my running-suit and rub some dirt on it--it'stoo new. I think I'll limber up, and let her get a look at theclothes. "

"It's a bright idea; but don't let these animal-trainers see yourun, or the stuff will be cold in a minute. "

"Fine! We'll have secret practice! That suits me perfectly. "Speed laughed with joy. 

From inside the house came the strains of _Dearie_, sung ina sympathetic tenor, and upon the conclusion Berkeley Fresno'svoice inquiring:

"Miss Blake, did I ever tell you about the time I sang_Dearie_ to the mayor's daughter in Walla Walla?"

Miss Blake appeared on the gallery with her musical admirer ather elbow. 

"Yes, " said she, sweetly. "You told me all about the mayor'sdaughter a week ago. " Then spying Speed and his companion, sheexclaimed: "Mr. Fresno has a fine voice, hasn't he? He sings withthe Stanford Glee Club. "

"Indeed. "

"Sure!" The Native Son of the Golden West shook up a hammock-cushion for the girl. "Tenor!" said he, sententiously. 

"Say no more, " Speed remarked; "it's all right with us!"

Fresno looked up. 

"What's wrong with my singing?"

"Oh, I've just told the girls that you're going to run that foot-race, " Helen interposed, hurriedly, at which Fresno exploded. 

"What's wrong with my running?" inquired Speed. 

"I can beat you!"

Larry Glass nudged his employer openly, and seemed on the vergeof hysteria. "Let him go, " said he. "Let him go; he's funny. "

Speed addressed Helen, with a magnanimous smile:

"Suppose we allow Frez to _sing_ this foot-race? We'll pullit off in the treble cleff. "

"Oh, I mean it!" maintained the tenor, stubbornly. "I don't wantto run Skinner, the cook, but I'll run you to see who does meethim. "

Speed shrugged his shoulders indulgently. 

"I'm afraid you're a little overweight. "

"I'll train down. "

"Perhaps if you wait until I beat this cook, I'll take you on. "

Glass broke out, in husky indignation: "Sure! Get a rep, Cull, get a rep!" Then to his employer: "Come on, Wally, you've got towarm up. " He mounted the steps heavily with his protege. 

When they had gone, Miss Blake clapped her hands. 

"I'm so excited!" she exclaimed. "You see, it's all my doings!Oh, how I adore athletes!"

"Most young girls do, " Fresno smiled, sourly. "My taste runs moreto music. " After a moment's meditation, he observed: "Speeddoesn't look like a sprinter to me. I--I'll wager he can't do ahundred yards in fifteen-two. "

"'Fifteen-two' is cribbage, " said Miss Blake. 

"Fifteen and two-fifths seconds is what I mean. "

"Is that fast?"

Fresno smiled, indulgently this time. "Jean's friend Covingtoncan go the distance in nine and four-fifths seconds. He's a realsprinter. I think this fellow is a joke. "

"Indeed he is _not!_ If Mr. Covington can run as fast asthat, Mr. Speed can run faster. He told me so. "

"Oh!" Fresno looked at her curiously. "The world's record is nineand _three_-fifths; that's the limit of human endurance. "

"I hope he doesn't injure himself, " breathed the girl, and thetenor wandered away, disgusted beyond measure. When he was out ofhearing, he remarked, aloud:

"I'll bet he runs so slow we'll have to wind a stop-watch on him. Anyhow, I think I'll find out something more about this race. "

Once in his room, Mr. J. Wallingford Speed made a search forwriting materials, while Larry Glass overhauled a trunk filledwith athletic clothing of various descriptions. There wererunning-suits, rowing-suits, baseball and football suits, sweaters, jerseys, and bath robes--all of which were new andunstained. At the bottom Glass discovered a box full of bronzeand near-gold emblems. 

"Here's your medals, " said he. 

"Good! I'll wear them. "

"Nix! You can't do that. Those gals will get wise. " He selectedone, and read on the reverse side. "Clerk of the course"; anotherwas engraved "Starter. " All were official badges of some sort orother. "You always were strong on the 'Reception Committee'stuff. There's six of them, " said he. 

Speed pointed to the bureau. "Try a nail-file. See if you can'tscratch off the lettering. How's this?" He read what he hadwritten for the wire. "'Culver Covington, and so forth. Comequick. First train. Native Son making love to Jean. --Wally. ' Tenwords, and it tells the whole story. I can hardly explain why Iwant him, can I? He expects to stop off in Omaha for a day ortwo, but he'll be under way in an hour after he gets this. I hateto spoil his little visit, but he can take that in on his wayhome. Now I'll ring for somebody, and have this taken over to thestation by the first wagon. "

"Say, you better scratch this Fresno, " said Larry. 

"Why?"

"He's hep to you. "

"Nonsense!"

Glass looked up at a sound, to discover Mariedetta, the Mexicanmaid, who had come in answer to Speed's call. 

"In the doorway'" the trainer said, under his breath. "Pipe theCuban Queen!"

"You call?" inquired Mariedetta of the younger man. 

"Yes, I want this telegram to go to the depot as soon aspossible. "

Mariedetta took the message and turned silently, but as she wentshe flashed a look at Glass which caused that short-waistedgentleman to wink at his companion. 

"Some frill! Eh? I'm for her! She's strong for me, too. "

"How do you know?"

"We talked it over. I gave her a little kiss to keep for me. "

"Careful, Larry! She may have a cowboy sweetheart. "

Glass grunted, disparagingly. 

"Them ginnys is jokes to me. "

As Speed talked he clad himself in his silken uniform, donned hisspiked shoes, and pinned the medals upon his chest. 

"How do I look?" he queried. 

"Immense! If she likes athletes, it's a walk-away for you. "

"Then give me the baby-blue bath robe with the monogram. We'll goout and trot around a little. "

But his complacency received a shock as he stepped out upon theveranda. Not only Helen Blake awaited him, but the other girls aswell, while out in front were a dozen or more cowboys whom Fresnohad rallied. "Goin' to take a little run, eh?" inquired Stover. "We allowed we'd lay off a few minutes and watch you. "

"Thanks!"

"Yes, " Fresno spoke up. "I told the boys we'd better hold a stop-watch on you and see what shape you're in. "

"A stop-watch?" said Glass, sharply. 

"Yes. I have one. "

"Not to-day, " said Speed's trainer. "No!" he admonished, as hisprotege turned upon him. "Some other time, mebbe. You're just offa long trip, and I can't risk gettin' you stove up. "

"To-morrow, perhaps, " urged Fresno. 

"I wouldn't promise. "

"Then the next day. I've timed lots of men. The watch iscorrect. "

"Let's see it. " Glass held out his hand. 

"Oh, it's a good watch. It cost me one hundred and twenty-fivedollars. "

As Glass reached for the timepiece an unfortunate accidentoccurred. Speed struck his elbow, and the watch fell. Fresno dovefor it, then held it to his ear and shook it. 

"You've broken it!" he cried, accusingly. 

"Oh, I'm sorry! My fault, " Speed apologized. 

"If it was your fault, maybe you'll fix it, " suggested the tenor. 

"Gladly!" Speed turned to his trainer. "Buy a new alarm--clockfor our little friend. " He stripped off his bath robe, and handedit to his trainer. "Is she looking at me?" he whispered. 

"Both eyes, big as saucers. "

Speed settled his spikes into the dirt as he had seen othersprinters do, set himself for an instant, then loped easilyaround the house and out of sight. 

To the cowboys this athletic panoply was vastly impressive. Withhuge satisfaction they noticed the sleeveless shirt, the looserunning-trunks, and, above all, the generous display of medals. With a wild yell of delight they broke out upon the trail oftheir champion, only to have Glass thrust his corpulent body intheir path. With an upflung arm he stemmed the tide. 

"It's no use, boys, " he cried, "he's a mile away!"

CHAPTER VI

"This doesn't look much like our storehouse, does it?" Jeanpaused in her task, and, seating herself upon the summit of astep-ladder, scrutinized with satisfaction the transformationwrought by a myriad of college flags, sofa cushions, coloredshawls, and bunting. 

Roberta Keap dropped her hammer with an exclamation of pain. 

"Ouch!" she cried, "I've hurt my thumb. I can't hit where I lookwhen people are talking. "

"Why don't you pin them up?" queried Miss Blake, sweetly. "Ahammer is so dangerous. "

Mrs. Keap mumbled something, but her enunciation was indistinct, owing to the fact that her thumb was in her mouth. Helen finishedtying a bow of ribbon upon the leg of a stool, patted it intoproper form, then said:

"It looks cheerful. "

"And restful, " added Jean. 

"I think a gymnasium should be restful, above all things, " agreedHelen. "Most of them are so bare and strenuous-looking they giveone a headache. " She spied a Whiteley exerciser fastened againstthe wall, the one bit of gymnastic apparatus in the room. 'Oh, the puller!' she cried. "I mustn't forget the puller!" Sheselected a pink satin ribbon, and tied a chic bow upon one of thewooden handles. "There! We can let him in now. "

"Oh dear!" Jean descended from her precarious position andadmitted, "I'm tired out. "

All that morning the three had labored, busily transforming thestore-room into training-quarters for Speed, who had declaredthat such things were not only customary but necessary. To besure, it adjoined the bunk-room, where the cowboys slept, andthere were no gymnastic appliances to give it character, but itwas the only space available, and what it lacked in horizontalbars, dumb-bells, and Indian clubs it more than compensated forby a cosey-corner, a window-seat, and many cushions. Speed hadexpressed his delight with the idea, and agreed to wait for aglimpse of it. 

And the atmosphere at the Flying Heart Ranch was clearing. Thegloom of the cowboys had given way to a growing excitement, apart of which communicated itself to the occupants of the house. The lassitude of previous days was gone, the monotony haddisappeared, and Miss Chapin had cause to rejoice at the presenceof her latest guest, for Speed was like a tonic. He waseverywhere, he inspired them all, laughter followed in his wake. Even in the bunk-house the cowboys retailed his extravagantstories with delight. The Flying Heart had come into its own atlast; the Centipede, most scorned and hated of rivals, was duefor lasting defeat. Even Cloudy, the Indian, relaxed and spoke atrare intervals, while Willie worked about the place gleefully, singing snatches of _Sam Bass_ in a tuneless falsetto. Carara had come back from the Centipede with news that gladdenedthe hearts of his hearers: not only would that despicable outfitconsent to run a foot-race, but they clamored for it. They didnot dicker over details nor haggle about terms, but consented toput up the phonograph again, and all the money at their disposalas well. The cook was in training. 

Of all the denizens of the Flying Heart but two failed to enterfully into the spirit of the thing. Berkeley Fresno looked onwith a cynicism which he was too wise to display before MissBlake. Seeing the lady of his dreams monopolized by a rival, however, inspired him to sundry activities, and he spent much ofhis time among the cowboys, whom he found profitable to the pointof mystery. 

Mrs. Keap, the youthful chaperon, seemed likewise mastered bysome private trouble, and puzzled her companions vaguely. Helenreported that she did not sleep, and once Jean found her cryingsoftly. She seemed, moreover, to be apprehensive, in a tremulous, reasonless ways but when with friendly sympathy they brought thesubject up, she dismissed it. In spite of secret tears, she hadlent willing hands to the decoration of the gymnasium, and nownursed her swollen thumb with surprising good nature. 

"Shall we let them in?" she inquired. "We have done all we can. "

"Yes; we have finished. "

In a flutter of anticipation Jean and Helen put the final touchesto their task, while Mrs. Keap stepped to the door and calledSpeed. 

He came at once, followed by Larry Glass, who, upon grasping thescheme of decoration, smote his brow and balanced dizzily uponhis heels. Speed was lost in admiration. 

"Its wonderful!" ejaculated the young athlete. "Those collegeflags give it just the right touch. And see the cosey-corner!"

Glass regained his voice sufficiently to murmur, sarcastically, "Say, ain't this a swell-looking drum?"

"We've used every bit of bunting on the ranch, " said Jean. 

"See the Mexican shawls!" Mrs. Keap added. 

"And look, " cried Miss Blake, "I brought you my prayer-rug!" Shedisplayed a small Persian rug, worn and faded, evidently a thingof great age, at which Speed uttered an exclamation. "I alwayscarry it with me, and put it in front of my bed wherever I happento be. "

Berkeley Fresno, drawn by the irresistible magnetism of MissBlake's presence, wandered in and ran his eyes over the room. 

Speed took the rug and examined it curiously. "It's an old-timer, isn't it? Must be one of the first settlers. "

"Yes. It's thousands and thousands of years old. Father picked itup somewhere in Asia. "

"How does it work?" queried Glass, feeling of it gingerly. 

"It's a very holy thing, " Helen explained. "The Mohammedan standson it facing the East and cries 'Allah!'"

"Alley!" repeated the trainer. "No. Allah!"

"'Allah' is the Mohammedan divinity, " explained Speed. 

"I've got you. " Glass was greatly interested. 

"Then he makes his prayer. It is such a sacred thing that whenone's feet are on it no harm can come to one. "

"Well, what d'you think of that?" murmured the trainer. 

Fresno laughed pleasantly. "It's too bad it isn't long enough torun this footrace on. "

"Do you believe in the charm?" inquired Speed of Helen. 

"Of course I do, " she answered. 

He laughed sceptically, whereupon Larry Glass broke in with huskyaccents:

"Nix on the comedy! I bet it's a wizard!"

His employer gazed warmly at the owner of the priceless treasure, and, taking the rug tenderly, pressed his lips to it. 

Fresno shook his head in disgust; the brazen methods of thisperson were unbearable. 

"Why all the colors?" asked he. "You can sing best where there isa piano. I can train best under the shadow of college emblems. Iam a temperamental athlete. "

"You'll be a dead athlete if you don't beat this cook. " TheCalifornian was angry. 

"Indeed!" exclaimed his rival, airily. 

"That's what I remarked. Did they tell you what happened to HumpyJoe, your predecessor?"

"It must have been an accident, judging from his name. " At whichMiss Blake tittered. She was growing to enjoy these passages atarms; they thrilled her vaguely. 

"The only accident connected with the affair was that Still Billand Willie didn't have their guns. "

Glass started nervously. "Did these rummies want to shoot him?"he inquired. 

"Certainly, " said Fresno. "He lost a foot-race. "

In spite of his assurance, J. Wallingford Speed felt a tremor ofanxiety, but he laughed it off, saying: "One would think a foot-race in this country was a pearl necklace. "

"These cowboys ain't good losers, eh?" queried Glass. 

"It's win or die out here. "

During the ensuing pause Mrs. Keap took occasion to call Speedaside. "I have something to contribute to the training-quartersif you will help me bring it out, " said she. 

The young man bowed. "Most gladly. "

"We'll be back in a little while, " the chaperon announced to theothers, and a moment later, when she and Speed had reached theveranda of the house, she paused. 

"I--I want to speak to you, " she began, hesitatingly. "It wasjust an excuse. "

Wally looked at her with concern, for it was plain that she wasdeeply troubled. 

"What is it?"

"I have been trying to get a word alone with you ever since Iheard about this foot-race. " The young man chilled withapprehension as Mrs. Keap turned her dark eyes upon himsearchingly. 

"Why do you want to run?"

"To win back the cowboys' treasure. My heart is touched, " hedeclared, boldly. Mrs. Keap smiled. 

"I believe the latter, but are you sure you can win?"

"Abso-blooming-lutely. "

"I didn't know you were a sprinter. "

Speed shrugged his shoulders. 

"Have you had experience?"

"Oceans of it!"

Mrs. Keap mused for a moment. "Tell me, " said she, finally, "atwhat intercollegiate game did you run last?"

"I didn't run last; I ran first. " It was impossible to resent theboy's smile. 

"Then at what game did you last run? I hope I'm not too curious?"

"Oh no, not at all!" Speed stammered. 

"Or, if it is easier, at what college games did you first run?"Mrs. Keap was laughing openly now. 

"Why the clear, ringing, rippling laughter?" asked the young man, to cover his confusion. 

"Because I think it is very funny. "

"Oh, you do!" Speed took refuge behind an attitude of unbendingdignity, but the young widow would have none of it. 

"I know all about you, " said she. "You are a very wonderfulperson, of course; you are a delightful fellow at a house-party, and a most suitable individual generally, but you are not anathlete, in spite of those beautiful clothes in your trunk. "

"Who told you?"

"Culver Covington. "

"I didn't know you two were acquainted. "

Mrs. Keap flushed. "He told me all about you long ago. You wearall the athletic clothes, you know all the talk, you have triedto make the team a dozen times, but you are not even asubstitute. You are merely the Varsity cheer-leader. Culver callsyou 'the head-yeller. '"

"Columbus has discovered our continent!" said Speed. "You are avery wise chaperon, and you must have a corking memory for names, but even a head-yeller is better than a glee-club quarter-back. "He nodded toward the bunk-house, whence they had come. "Youhaven't told anybody?"

"Not yet. "

"'Yet, '" he quoted. "The futurity implied in that word disturbsme. Suppose you and I keep it for a little secret? Secrets arevery delightful at house-parties. "

"Don't you consider your action deceitful?"

"Not at all. My motto is 'We strive to please. '"

"Think of Helen. "

"That's it; I can't think of anything else! She's mad aboutathletics, and I had to do something to stand off this weight-lifting tenor. "

"Is it any wonder a woman distrusts every man she meets?" musedthe chaperon. "Helen might forgive you, I couldn't. "

"Oh, it's not that bad. I know what I'm doing. "

"You will cause these cowboys to lose a lot more money. "

"Not at all. When Culver arrives--"

"Oh, that is what I want to talk over with you, " Mrs. Keap brokein, nervously. 

"Then it isn't about the foot-race? You are not angry?" Speedbrightened amazingly. 

"I'm not exactly angry; I'm surprised and grieved. Of course, Ican't forgive deceit--I dare say I am more particular than mostpeople. "

"But you won't tell?" Mrs. Keap indicated in some subtle mannerthat she was not above making terms, whereupon her companiondeclared, warmly: "I'm yours for life! Ask me for my watch, myright eye, anything! I'll give it to you!"

"I assure you I sha'n't ask anything so important as that, but I_shall_ ask a favor. "

"Name it and it is yours!" Speed wrung the hand she offered. 

"And perhaps I can do more than keep silent--although I don't seewhat good it will do. Perhaps I can help your suit. "

"Gracious lady, all I ask is that you thrust out your foot andtrip up Berkeley Fresno whenever he starts toward her. Put himout of the play, and I shall be the happiest man in the world. "

"Agreed. "

"Now, in what way can I serve you?"

Mrs. Keap became embarrassed, while the same shadowy trouble thathad been observed of late settled upon her. 

"I simply hate to ask it, " she said, "but I suppose I must. Thereseems to be no other way out of it. " Turning to him suddenly, shesaid, in a low, intense voice: "I--I'm in trouble, Mr. Speed, such dreadful trouble!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" he answered her, with genuine solicitude. "You needn't have made any conditions. I would have done anythingI could for you. "

"That's very kind, for I don't like our air of conspiracy, but"--Mrs. Keap was wringing her slender hands--"I just can't tell thegirls. You--you can help me. "

Speed allowed her time to grow calm, when she continued:

"I--I am engaged to be married. "

"Felicitations!"

"Not at all, " said the young widow, wretchedly. "That is theawful part of it. I am engaged to _two_ men!" She turned herbrown eyes full upon him; they were strained and tragic. 

Speed felt himself impelled to laugh immoderately, but instead heobserved, in a tone to relieve her anxiety:

"Nothing unusual in that; it has been done before. Even I havebeen prodigal with my affections. What can I do to relieve thecongestion?"

"Please don't make light of it. It means so much to me. I--I'm inlove with Jack Chapin. "

"With Jack!"

"Yes. When I came here I thought I cared for somebody else. Why, I wanted to come here just because I knew that--that somebodyelse had been invited too, and we could be together. "

"And he couldn't come--"

"Wait! And then, when I got here, I met Jack Chapin. That wasless than a week ago, and yet in that short time I have learnedthat he is the only man I can ever love--the one man in all theworld. "

"And you can't accept because you have a previous engagement. Isee! Jove! It's quite dramatic. But I don't see why you are soexcited? If the other chap isn't coming--"

"But he is! That is what makes it so dreadful! If those two menshould meet"--Mrs. Keap buried her face in her hands andshuddered--"there would be a tragedy, they are both sofrightfully jealous. " She began to tremble, and Speed laid acomforting hand upon her shoulder. 

"I think you must be exciting yourself unduly, " said he, "Jean'sother friends didn't come. There's nobody due now but Culver Cov--"

"That's who it is!" Roberta raised her pallid face as the youngman fell back. 

"Culver! Great Scott! Why, he's engaged--"

"What!"

"Nothing! I--I--" Speed paused, at an utter loss for words. "Yousee, he'll discover the truth. "

"Does he know you are here?"

"No. I intended to surprise him. I was jealous. I couldn't bearto think of his being here with other girls--men are sodeceitful! That's why I consented to act as chaperon to Helen. And now to think that I should have met my fate in Jack Chapin!"

"I see. You want me to break the news to Culver. "

"No! no!" Mrs. Keap was aghast. "If he even suspected the truthhe'd become a raging lion. Oh, I've been quite distracted eversince Jack left!"

"Well, what am I to do? You must have some part laid out for me?"

"I have. A desperate situation demands a desperate remedy. I'velost all conscience. That's why I agreed to protect you if you'dprotect me. "

"Go ahead. "

"Culver is your friend. "

"We're closer than a chord in G. "

"Then you must wire him--"

"I have--"

"--not to come. "

"What!" J. Wallingford Speed started as if a wasp had stung him. 

"You must wire him at once not to come. I don't care what excuseyou give, but stop him. _Stop_ him!"

Speed reached for a pillar; he felt that the porch was spinningslowly beneath his feet. 

"Oh, see here, now! I can't do that!"

"You promised!" cried Mrs. Keap, fiercely. "I have tried to thinkof something to tell him, but I'm too frightened. "

"Yes, but--but I--want him here--for this foot-race. " Wallyswallowed bravely. 

"Foot-race!" stormed the widow, indignantly. "Would you allow aninsignificant thing like a foot-race to wreck a human life? Twohuman lives? _Three?_"

"Can't you--wire him?"

Mrs. Keap stamped her foot. "If he dreamed I was here he wouldhire a special train. No! It must come from you. You are his bestfriend. "

"What can I say?" demanded the bewildered Speed, unhappily. "Idon't care what you say, I don't care what you do--only do_something_, and do it quickly before he has time to leaveChicago. " Then sensing the hesitation in her companion's face:"Or perhaps you prefer to have Helen know the deceit you havepracticed upon her? And I fancy these cowboys would resent thejoke, don't you? What do you think would happen if theydiscovered their champion to be merely a cheerleader with atrunkful of new clothes, who can't do a single out-door sport--not one!"

"Wait!" Speed mopped his brow with a red-and-blue silkhandkerchief. "I'll do my best. "

"Then I shall do my part. " And Mrs. Keap, who could not beardeception, turned and went indoors while J. Wallingford Speed, aprey to sundry misgivings, stumbled down the steps, his head in awhirl. 

CHAPTER VII

Berkeley Fresno was devoting himself to Miss Blake. 

"What do you think of our decorations?" she inquired. 

"They are more or less athletic, " he declared. "Was it Mr. Speed's idea?"

"Yes. He wanted training-quarters. "

"It's a joke, isn't it?"

"I don't think so. Mr. Fresno, why do you dislike Mr. Speed?"

Fresno bent a warm glance upon the questioner. "Don't you know?"

Helen shook her head with bland innocence. "Then you _do_dislike him?"

"No, indeed! _I_ like him--he makes me laugh. " Helen bridledloyally. "Did you see those medals he wore yesterday?" the youngman queried. 

"Of course, and I thought them beautiful. "

"How were they inscribed? He wouldn't let me examine them. "

"Naturally. If I had trophies like that I would guard them too. "

Fresno nodded, musingly. "I gave mine away. "

"Oh, are you an athlete?"

"No, but I timed a foot-race once. They gave me a beautifulnearly-bronze emblem so that I could get into the infield. "

"And did you win?"

"No! no! I didn't run! Don't you understand? I was an official. "Fresno was vexed at the girl's lack of perception. "I'm not anathlete, Miss Blake. I'm just an ordinary sort of a chap. " He ledher to a seat, while Jean enlisted the aid of Larry Glass andcompleted the finishing touches to the decorations. "Athleticsdon't do a fellow any good after he leaves college. I'm goinginto business this fall. Have you ever been to California?" MissBlake admitted that she had never been so far, and Fresnolaunched himself upon a glowing description of his native State;but before he could shape the conversation to a point where hishearer might perchance express a desire to see its wonders, StillBill Stover thrust his head cautiously through the door to thebunk-house, and allowed an admiring eye to rove over thetransformation. 

"Looks like a bazaar!" he exclaimed. "What's the idea?"

"Trainin'-quarters, " said Glass. 

"Mr. Speed goin' to _live_ here?" inquired the foreman, bringing the remainder of his lanky body into view. 

"No, indeed, " Jean corrected, "he will merely use this room totrain in. "

"How do you train in a room?" Stover asked her. 

"Why, you--just train, I suppose. " Miss Chapin turned to Glass. "How does a person train in a room?"

"Why, he--just trains, that's all. A guy can't train withouttrainin'-quarters, can he?"

"We thought it would make a nice gymnasium, " offered Miss Blake. 

"Looks like business. " Stover's admiration was keen. "I rode overto Gallagher's place last night and laid our bets. "

"How much have you wagered?" asked Fresno. 

"More'n we can afford to lose. "

"But you aren't going to lose, " Miss Blake said, enthusiastically. 

"I got Gallagher to play some records for me. "

"_Silas on Fifth Avenue?_"

"Sure! And _The Holy City_, too! Willie stayed out by thebarb-wire fence; he didn't dast to go in. When I come out I foundhim ready to cry. That desperado has sure got the heart of awoman. I reckon he'd commit a murder for that phonograph--he's sofull of sentiment. "

Fresno spoke sympathetically. 

"It's a fortunate thing for you fellows that Speed came when hedid. I'm anxious for him to beat this cook, and I hate to see himso careless with his training. "

"Careless!" cried Helen. 

"What's he done?" inquired Stover. 

"Nothing, so far. That's the trouble. He's sure he can win, but"--Fresno shook his head, doubtfully--"there's such a thing asoverconfidence. No matter how good a man may be, he should takecare of himself. "

"What's wrong with his trainin'?" demanded Glass. 

"I think he ought to have more rest. It's too noisy around thehouse; he can't get enough sleep. "

"Nor anybody else, " agreed Glass, meaningly; "there's too muchsingin'. "

"That's funny, " said Stover. "Music soothes me, no matter how badit is. Last night when we come back from the Centipede Mr. Fresnowas singin' _Dearie_, but I dozed right off in the middle ofit. An' it's the same way with cattle. They like it. It's part ofa man's duty when he's night-ridin' a herd to pizen theatmosphere with melody. "

"What I mean to say is this, " Fresno hastened to explain. "Wekeep late hours at the house, whereas an athlete ought to retireearly and arise with the sun. I thought it would be a good schemeto have Mr. Speed sleep out here until the race is over, where hewon't be disturbed. Nine o'clock is bedtime for a man intraining. "

"Oh, I don't think that is at all necessary, " said Miss Blakequickly. 

"We can't afford to spoil his chances, " argued the young man. "There is too much at stake. Am I right, Mr. Glass?"

Now, like most fat men, Lawrence Glass was fond of his rest, andsince his arrival at the Flying Heart his sleeping-hours had beenshortened considerably, so for once he agreed with theCalifornian. "No question about it, " said he. "And I'll sleephere with him if you'll put a couple of cots in the place. "

"But suppose Mr. Speed won't do it?" questioned Miss Blake. 

"You ask him, and he won't refuse, " said Jean. 

"We don't want to see him defeated, " urged Helen's other suitor;at which the girl rose, saying doubtfully:

"Of course I'll do my best, if you think it's really important. "

"Thank you, " said Stover gratefully, while Fresno congratulatedhimself upon an easy victory. "I'll ask him at once, but you mustcome along, Jean, and you too, Mr. Glass. "

The two girls took Speed's trainer with them, and went forth insearch of the young man. 

"It's up to you fellows to see that he gets to bed early, " saidFresno, when he and Stover were alone. 

"Leave it to us. And as for gettin' up, we turn out at daylight. I don't reckon he could sleep none after that if he tried. "Stover pointed to the striped elastic coils of the exerciseragainst the wall. "I didn't want to speak about it while they washere, " said he, "but one of them young ladies lost her garters. "

"That's not a pair of garters, that's a chest-weight. "

"Jest wait for what?"

"Chest-weight--chest-developer. "

"Oh!" Stover examined the device curiously, "I thought a chest-developer came in a bottle. "

Fresno explained the operation of the apparatus, at which thecow-man remarked, admiringly: "That young feller is all right, ain't he?"

"Think so?"

"Sure! Don't you?"

Fresno explained his doubts by a crafty lift of his brows and ashrug. "I thought so--at first. "

Stover wheeled upon him abruptly. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. "

After a pause the foreman remarked, vaguely, "He's theintercollegit champeen of Yale. "

"Oh no, hardly that, or I would have heard of him. "

"Ain't he no champeen?"

"Champion of the running broad smile and the half-mile talkperhaps. "

"Ain't he a foot-runner?"

"Perhaps. I've never seen him run, but I have my doubts. "

"Good Lord!" moaned Stover, weakly. 

"He may be the best printer in the country, mind you, but I'lllay a little bet that he can't run a hundred yards withoutsustenance. "

"Without what?"

"Sustenance--something to eat. "

"Well, we've got plenty for him to eat, " said the mystifiedforeman. 

"You don't understand. However, time will tell. "

"But we ain't got no time. We've made this race 'pay or play, ' aweek from Saturday, and the bets are down. We was afraid theCentipede would welsh when they seen who we had, so we framed itthat-away. What's to be done?"

Again Fresno displayed an artistic restraint that was admirable. "It's none of my business, " said he, with a careless shrug. 

"I--I guess I'll tell Willie and the boys, " vouchsafed Billapprehensively. 

"No! no! Don't breathe a word I've said to you. He may be acrackerjack, and I wouldn't do him an injustice for the world. All the same, I wish he hadn't broken my stop-watch. "

"D'you think he broke it a-purpose?"

"What do you think?"

Stover mopped the sweat from his brow. 

"Can't we time him with a ordinary watch?"

"Sure. We can take yours. It won't be exact, but--"

"I ain't got no watch. I bet mine last night at the Centipede. Willie's got one, though. "

"Mind you, he may be all right, " Fresno repeated, reassuringly;then hearing the object of their discussion approaching with histrainer, the two strolled out through the bunk-room, Stover aprey to a new-born suspicion, Fresno musing to himself thatdiplomacy was not a lost art. 

"You're a fine friend, you are!" Speed exploded, when he andGlass were inside the gymnasium. "What made you say 'yes'?"

"I had to. "

"Rot, Larry! You played into Fresno's hands deliberately! NowI've got to spend my evenings in bed while he sits in the hammockand sings _Dearie_. " He shook his head gloomily. "Who knowswhat may happen?"

"It will do you good to get some sleep, Wally. "

"But I don't want to sleep!" cried the exasperated suitor. "Iwant to make love. Do you think I came all the way from New Yorkto sleep? I can do that at Yale. "

"Take it from me, Bo, you've got plenty of time to win that dame. Eight hours is a workin' day anywhere. "

"My dear fellow, the union hours for courting don't begin until 9P. M. I've got myself into a fine mess, haven't I? Just when Nightspreads her sable mantle and Dan Cupid strings up his bow, I mustforsake my lady-love and crawl into the hay. Oh, you're a goodtrainer!"

"You'd better can some of this love-talk and think more aboutfoot-racin'. "

"It can't be done! Nine o'clock! The middle of the afternoon. It's rather funny, though, isn't it?" Speed was not the sort tocherish even a real grievance for any considerable time. "If ithad happened to anybody else I'd laugh myself sick. "

Glass chuckled. "The whole thing is a hit. Look at this joint, for instance. " He took in their surroundings with a comprehensivegesture. "It looks about as much like a gymnasium as I look likea contortionist. Why don't you get a Morris chair and amandolin?"

"There are two reasons, " said Speed, facetiously. "First, ittakes an athlete to get out of a Morris chair; and, second, amandolin has proved to be many a young man's ruin. "

Glass examined the bow of ribbon upon the lonesome piece ofexercising apparatus. 

"It looks like the trainin'-stable for the Colonial Dames. What ayelp this place would be to Covington or any other athlete. "

"It is not an athletic gymnasium. " Speed smiled as he lighted acigarette. "It is a romantic gymnasium. As Socrates onceobserved--"

"Socrates! I'm hep to him, " Glass interrupted, quickly. "Itrained a Greek professor once and got wised up on all thatstuff. Socrates was the--the Hemlock Kid. "

"Exactly! As Socrates, the Hemlock Kid, deftly put it, '_In hocsignature vintage_. '"

"I don't get you. "

"That is archaic Scandinavian, and, translated, means, 'Lovecannot thrive without her bower. '"

"No answer to that telegram yet, eh?"

"Hardly time. "

"Better wire Covington again, hadn't you? Mebbe he didn't getit?"

"I promised Mrs. Keap that I would, but--" Speed lost himselfabruptly in speculation, for he did not know exactly how tomanage this unexpected complication. Of one thing only was hecertain: it would require some thought. 

"Say, Wally, suppose Covington don't come?"

"Then I shall sprain my ankle, " said the other. "Hello! What inthe world--" Still Bill Stover and Willie came into the roomcarrying an armful of lumber. Behind them followed Carara with ahuge wooden tub, and Cloudy rolling a kerosene barrel. 

"Where do you want it, gents?" inquired the foreman. 

"Where do we want what?"

"The shower-bath. "

"Shower--I didn't order a shower-bath!"

"No; but we aim to make it as pleasant for you as we can. "

"If there is anything I abhor, it's a shower-bath!" exclaimed theathlete. 

"You just got to have one. Mr. Fresno said all this gymnasiumlacked was a shower-bath, a pair of scales, and a bulletin-board. He said you'd sure need a bath after workin' that chest-developer. We ain't got no scales, nor no board, but we'll toggleup some sort of a bath for you. The blacksmith's makin' asquirter to go on the bar'l. "

"Very well, put it wherever you wish. I sha'n't use it. "

"I wouldn't overlook nothin', if I was you, " said Willie, in evenmilder tones than Stover had used. 

"You overwhelm me with these little attentions, " retorted Mr. Speed. 

"Where you goin' to run to-day?" inquired the first speaker. 

"I don't know. Why?"

"We thought you might do a hundred yards agin time. "

"Nix!" interposed Glass, hurriedly. "I can't let him overdo atthe start. Besides, we ain't got no stop-watch. "

"I got a reg'lar watch, " said Willie, "and I can catch you prettyclose. We'd admire to see you travel some, Mr. Speed. "

But Glass vowed that he was in charge of his protege's health, and would not permit it. Once outside, however, he exclaimed:"That's more of Fresno's work, Wally! I tell you, he's Jerry. He'll rib them pirates to clock you, and if they do--well, you'dbetter keep runnin', that's all. "

"You can do me a favor, " said Speed. "Buy that watch. "

"There's other watches on the farm. "

"Buy them all, and bring me the bill. "

Before setting out on his daily grind, Speed announced to histrainer that he had decided to take him along for company, andwhen that corpulent gentleman rebelled on the ground that the daywas too sultry, his employer would have none of it, so togetherthey trotted away later in the morning, Speed in his silken suit, Glass running flat-footed and with great effort. But once safelyhidden from view, they dropped into a walk, and selecting afavorable resting-place, paused. Speed lighted a cigarette, Glassproduced a deck of cards from his pocket, and they played seven-up. Having covered five miles in this exhausting fashion, theyreturned to the ranch in time for luncheon. Both ate heartily, for the exercise had agreed with them. 

CHAPTER VIII

Lawrence Glass was beginning to like New Mexico. Not only did itafford a tinge of romance, discernable in the deep, haunting eyesof Mariedetta, the maid, but it offered an opportunity forfinancial advancement--as, for instance, the purchase of Willie'swatch. This timepiece cost the trainer twenty-one dollars, and hesold it to Speed for double the amount, believing in the luck ofeven numbers. Nor did young Speed allow his trainer's efforts tocease here, for in every portable timepiece on the ranch herecognized a menace, and not until Lawrence had cornered themarket and the whole collection was safely locked in his trunkdid he breathe easily. This required two days, during which theyoung people at the ranch enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Theywere halcyon days for the Yale man, for Fresno was universallyagreeable, and seemed resigned to the fact that Helen shouldprefer his rival's company to his own. Even when Speed hadregretfully dragged himself off to bed in the evening, the plumptenor amused Miss Blake by sounding the suitor's praises as anathlete, reports of which pleased Wally intensely. Mr. Fresno wasa patient person, who realized fully the fact that a fall is notpainful unless sustained from a considerable height. 

As for Glass, he recounted tales of Mariedetta's capitulation tohis employer, and wheezed merrily over the discomfiture of theMexican girl's former admirers. 

"She's a swell little dame, " he confided to Speed one afternoon, as they lounged luxuriously in the shade at their customaryresting-place. "Yes, and I'm aces with her, too. " They had setout for their daily run, and were now contesting for the seven-upsupremacy of the Catskill Mountains. Already Glass had beendeclared the undisputed champion of the Atlantic Coast, whileSpeed on the day previous had wrested from him the championshipof the Mississippi Valley. 

"But Mariedetta is dark!" said the college man, as he cut thecards. "She is almost a mulatto. "

"Naw! She's no dinge. She's an Aztec, an' them Aztec's is swellpeople. Say, she can play a guitar like a barber!"

"Miss Blake told me she was in love with Carara. "

Glass grunted contemptuously. "I've got it on that insurrectsfour ways. Why, I'm learning to talk Spanish myself. If he getsflossy, I'll cross one over his bow. " The trainer made a viciousjab at an imaginary Mexican. "He ain't got a good wallop in him. "

Like all New Yorkers, no matter what their station, Lawrencecherished a provincial contempt for such people as are not ofManhattan. While he was woefully timid in the presence offirearms, and the flash of steel reduced him to a panic, he was apast master at the "manly art, " and carried a punch in which hereposed unlimited faith. The deference with which the cowboystreated him, their simple, child-like faith in his everyutterance, combined to exaggerate his contempt for them. EvenCarara, disappointed in love, treated him with a smiling, backward sort of courtesy which the trainer misconstructed astimidity. 

"I thought cowboys was tough guys, " continued he, "but it's amistake. That little Willie, for instance, is a lamb. He packsthat Mauser for protection. He's afraid some farmer will walk upand poke his eye out with a corn-cob. One copper with a night-stick could stampede the whole outfit. But they're all right, atthat, " he acknowledged, magnanimously. "They're a nice bunch offellers when you know how to take 'em. "

"The flies are awful to-day, " Speed complained. "They bite mylegs. "

"I'll bring out a bath robe to-morrow, and we'll hide it in thebushes. I wish there was some place to keep this beer cool. "Glass shifted some bottles to a point where the sunlight did notstrike them. "I'm getting tired of training, Larry, " acknowledgedthe younger man, with a yawn. "It takes so much time. "

Glass shook his head in sympathy. "Seems like we'd ought to hearfrom Covington, " said he. 

"He's on his way, no doubt. Isn't it time to go back to theranch?"

Glass consulted his watch. "No, we ain't done but three miles. Here goes for the rubber. "

It was Berkeley Fresno who retreated cautiously from the shelterof a thicket a hundred yards up the arroyo and started brisklyhomeward, congratulating himself upon the impulse that haddecided him to follow the training partners upon their dailyroutine. He made directly for the corral. 

"Which I don't consider there's no consideration comin' to himwhatever, " said Willie that evening. "He ain't acted on thelevel. "

"Now, see here, " objected Stover, "he may be just what he claimshe is. Simply because he don't go skally-hootin' around in thehot sun ain't no sign he _can't_ run. "

"What about them empty beer bottles?" demanded Willie. "No fellercan train on that stuff. I went out there myself and seen 'em. There was a dozen. "

"Mebbe Glass drank it. What I claim is this: we ain't got noproof. Fresno is stuck on Miss Blake, and he's a knocker. "

"Then let's _git_ some proof, and dam' quick. "

"_Si, Senores_, " agreed Carara, who had been an interestedlistener. 

"I agree with you, but we got to be careful--"

Willie grunted with disgust. 

"--we can't go at it like we was killin' snakes. Mr. Speed is aguest here. "

Again the little gun man expressed his opinion, this time inviolet-tinted profanity, and the other cowboys joined in. 

"All the same he _is_ a guest, and no rough work goes. I'min charge while Mr. Chapin is away, and I'm responsible. "

"Senor Bill, " Carara ventured, "the fat vaquero, he is no guest. He is one of us. "

"That's right, " seconded Willie. "He's told us all along that Mr. Speed was a Merc'ry-footed wonder, and if the young feller can'trun he had ought to have told us. "

Mr. Cloudy showed his understanding of the discussion by noddingsilently. 

"We'll put it up to him in the morning, " said Stover. 

"If Mr. Speed cannot r-r-run, w'at you do, eh?" questioned theMexican. 

Nobody answered. Still Bill seemed at a loss for words, Mr. Cloudy stared gloomily into space, and Willie ground his teeth. 

On the following morning Speed sought a secluded nook with Helen, but no sooner had he launched himself fairly upon the subjectuppermost in his mind than he was disturbed by a delegation ofcowboys, consisting of the original four who had waited upon himthat first morning after his arrival. They came forward withgrave and serious mein, requesting a moment's interview. It wasplain there Was something of more than ordinary importance upontheir minds from the manner in which Stover spoke, but when Helenquickly volunteered to withdraw, Speed checked her. 

"Stay where you are; I have no secrets from you, " said he. Thennoting the troubled face of the foreman, quoted impatiently:

"'You may fire when ready, Gridley. '"

Still Bill shifted the lump in his cheek, and cleared his throatbefore beginning formally. 

"Mr. Speed, while we honor you a heap for your accomplishments, and while we believe in you as a man and a champeen, we kind offeel that it might make you stretch your legs some if you knewjust exactly what this foot-race means to the Flying Heartoutfit. "

"I assured you that the Centipede cook would be beaten, " said thecollege man, stiffly. 

"Isn't Mr. Speed's word sufficient?" inquired the girl. 

Stover bowed. "It had sure ought to be, and we thank you for themnew assurances. You see, our spiritual on-rest is due to the factthat Humpy Joe's get-away left us broke, and we banked on you topull us even. That first experience strained our credulity to thebustin' point, and--well, in words of one syllable, we come fromJoplin. "

"Missouri, " said Willie. 

"My dear sirs, I can't _prove_ that you are going to winyour wagers until the day of the race. However, if you are broketo start with, I don't see how you can expect to lose a greatdeal. "

"You ain't got the right angle on the affair, " Stover explained. "Outside of the onbearable contumely of losin' twice to thisCentipede outfit, which would be bad enough, we have drawn amonth's wages in advance, and we have put it up. Moreover, I havebet my watch, which was presented to me by the officials of theSanta Fe for killin' a pair of road-agents when I was DepitySheriff. "

Miss Blake uttered a little scream, and Speed regarded the lankyspeaker with new interest. "It's a Waltham movement, solid goldcase, eighteen jewels, and engraved with my name. "

"No wonder you prize it, " said Wally. 

"I bet my saddle, " informed Carara, in his slow, soft dialect. "Stamp' leather wit' silver filagree. It is more dear to me than--well--I love it ver' much, Senor!"

"Seems like Willie has made the extreme sacrifice, " Stoverfollowed up. "While all our boys has gone the limit, Willie hastopped 'em all: he's bet his gun. "

"Indeed! Is it a good weapon?"

"It's been good to me, " said the little man, dryly. "I took itoff the quivering remains of a Sheriff in Dodge City, up to thattime the best hip shot in Kansas. "

Speed felt a cold chill steal up his spine, while Miss Blake wentpale and laid a trembling hand upon his arm. 

"You see it ain't intrinsic value so much as association andsentiment that leads to this interview, " Stover continued. "Itain't no joke--we don't joke with the Centipede--and we've reliedon you. The Mex here would do murder for that saddle, " Cararanodded, and breathed something in his own tongue. "I have partedwith my honor, and Willie is gamblin' just as high. "

"But I notice Mr. --Willie still has his revolver. "

"Sure I got it!" Willie laughed, abruptly. "And I don't give itup till we lose, neither. That's the understandin'. " His voicewas surprisingly harsh for one so high-pitched. He looked morelike a professor than ever. 

"Willie has reasons for his caution which we respect, " explainedthe spokesman. 

J. Wallingford Speed, face to face with these serious-mindedgentlemen, began to reflect that this foot-race was not a thingto be taken too lightly. 

"I can't understand, " he declared, with a touch of irritation, "why you should risk such priceless things upon a friendlyencounter. "

"_Friendly!_" cried Willie and Stover in a tone that madetheir listeners gasp. "The Centipede and the Flying Heart is justas friendly as a pair of wild boars. "

"You see, it's a good thing we wised you up, " added the latter. 

Carara muttered fiercely: "Senor, I works five year' for thatsaddle. I am a good gambler, _si, si!_ but I keel somebodybiffore I lose it to the Centipede. "

"And is that Echo Phonograph worth all this?" inquired Helen. 

"We won that phonograph at risk of life and limb, " said Willie, doggedly, "from the Centipede-"

"--and twenty other outfits, Senor. "

"It's a trophy, " declared the foreman, "and so long as it ain'twhere it belongs, the Flying Heart is in disgrace. "

"Even the 'Leven X treats us scornful!" cried the smallest of thetrio angrily. "We're a joke to the whole State. "

"I know just how these gentlemen must feel, " declared Miss Blake, tactfully, at which Stover bowed with grateful awkwardness. 

"And it's really a wonderful instrument, " said he. "I don'treckon there's another one like it in the world, leastways inthese parts. You'd ought to hear it--clear as a bell--"

"And sweet, " said Willie. "God! It's sure sweet!"

"Why, we was a passel of savages on this ranch till we got it--nosentiment, no music, no nothin' in our souls--except profanityand thirst. Then everything changed. " Stover nodded gravely. "Wegot gentle. That music mellered us up. We got so we was as fullof brotherly love as a basket of kittens. Some of the boyscommenced writin' home; Cloudy begin to pay his poker debts. You'd scarcely hear enough profanity to make things bearable. Itell you it was refined. It got so that when a man came steamin'in after a week's high life and low company in town, his wagesgone, and his stummick burnin' like he'd swallered all his cigar-butts, it didn't make no difference if he found a herd of purplecrocodiles in his blankets, or the bunk-house walls a-crawlin'with Gila monsters. Little things like that wouldn't phaze him!He'd switch on the Echo Phonograph and doze off like a babe inarms, for the tender notes of Madam-o-sella Melby in _The HolyCity_ would soothe and comfort him like the caressin' hand ofa young female woman. "

"I begin to feel your loss, " said Speed, gravely. "Gentlemen, Ican only assure you I shall do my best. "

"Then you won't take no chances?" inquired Willie, mildly. 

"You may rely upon me to take care of myself. "

"Thank you!" The delegation moved away. 

"What d'you think of him?" inquired Stover of the little man inglasses, when they were out of hearing. 

"I think he's all right, " Willie hesitated, "only kind of crazy, like all Eastern boys. It don't seem credible that no sane manwould dast to bluff after what we've said. He'd be flyin' in theface of Providence. "

But this comforting conclusion wavered again, when BerkeleyFresno, who had awaited their report, scoffed openly. 

"He can't run! If he could run he'd be running. I tell you, hecan't run as fast as a sheep can walk. "

"Senor, you see those beautiful medal he have?" expostulatedCarara. 

"Sure, " agreed Willie. "His brisket was covered with 'em. He hadone that hung down like a dewlap. "

"Phony!"

"I've killed men for less, " muttered the stoop-shouldered man. 

"Did you see his legs?" Fresno was bent upon convincing hishearers. 

"Couldn't help but see 'em in that runnin'-suit. "

"Nice and soft and white, weren't they?"

"They didn't look like dark meat, " Stover agreed, reluctantly. "But you can't go nothin' on the looks of a feller's legs. "

"Well, then, take his wind. A runner always has good lungs, butI'll bet if you snapped him on the chest with a rubber band he'dcough himself to death. "

"Mebbe he ain't in good shape yet. "

Fresno sneered. "No, and he'll never get into good condition withthose girls hanging around him all the time. Don't you know thatthe worst thing in the world for an athlete is to talk to awoman?"

"That's the worst thing in the world for anybody, " said Willie, with cynicism. "But how can we stop it?"

"Make him eat as well as sleep in his training-quarters; don'tlet him spend any time whatever in female company. Keep your eyeson him night and day. "

Willie spoke his mind deliberately. "I'm in favor of that. Ifthis is another Humpy Joe affair I'm a-goin' to put one morenotch in my gun-handle, and it looks like a cub bear had chawedit already. "

"There ain't but one thing to do, " Stover announced, firmly. "We've got to put it up to Mr. Glass and learn the truth. "

"You'll find him in the bunk-house, " directed Fresno. "I thinkI'll trail along and hear what he has to say. "

CHAPTER IX

Glass had gone to the cowboys' sleeping-quarters in search of hisemployer, and was upon the point of leaving when the delegationfiled in. He regarded them with careless contempt, and removedhis clay pipe to exclaim, cheerfully:

"B--zoo gents! Where's my protege?"

"I don't know. Where did you have it last?"

"I mean Speed, my trainin' partner. That's a French word. "

"Oh! We just left him. "

"Think I'll hunt him up. "

"Wait a minute. " Willie came forward. "Let's talk. "

"All right. We'll visit. Let her go, professor. "

"You've been handlin' him for quite a spell, haven't you?"

"Sure! It's my trainin' that put him where he is. Ask him if itain't. "

"Then he's a good athlete, is he?"

"Is he good? Huh!" Glass grunted, expressively. 

"How fast can he do a hundred yards?"

Larry yawned as if this conversation bored him. 

"Oh--about--eight--seconds. "

At this amazing declaration Willie paused, as if to thoroughlydigest it. 

"Eight seconds!" repeated the little man at length. 

"Sure! Depends on how he feels, of course. "

Berkeley Fresno, in the corner, snickered audibly, at which thetrainer scowled at him. 

"Think he can't do it, eh? Well, he's there four ways from theace. "

Seeing no evidence that his statement failed to carry convictionin other quarters at least, Glass went further. It was so easy tostring these simple-minded people that he could not resist thetemptation. "Didn't you never hear about the killin' he made atSaratoga?" he queried. 

Willie started, and his hand crept slowly backward along hisbelt. "Killin'! Is that his game?"

"Now, get me right, " explained the former speaker. "He breakstrainin', and goes up to Saratoga for a little rest. While he'sthere he wins eight thousand dollars playin' diabolo. "

"Playin' what?" queried Stover. 

"Diabolo! He backs himself, of course. "

Glass took an imaginary spool from his pocket, spun it by meansof an imaginary string, then sent it aloft and pretended to catchit dexterously. The cowboys watched him with grave, uncomprehending eyes. 

"He starts with a case five and runs it up to eight thousanddollars, that's all. "

Stover uttered an exclamation of astonishment, whereupon the New-Yorker grew even bolder. 

"The next week he hops over to Bar Harbor and wins the FurturityPing-pong stakes from scratch. That's worth twenty thousand ifit's worth a lead nickel. Oh, I guess he's there, all right!" Hesearched out a match and relighted his pipe. 

"I suppose he's a great croquet-player too, " observed Fresno, whose face was purple. 

"Sure!" Glass winked at him, glad to see that the Californianenjoyed this kind of sport. 

"We don't care nothin' about his skill at sleight-of-handtricks, " said the man in spectacles, seriously. "And we wouldn'thold his croquet habits agin him. Some men drink, some gamble, some do worse; every man has his weakness, and croquet may behis. What we want to know is this: can he win our phonograph?"

"Surest thing you know!"

"Then you vouch for him, do you?" Willie's eyes were bent uponthe fat man with a look of searching gravity that warned Glassnot to temporize. 

"With my life!" exclaimed the trainer. 

"You're on!" said the cowboy, with unexpected grimness. 

"What d'you mean?"

But before the other could explain, Berkeley Fresno, who had sunkweakly into a chair at Larry's extravagant praise of his rival, afforded a diversion. The tenor had leaned back, convulsed withenjoyment when, losing his balance, he came to the floor with acrash. The sudden sound brought a terrifying result, for with astartled cry the undersized cow-man leaped as if touched by aliving flame. Like a flash of light he whirled and poised on histoes, his long, evil-looking revolver drawn and cocked, his tenseface vulturelike and fierce. His eyes glared through hisspectacles, his livid features worked as if at the sound of hisown death-call. His whole frame was tense; a galvanic current hadtransformed him. His weapon darted toward the spot whence thenoise had come, and he would have fired blindly had not Stoveryelled:

"Don't shoot!"

Willie paused, and the breath crept audibly into his lungs. 

"Who done that?" he asked, harshly. 

Still Bill brought his lanky frame up above the level of thetable. 

"God 'lmighty! don't be so sudden, Willie!" he cried. "It was aaccident. "

But the gun man seemed unconvinced. With cat-like tread he stolecautiously to the door, and stared out into the sunlight; then, seeing nobody in sight, he replaced his weapon in its resting-place and sighed with relief. 

"I thought it was the marshal from Waco, " he said. "He'll nevergit me alive. "

Stover addressed himself to Fresno, who had gone pale, and wasstill prostrate where he had fallen. 

"Get up, Mr. Berkeley, but don't make no more moves like thatbehind a man's back. He most got you. "

Fresno arose in a daze and mopped his brow, murmuring, weakly, "I-I didn't mean to. "

Carara and Mr. Cloudy came out from cover whither they had fledat Willie's first movement. "I dreamed about that feller aginlast night, " apologized the little man. "I'm sort of nervous, andany sudden noise sets me off. "

As for Glass, that corpulent individual had disappeared as ifinto thin air; only a stir in one of the bunks betrayed hishiding-place. At the first sight of Willie's revolver he haddived for a refuge and was now flattened against the wall, apillow pressed over his head to deaden the expected report. 

"Hey!" called the foreman, but Glass did not hear him. 

"Seems to be gun-shy, " observed Willie, gently. 

Stover crossed to the bunk and laid a hand upon the occupant, atwhich a convulsion ran through the trainer's soft body, and itbecame as rigid as if locked in death. "Come out, Mr. Glass, it'sall over. "

Larry muttered in a stifled voice, "Go 'way!"

"It was a mistake. "

He opened his tight-shut lids, rolled over, and thrust forth around, pallid face. He saw Stover laughing, and beheld the whiteteeth of Carara, the Mexican, who said:

"Perhaps the Senor is sleepy!"

Finding himself the object of what seemed to him a particularlysenseless joke, the New-Yorker crept forth, his face suffusedwith anger. Strangely enough, he still retained the pipe in hisfingers. 

"Say, are youse guys tryin' to kid me?" he demanded, roughly. Nowthat no firearm was in sight, he was master of himself again; andseeing the cause of his undignified alarm leaning against thetable, he stepped toward him threateningly. "If you try thatagain, young feller, I'll chip you on the jaw, and give you along, dreamy nap. " He thrust a short, square fist under Willie'snose. 

That scholarly gentleman straightened up, and edged his way toone side, Glass following aggressively. 

"You're a husky, ain't you?" said the little man, squinting up atthe red face above him. "Am I?" Glass snorted. "Take a goodlook!" With deliberate menace he bumped violently into the other. It was with difficulty he could restrain himself from crushinghim. 

Stover gasped and retreated, while Carara crossed himself, thensidled back of a bunk. Mr. Cloudy stepped silently out throughthe open door and held his thumbs. 

"You start to kid me and I'll wallop you--"

"_One moment!_" Willie was transfigured suddenly. An instantsince he had been a stoop-shouldered, short-sighted, insignificant person, more gentle mannered than a child, but in aflash he became a palpitating fury: an evil atom surcharged withsuch terrific venom that his antagonist drew back involuntarily. "Don't you make no threat'nin' moves in my direction, or you'llgo East in an ice-bath!" He was panting as if the effort to holdhimself in leash was almost more than he could stand. 

"G'wan!" said Glass, thickly. 

"You're deluded with the idea that the Constitution made all menequal, but it didn't; it was Mr. Colt. " With a movement quickerthan light the speaker drew his gun for the second time, andburied half the barrel in the New-Yorker's ribs. 

"_Look out!_" Glass barked the words, and undertook todeflect the weapon with his hand. 

"Let it alone or it'll go off!"

Glass dropped his hand as if it had been burned, and stared downhis bulging front with horrified, fascinated eyes. 

"Now, listen. We've stood for you as long as we can. You've madeyour talk and got away with it, but from now on you're workingfor us. We've framed a foot-race, and put up our _panga_because you said you had a champeen. Now, we ain't sayin' youlied--'cause if we thought you had, I'd gut-shoot you here, now. "Willie paused, while Glass licked his lips and undertook to framea reply. The black muzzle of the weapon hovering near his heart, however, stupefied him. Mechanically he thrust the stem of hispipe between his lips while Willie continued to glare at himbalefully. "You're boss is a guest, but you ain't. We can talkplain to you. "

"Y--yes, of course. "

"You said just now you'd answer for him with your life. Well, weaim to make you! We ain't a-goin' to lose this foot-race under nocircumstances whatever, so we give you complete authority overthe body, health, and speed of Mr. Speed. It's up to you to makehim beat that cook. "

"S-s-suppose he gets sick or sprains his ankle?" Glass undertookto move his body from in front of the weapon, but it followed himas if magnetized. 

"There ain't a-goin' to be no accidents or excuses. It's pay orplay, money at the tape. You're his trainer, and it's your faultif he ain't fit when he toes the mark. Understand?"

Willie lowered the muzzle of his weapon, and fired between thelegs of Glass, who leaped into the air with all the grace of agazelle. It was due to no conscious action on his part that thetrainer leaped; his muscles were stimulated spasmodically, andpropelled him from the floor. At the same time his will was soutterly paralyzed that he had no control over his movements; hedid not even hear the yell that burst from his throat as hislungs contracted; he merely knew that he was in the supremestperil, and that flight was futile. Therefore he undertook tosteady himself. Every tissue of his body seemed to creep andcrawl. The flesh inside his legs was quivering, the close-croppedhair of his thick neck rose and prickled, and his capaciousabdomen throbbed and pulsated like a huge bowl of jelly. He laidhis hands upon it to still the disturbance. Then he becameconscious that he had bitten his pipe-stem in two and swallowedthe end. He felt it sticking in his throat. 

"Did you hear what I said?" demanded Willie, in a voice thatsounded like the sawing of a meat bone. 

Glass opened his mouth, and when no sound issued, nodded. 

"And you understand?"

Again the trainer bobbed his head. The pipe-stem had cut off allpower of speech, and he knew himself dumb for life. 

"Then I guess that's all. It's up to you. " Willie replaced hisgun, and the fat man threatened to fall. "Come on, boys!" Thecowboys filed out silently, but on the threshold Willie pausedand darted a venomous glance at his enemy. "Don't forget what Isaid about Mr. Colt and the equality of man. "

"Yes, sir!--yes, ma'am!" ejaculated the frightened trainer, nervously. When they were gone he collapsed. 

"They are rather severe, aren't they?" ventured Fresno. 

"Severe!" cried the unhappy man. "Why, Speed can't--" He wasabout to explain everything when the memory of Willie's wordssmote him like a blow. That fiend had threatened to kill him, Lawrence Glass, without preliminary if it became evident that afraud had been practiced. Manifestly this was no place forhysterical confidences. Larry's mouth closed like a trap, whilethe Californian watched him intently. At length he did speak, butin a strangely softened tone, and at utter variance with hiscustom. 

"Say, Mr. Fresno! Which direction is New York?"

"That way. " Fresno pointed to the east, and the other man staredlongingly out through the bunk-house window. 

"It's quite a walk, ain't it?"

"Walk?" Berkeley laughed. "It's two or three thousand miles!"Glass sighed heavily. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, nothin'. Jest gettin' homesick. " He calmed himself with aneffort, entered the gymnasium as if in search of something, andthen set forth to find Speed. 

That ecstatic young gentleman wrenched his gaze away from theblue eyes of Miss Blake to see his trainer signalling him fromafar. 

"What is it, Lawrence?"

"Got to see you. "

"Presently. "

"Nix! I got to see you _now!_" Glass's ruddy face wasblotched, and he seemed to rest in the grip of some blightingmalady. Beneath his arm he carried a tight-rolled bundle. Sensingsomething important back of this unusual demeanor, Speed excusedhimself and followed Larry, who did not trust to speech untilthey were alone in the gymnasium with the doors closed. Then heunrolled the bundle he carried, spread it upon the floor, andstepped into its exact centre. 

"Are you standing on my prayer-rug?" demanded his companion, angrily. 

"I am! And from this on I'm goin' to make it work itself todeath. She said a feller couldn't get hurt if he stood on it andsaid 'Allah. ' Well, I'm goin' to wear it out. "

"What's wrong?"

"Do you know what's goin' to happen to me if Covington don't gethere and beat this cook?"

"Happen to you?"

"Yes, me! These outlaws have put it up to me to win this bet forthem. "

"Well, Covington can beat anybody. "

"But Covington isn't here yet. "

"Not yet, but--" The young man smiled. "You're not frightened, are you?"

"Scared to death, that's all, " acknowledged the other. Then whenhis employer laughed openly, he broke out at a white-heat. "Joke, eh? Well, you'd better have a good laugh while you can, becauseHumpy Joe's finish will be a ten-course dinner to what you'll getif Covington misses his train. "

"How easily frightened you are!"

"Yes? Well, any time people start shooting shots I'm too big forthis earth. The hole in a gun looks as big as a gas-tank to me. "

"But nobody is going to shoot you!" exclaimed the mystifiedcollege man. 

"They ain't, hey? I missed the Golden Stairs by a lip not half anhour ago. I got a pipe-stem crossways in my gullet now, and ittickles. " He coughed loudly, then shook his head. "No use; itwon't come up. " With feverish intensity he told of his narrowescape from destruction, the memory bringing a sweat of agony tohis brow. "And the worst of it is, " he concluded, "I'm 'marked'with guns. I've always been that way. "

"Tut! tut! Don't alarm yourself. If Covington shouldn't come, therace will be declared off. "

"No chance, " announced the trainer, with utter conviction. "Thesethugs have made it pay or play, and the bets are down. "

"You know I can't run. "

"If he don't come, you'll _have_ to!"

"Absurd! I shall be indisposed. "

"If you mean you'll get sick, or sprain an ankle, or break a leg, or kill yourself, guess again. I'm responsible for you now. Something may go wrong with me, that pipe-stem is liable to gimmea cancer, but nothin' is goin' to happen to you. My only chanceto make a live of it is to cough up that clay, and get some oneto outrun this cook. You're the only chance I've got, if Culverdon't show, and the first law of nature ain't never beenrepealed. "

"Self-protection, eh?"

"Exactly. " Glass coughed thrice without result, stepped off theprayerrug, rolled it up tightly; then, hugging it beneath hisarm, went on: "That four-eyed guy slipped me a whole lot of feed-box information. Why, he's a killer, Wally! And he's got a cash-register to tally his dead. "

"Notches on his gun-handle, I suppose?"

"So many that it looks like his wife had used it to hang pictureswith. I tell you, he's the most deceitful rummy I ever seen. What's more, he's got the homicide habit, and the habit has gotits eye on _me_. " Glass was in deadly earnest, and his alarmcontrasted so strongly with his former contemptuous attitudetoward the cowboys that Speed was constrained to laugh again. 

"It's the most amusing thing I ever heard of. "

"Yes, " said the trainer, with elaborate sarcasm, "it would beawful funny if it wasn't on the square. " He moistened his lipnervously. 

"You alarm yourself unnecessarily. We'll hear from Culver soon, either by wire or in person. He's never failed me yet. But if Iwere you, Larry, I'd leave that Mexican girl alone. "

"Mary?"

"Yes. Mariedetta. Now, there's something to be afraid of. Ifthese cowboys are in love with her and have their eyes on you--"

"Oh, Willie ain't her steady, and he's the only one I'm leary of. Mary's beau is that Egyptian with the funny clothes, and I canlick any guy with tight pants. "

A gentle knock sounded at the door, at which Speed called:

"Come in!"

Senor Aurelio Maria Carara entered. He was smoking his customarycorn-husk cigarette, but his dark eyes were grave and his silkenmustachios were pointed to the fineness of a bristle. 

CHAPTER X

"_Buenos dias, Senor. _" Carara bowed politely to Speed. 

"Good-morning again, " said Wally. 

Turning to the trainer, Carara eyed him from top to toe, removedhis cigarette, and flipped the ashes daintily from it; then, smiling disdainfully, said:

"_Buenos dias, Senor Fat!_"

Glass started. "You talkin' to me?"

"Yes. " Carara leaned languidly against the wall, took a matchfrom his pocket, and dextrously struck it between the nails ofhis thumb and finger. He breathed his lungs full of smoke andexhaled it through his nose. "I would have spik to you biffore, but the Senor Fat is"--he shrugged his shoulders--"frighten' sobad he will not understan'. So--I come back. "

"Who's scared?" said Glass, gruffly. 

Carara turned his palm outward, in gentle apology. 

"You been talk' a gret deal to my Senorita--to Mariedetta, eh?"

"Oh, the Cuban Queen!" Glass winked openly at Speed. "Sure! Islip her a laugh now and then. "

"She is not _Cubana_, she is _Mexicana_, " said Carara, politely. 

"Well, what d'you think of that! I thought she was a Cuban. "Glass began to chuckle. 

"Senor Fat, " broke in the Mexican, sharply, while Larry winced atthe distasteful appellation, "she is _my_ Senorita!"

"Is she? Well, I can't help it if she falls for me. " The speakercast an appreciative glance at his employer. "And you can cut outthat 'Senor Fat, ' because it don't go--" Then he gasped, forCarara slowly drew from inside his shirt a long, thin-bladedknife bearing marks of recent grinding, and his black eyessnapped. His face had become suddenly convulsed, while his voicerang with the tone of chilled metal. Glass retreated a step, ashudder ran through him, and his eyes riveted themselves upon theweapon with horrified intensity. 

"Listen, Pig! If you spik to her again, I will cut you. " The gazeof the Mexican pierced his victim. "I will not keel you, I willjust--cut you!"

Speed, who had sat in open-mouthed amazement during the scene, pinched himself. Like Larry, he could not remove his gaze fromthe swarthy man. He pulled himself together with an effort, however, undertaking to divert the present trend of theconversation. 

"W--where will you cut him?" he asked, pleasantly, more to makeconversation than from any lingering question as to the preciselocation. 

"Here. " Carara turned the blade against himself, and traced across upon his front, whereupon the trainer gurgled and laidprotecting hands upon his protruding abdomen. "You spik Spanish?""No. " Glass shook his head. 

"But you understan' w'at I try to say?"

"Yes--oh yes--I'm hep all right. "

"And the Senor Fat will r-r-re-member?"

"Sure!" Glass sighed miserably, and tearing his eyes away fromthe glittering blade, rolled them toward his employer. "I don'twant her! Mr. Speed knows I don't want her!"

Carara bowed. "And the Fat Senor will not spik wit' her again?"

"No!"

"_Gracias, Senor!_ I thank you!"

"You're welcome!" agreed the New Yorker, with repressed feeling. 

"_Adios! Adios, _ Senor Speed!"

"Good-bye!" exclaimed the two in chorus. 

Carara returned the knife to its hiding-place, swept the floorgracefully with his sombrero, then placing the spangled head-piece at an exact angle upon his raven locks, lounged out, hissilver spurs tinkling in the silence. 

Glass took a deep breath. 

"He doesn't mean to kill you--just cut you, " said Speed. "I gotit, " declared the other, fervently. Again he laid repressinghands upon his bulging front and looked down at it tenderly. "They've all got it in for my pad, haven't they?"

"I told you to keep away from that girl. "

"Humph!" Glass spoke with soulful conviction. "Take it from me, Bo, I'll walk around her as if she was a lake. Who'd ever thinkthat chorus-man was a killer?"

"Surely you don't care for her seriously?"

"Not now. I--I love my Cuban, but"--he quivered apprehensively--"I'll bet that rummy packs a 'shiv' in every pocket. "

From outside the bunk-house came the low, musical notes of aquail, and Glass puckered his lips to answer, then grew pale. "That's her, " he declared, in a panic. "I've got a date withher. "

"Are you going to keep it?"

"Not for a nose-bag full of gold nuggets! Take a look, Wally, andsee what she's doing. "

Speed did as directed. "She's waiting. "

"Let her wait, " breathed the trainer. 

"Here comes Stover and Willie. "

"More bad news. " Glass unrolled his prayer-rug, and stepped uponit hastily. "Say, what's that word? Quick! You know! Thepassword. Quick!"

"Allah!"

"That's her!" The fat man began to mumble thickly. It was plainthat his spirit was utterly broken. 

But this call was prompted purely by solicitude, it seemed. Willie had little to say, and Stover, ignoring all mention of theearlier encounter he had witnessed, exclaimed:

"There's been some queer goin's-on 'round here, Mr. Speed. Haveyou noticed 'em?"

"No. What sort?"

"Well, the other mornin' I discovered some tracks through one ofMiss Jean's flower-beds. "

"Tracks!"

"Sure! Strange tracks. Man's tracks. "

"What does that signify?"

"We ain't altogether certain. Carara says he seen a strangerhangin' around night before last, and jest now we found where ahoss had been picketed out in the ravine. Looks like he'd stoodthere more'n once. "

"Why, this is decidedly mysterious. "

"We figured we'd ought to tell you. "

"It has nothing to do with me. "

"I ain't sure. It looks to us like it's somebody from theCentipede. They're equal to any devilment. "

Speed showed an utter lack of comprehension, so Willie explained. 

"Understand, we've made this race pay or play. Mebbe they aim tocripple you. "

"Me!" Speed started. "Good Heavens!"

"Oh, they'd do it quick enough! I wouldn't put it past 'em todrop a . 45 through your winder if it could be done safe. "

"Shoot me, you mean?"

"Allah!" said Glass, devoutly from his corner. 

Stover and Willie nodded. "If I was you, I'd keep the lampbetween me and the winder every night. "

"Why, this is abominable!" exclaimed the young college man, stiffly. "I--I can't stand for this, it's getting too serious. "

"There ain't nothin' to fear, " said Willie, soothingly. "Remember, I told you at the start that we'd see there wasn't nocrooked work done. Well, I'm goin' to ride herd on you, constant, Mr. Speed. " He smiled in a manner to reassure. "If there's anyshootin' comes off, I'll be in on it. "

"S--say, what's to prevent us being murdered when we're out for arun?" queried Glass. 

"Me!" declared the little man. "I'll saddle my bronc' an' lopealong with you. We'll keep to the open country. "

Instantly Speed saw the direful consequences of such a procedure, and summoned his courage to say: "No. It's very kind of you, butI shall give up training. "

"_What!_"

"I mean training on the road. I--I'll run indoors. "

"Not a bit like it, " declared Stover. "You'll get your daily runif we have to lay off all the punchers on the place and put 'emon as a body-guard. "

"But I don't want a body-guard!" cried the athlete desperately. 

"We can't let you get hurt. You're worth too much to us. "

"Larry and I will take a chance. "

"Not for mine!" firmly declared the trainer. "I don't need nomineral in my system. I'm for the house. "

"Then I shall run alone. "

"You're game, " said Willie admiringly, and his auditor breathedeasier, "but we can't allow it. "

"I--I'd rather risk my life than put you to so much trouble. "

"It's only a pleasure. "

"Nevertheless, I can't allow it. I'll run alone, if they kill mefor it. "

"Oh, they won't try to _kill_ you. They'll probably shootyou in the legs. That's just as good, and it's a heap easier toget away with. "

Speed felt his knee-caps twitching. 

"I've got it!" said he at last. "I'll run at night!"

Stover hesitated thoughtfully. "I don't reckon you could doyourself justice that-away, but you might do your trainin' atdaylight. The Centipede goes to work the same time we do, and thechances is your assassin won't miss his breakfast. "

"Good! I--I'll do that!"

"I sure admire your courage, but if you see anything suspicious, let us know. We'll git 'em, " said Willie. 

"Thank you. "

The two men went out, whereupon Glass chattered:

"W--what did I tell you? It's worse'n suicide to stick aroundthis farm. I'm going to blow. "

"Where are you going?"

"New York. Let's beat it!"

"Never!" exclaimed the college man, stubbornly. We'll hear fromCovington before long. Besides, I can't leave until I get somemoney from home. "

"Let's walk. "

"Don't be a fool!"

"Then I've got to have a drink. " Glass started for the living-quarters, but at the door ducked quickly out of sight. 

"She's there!" he whispered tragically. "She seen me, too!"

Mariedetta was squatting in the shade opposite, her eyes fixedstolidly upon the training-quarters. 

"Then you've got to lay low till she gives up, " declared Wally. "We're in trouble enough as it is. "

For nearly an hour the partners discussed the situation while theMexican maid retained her position; then, when Glass was on theverge of making a desperate sally, Cloudy entered silently. Although this had been an unhappy morning for the trainer, hereat least was one person of whom he had no fear, and his naturaloptimism being again to the fore, he greeted the Indian lightly. 

"Well, how's the weather, Cloudy?"

"Mr. Cloudy to you, " said the other. Both Glass and his protegestared. It was the first word the Indian had uttered since theirarrival. Lawrence winked at his companion. 

"All right, if you like it better. How's the weather, MisterCloudy?" He snickered at his own joke, whereupon the aborigineturned upon him slowly, and said, in perfect English:

"Your humor is misplaced with me. Don't forget, Mr. Glass, thatthe one Yale football team you trained, I dropped a goal on fromthe forty-five-yard line. "

Glass allowed his mouth to open in amazement. The day was repletewith surprises. 

"'96!" he said, while the light of understanding came over him. "You're Cloudy-but-the-Sun-Shines?"

"Yes--Carlisle. " Cloudy threw back his head, and pointed withdignity to the flag of his Alma Mater hanging upon the wall. 

"By Jove, I remember that!" exclaimed Speed. 

"So will Yale so long as she lives, " predicted the Indian, grimly. "You crippled me in the second half"--he stirred hiswithered leg--"but I dropped it on you; and--I have notforgotten. " He ground the last sentence between his teeth. 

"See here, Bo--Mr. Cloudy. You don't blame us for that?" Cloudygrunted, and threw a yellow envelope on the floor at Speed'sfeet. "There is something for you, " said he, while his lipscurled. He turned, and limped silently to the door. 

"And I tried to kid him!" breathed Glass with disgust, when thevisitor had gone. "I ain't been in right since Garfield wasshot. "

"It's a telegram from Covington!" cried Speed, tearing open themessage. "At last!"

"Thank the Lord!" Glass started forward eagerly. "When'll he behere? Quick!" Then he paused. J. Wallingford Speed had gonedeathly pale, and was reeling slightly. "What's wrong?"

The college man made uncertainly for his bed, murmuringincoherently:

"I--I'm sick! I'm sick, Larry!" He fell limply at full length, and groaned, "Call the race off!"

Glass snatched the missive from his employer's nerveless fingers, and read, with bulging eyes, as follows:

"J. WALLINGFORD SPEED, _Flying Heart Ranch, Kidder, NewMexico:_

"Don't tip off. Am in jail Omaha. Looks like ten days. 

"CULVER COVINGTON. "

The trainer uttered a cry like that of a wounded animal. 

"Call it off, Larry, " moaned the Hope of the Flying Heart. "I'vebeen poisoned!"

"Poisoned, eh?" said the fat man, tremulously. "Poisoned!_Nix!_ Not with me!" He walked firmly across the room, flungback the lid of Speed's athletic trunk, and began to paw throughit feverishly. One after another he selected three heavysweaters, then laid strong hands upon his protege and jerked himto his feet. "Sick, eh? Here, get into these!"

"What do you mean, Lawrence?" inquired his victim. 

"If you get sick, I die. " Glass opened the first sweater, andhalf-smothered his protege with it. "Hurry up! You're going intotraining!"

CHAPTER XI

That was a terrible hour for J. Wallingford Speed. As for Larry, once he had grasped the full significance of the telegram, hebecame a different person. Some fierce electric charge wrought achemical alteration in his every fibre; he became a domineering, iron-willed autocrat, obsessed by the one idea of his ownpreservation, and not hesitating to use physical force when forcebecame necessary to lessen his peril. 

Repeatedly Speed folded his arms over his stomach, rocked in thethroes of anguish, and wailed that he was perishing of cramps;the trainer only snorted with derision. When he refused to donthe clothes selected for him, Glass fell upon him like a raginggrizzly. 

"You won't, eh? We'll see!" Then Speed took refuge in anger, butthe other cried:

"Never mind the hysterics, Bo. You're going to run off someblubber to-day. "

"But I have _to go riding_!"

"Not a chance!"

"I tell you I'll run when I come back, " maintained the youth, almost tearfully beseeching. "They're waiting for me. "

"Let 'em gallop--you can run alongside. "

"With all these sweaters? I'd have a sunstroke. "

"It's the best thing for you. I never thought of that. "

As Glass forced his protege toward the house, the other youngpeople appeared clad for their excursion; their horses weretethered to the porch. And it was an ideal day for a ride--warm, bright, and inviting. Over to the northward the hills, mysteriously purple, invited exploration; to the south and eastthe golden prairie undulated gently into a hazy realm of infinitepossibilities; the animals themselves turned friendly eyes upontheir riders, champing and whinnying as if eager to bear them outinto the distances. 

"We are ready!" called Jean gayly. 

"What in the world--" Helen paused at sight of the swathedfigure. "Are you cold, Mr. Speed?"

"Climb on your horses and get a start, " panted the burly trainer;"he's goin' to race you ten miles. "

"I'm going to do nothing of the sort. I'm going to--"

But Glass jerked him violently, crying:

"And no talkin' to gals, neither. You're trainin'. Now, get amove!"

Speed halted stubbornly. 

"Hit her up, Wally! G'wan, now--faster! No loafing, Bo, or I'llwallop you!" Nor did he cease until they both paused fromexhaustion. Even then he would not allow his charge to do morethan regain his breath before urging him onward. 

"See here, " Wally stormed at last, "what's the use? I can't--"

"What's the use? That's the use!" Glass pointed to the north, where a lone horseman was watching them from a knoll. "D'you knowwho that is?"

The rider was small and stoop-shouldered. 

"Willie!"

"That's who. "

"He's following us!"

With knees trembling beneath him Speed jogged feebly on down theroad, Glass puffing at his heels. 

When, after covering five miles, they finally returned to theFlying Heart, it was with difficulty that they could drag onefoot after another. Wally Speed was drenched with perspiration, and Glass resembled nothing so much as a steaming pudding;rivulets of sweat ran down his neck, his face was purple, hislips swollen. 

"Y-you'll have--to run alone--this afternoon, " panted thetormentor. 

"This afternoon? Haven't I run enough for--one day?" the victimpleaded. "Glass, old man, I--I'm all in, I tell you; I'm ready todie. "

"Got to--fry off some more--leaf-lard, " declared the trainer withvulgarity. He lumbered into the cook-house, radiating heat waves, puffing like a traction-engine, while his companion staggered tothe gymnasium, and sank into a chair. A moment later he appearedwith two bottles of beer, one glued to his lips. Both wereevidently ice cold, judging from the fog that covered them. 

Speed rose with a cry. 

"Gee! That looks good!"

But the other, thrusting him aside without removing the neck ofthe bottle from his lips, gurgled:

"No booze, Wally! You're trainin'!"

"But I'm thirsty!" shouted the athlete, laying hands upon thefull bottle, and trying to wrench it free. 

"Have a little sense. If you're thirsty, hit the sink. " Glassstill maintained his hold, mumbling indistinctly: "Water's theworst thing in the world. Wait! I'll get you some. "

He stepped into the bunk-room, to return an instant later with acup half full. "Rinse out your mouth, and don't swallow it all. "

"All! There isn't that much. Ugh! It's lukewarm. I want a bucketof ice-water--_ice-water_!"

"Nothing doing! I won't stand to have your epictetus chilled. "

"My what?"

"Never mind now. Off with them clothes, and get under thatshower. I guess it'll feel pretty good to-day. "

Speed obeyed instructions sullenly, while his trainer, recliningin the cosey-corner, uncorked the second bottle. From behind theblanket curtains where the barrel stood, the former demanded:

"What did you mean by saying I'd have to run again thisafternoon?"

"Starts!" said Glass, shortly. 

"Starts?"

"Fast work. We been loafing so far; you got to get some ginger. "

"Rats! What's the use?"

"No use at all. You couldn't outrun a steam-roller, but if youwon't duck out, I've got to do my best. I'd as lief die of agunshot-wound as starve to death in the desert. "

"Do you suppose we _could_ run away?"

"Could we!" Glass propped himself eagerly upon one elbow. "Leaveit to me. "

"No!" Wally resumed rubbing himself down. "I can't leave withoutlooking like a quitter. Fresno would get her sure. "

"What's the difference if you're astraddle of a cloud with a goldguitar in your lap?"

"Oh, they won't _kill_ us. "

"I tell you these cow-persons is desp'rate. If you stay here andrun that race next Saturday, she'll tiptoe up on Sunday and put arose in your hand, sure. I can see her now, all in black. Take itfrom me, Wally, we ain't goin' to have no luck in this thing. "

"My dear fellow, the simplest way out of the difficulty is for meto injure myself--"

"Here!" Glass hopped to his feet and dove through the blankets. "None of that! Have a little regard for me. If you go lame it'smy curtain. "

All that day the trainer stayed close to his charge, neverallowing him out of his sight, and when, late in the afternoon, Speed rebelled at the espionage, Glass merely shrugged his fatshoulders. "But I want to be alone--with _her_. Can't yousee?"

"I can, but I won't. Go as far as you like. I'll close my eyes. "

"Or _I'll_ close them for you!" The lad scowled; hiscompanion laughed mirthlessly. 

"Don't start nothin' like that--I'd ruin you. Gals is bad for aman in trainin' anyhow. "

"I suppose I'm not to see her--"

"You can _see_ her, but I want to hear what you say to her. No emotion till after this race, Wally. "

"You're an idiot! This whole affair is preposterous--ridiculous. "

"And yet it don't make us laugh, does it?" Glass mocked. 

"If these cowboys make me run that race, they'll be sorry--markmy words, they'll be sorry. "

Speed lighted a cigarette and inhaled deeply, but only once. Theother lunged at him with a cry and snatched it. "Give me thatcigarette!"

"I've had enough of this foolishness, " Wally stormed. "You aredischarged!"

"I wish I was. "

"You are!"

"_Not!_"

"I say you are fired!" Glass stared at him. "Oh, I mean it! Iwon't be bullied. "

"Very well. " Glass rose ponderously. "I'll wise up that queen ofyours, Mr. Speed. "

"You aren't going to talk to Miss Blake? Wait!" Speed wiltedmiserably. "She mustn't know. I--I hire you over again. "

"Suit yourself. "

"You see, don't you? My love for Helen is the only serious thingI ever experienced, " said the boy. "I--can't lose her. You've gotto help me out. "

And so it was agreed. 

That evening, when the clock struck nine, J. Wallingford Speedwas ready and willing to drag himself off to bed, in spite of theknowledge that Fresno was waiting to take his place in thehammock. He was racked by a thousand pains, his muscles weresore, his back lame. He was consumed by a thirst which Glassstoutly refused to let him quench, and possessed by a fearfullonging for a smoke. When he dozed off, regardless of the snoresfrom the bunk-house adjoining, Berkeley Fresno's musical tenorwas sounding in his ears. And Helen Blake was vaguely surprised. For the first time in their acquaintance Mr. Speed had yawnedopenly in her presence, and she wondered if he were tiring ofher. 

It seemed to Speed that he had barely closed his eyes when hefelt a rough hand shaking him, and heard his trainer's voicecalling, in a half-whisper: "Come on, Cull! Get up!"

When he turned over it was only to be shaken into completewakefulness. 

"Hurry up, it's daylight!"

"Where?"

"Come, now, you got to run five miles before breakfast!"

Speed sat up with a groan. "If I run five miles, " he said, "Iwon't want any breakfast, " and laid himself down againgratefully--he was very sore--whereat his companion fairlydragged him out of bed. As yet the room was black, although thewindows were grayed by the first faint streaks of dawn. From theadjoining room came a chorus of distress: snores of every size, volume, and degree of intensity, from the last harrowing gasp ofstrangulation to the bold trumpetings of a bull moose. There werelong drawn sighs, groans of torture, rumbling blasts. Speedshuddered. 

"They sound like a troop of trained sea-lions, " said he. 

"Don't wake 'em up. Here!" Glass yawned widely, and tossed abundle of sweaters at his companion. 

"Ugh! These clothes are all wet and cold, and--it feels likeblood!"

"Nothin' but the mornin' dew. "

"It's perspiration. "

"Well, a little sweat won't hurt you. "

"Nasty word. " Speed yawned in turn. "Perspiration! I can't wearwet clothes, " and would have crept back into his bed. 

This time Glass deposited him upon a stool beside the table, andthen lighted a candle, by the sickly glare of which he selected apair of running-shoes. 

"Why didn't you leave me alone?" grumbled the younger man. "Theonly pleasure I get is in sleep--I forget things then. "

"Yes, " retorted the former, sarcastically, "and you also seem toforget that these are our last days among the living. Saturdaythe big thing comes off. "

"Forget! I dreamed about it!" The boy sighed heavily. It was thehour in which hope reaches its lowest ebb and vitality isweakest. He was very cold and very miserable. 

"You ain't got no edge on me, " the other acknowledged, mournfully. "I'm too young to die, and that's a bet. "

Suddenly the pandemonium in the bunk-house was pierced by thebrazen jangle of an alarm-clock, whereat a sleepy voice cried:

"Cloudy, kill that damn clock!"

The Indian uttered some indistinguishable epithet, and the nextinstant there came a crash as the offending timepiece was hurledviolently against the wall. In silence Glass shoved his unsteadyvictim ahead of him out into the dawn. In the east the sun wasrising amid a riotous splendor. At any other time, under anyother conditions, Speed could not have restrained his admiration, for the whole world was a glorious sparkling panoply of color. The tumbled masses of the hills were blazing at their crests, thevalleys dark and cool. In the east the limb of the sun was justrearing itself, the air was heady with the scent of growingthings, and so clear that the distances were magically shortened;a certain wild, intoxicating exuberance surcharged the out-of-doors. But to the stiff and wearied Eastern lad it was allcruelly mocking. When he halted listlessly to view its beautieshe was goaded forward, ever forward, faster and faster, untilfinally, amid protests and sighs and complaining joints, he brokeinto a heavy, flat-footed jog-trot that jolted the artistic senseentirely out of him. 

CHAPTER XII

It was usually a procedure not alone of difficulty but ofdiplomacy as well, to rout out the ranch-hands of the FlyingHeart without engendering hostile relations that might bear fruitduring the day. This morning Still Bill Stover had more than hiscustomary share of trouble, for they seemed pessimistic. 

Carara, for instance, breathed a Spanish oath as he combed hishair, and when the foreman inquired the reason, replied:

"I don' sleep good. I been t'ink mebbe I lose my saddle on thisfootrace. "

Cloudy, whose toilet was much less intricate, grunted from theshadows:

"I thought I heard that phonograph all night. "

"It was the Natif Son singin' to his gal, " explained one of thehands. "He's gettin' on my nerves, too. If he wasn't a friend ofthe boss, I'd sure take a surcingle and abate him considerable. "

"Vat you t'ank? I dream' Mr. Speed is ron avay an' broke hisleg, " volunteered Murphy, the Swede, whose name New Mexico hadshortened from Bjorth Kjelliser. 

"Run away?"

"Ya-as! I dream' he's out for little ron ven piece of noosepaperblow up in his face an' mak' him ron avay, yust same as horse. Hesnort an' yump, an' ron till he step in prairie-dog hole andbroke his leg. "

"Strange!" said Willie. 

"What?"

"My rest was fitful and disturbed and peopled by strange fanciesa whole lot. I dreamp' he _throwed_ the race!"

A chorus of oaths from the bunks. 

"What did you do?" inquired Stover. 

"I woke up, all of a tremble, with a gun in each hand. "

"I don't take no stock in dreams whatever, " said some one. 

"Well, I'm the last person in the world to be superstitious, "Still Bill observed, "but I've had sim'lar visions lately. "

"Maybe it's a om-en. "

"What is a om-en?" Carara inquired. 

"A om-en, " explained Willie, "is a kind of a nut. Salted om-ensis served at swell restaurants with the soup. "

In the midst of it Joy, the cook, appeared in the doorway, andspoke in his gentle, ingratiating tones:

"Morning, gel'mum! I see 'im again. "

"Who?"

"No savvy who; stlange man! I go down to spling-house for bucketwater; see 'im lide 'way. Velly stlange!"

"I bet it's Gallagher. "

"Vat you tank he vants?" queried Murphy. 

"He's layin' to get a shot at our runner, " declared Stover, whileMr. Cloudy, forgetting his Indian reserve, explained in classicEnglish his own theory of the nocturnal visits. "Do you rememberHumpy Joe? Well, they didn't cripple him, but he lost. I don'tthink Gallagher would injure Mr. Speed, but--he might--bribehim. "

"_Caramba_!" exclaimed the Mexican. 

"God 'lmighty!" Willie cried, in shocked accents. 

"I believe you're right, but"--Stover meditated briefly beforeannouncing with determination--"we'll do a little night-ridin'ourselves. Willie, you watch this young feller daytimes, and therest of us'll take turns at night. An' don't lose sight of thefat man, neither--he might carry notes. If you don't like thelooks of things--you know what cards to draw. "

"Sixes, " murmured the near-sighted cow-man. "Don't worry. "

"If you see anything suspicious, burn it up. And we'll take ashot at anything we see movin' after 9 P. M. "

Then Berkeley Fresno came hurriedly into the bunk-house with avery cheery "Good-morning! I'm glad I found you up and doing, " hesaid blithely. "I thought of something in my sleep. " It wasevident that the speaker had been in more than ordinary haste tomake his discovery known, for underneath his coat he still worehis pajama shirt, and his hair was unbrushed. 

"What is it?"

"Your man Speed isn't taking care of himself. "

"What did I tell you?" said Willie to his companions. 

"It seems to me that in justice to you boys he shouldn't act thisway, " Fresno ran on. "Now, for instance, the water in his shower-bath is tepid. "

There was an instant's silence before Stover inquired, withominous restraint:

"Who's been monkeying with it?"

"It's warm!"

"Oh!" It was a sigh of relief. 

"A man can't get in shape taking warm shower-baths. Warm waterweakens a person. "

"Mebbe you-all will listen to me next time!" again cried Willie, triumphantly. "I said at the start that a bath never helpednobody. When they're hot they saps a man's courage, and whenthey're cold they--"

"No, no! You don't understand! For an athlete the bath ought tobe cold--the colder the better. It's the shock that hardens afellow. "

"Has he weakened himself much?" inquired the foreman. 

"Undoubtedly, but--"

"What?"

"If we only had some ice--"

"We got ice; plenty of it. We got a load from the railroadyesterday. "

"Then our only chance to save him is to fill the barrel quickly. We must freeze him, and freeze him well, before it is too late!By Jove! I'm glad I thought of it!"

Stover turned to his men. "Four of you-all hustle up a couplehundred pounds of that ice _pronto!_ Crack it, an' fill thebar'l. " There was a scramble for the door. 

"And there's something else, too, " went on Berkeley. "He's beingfed wrong for his last days of training. The idea of a man eatinglamb-chops, fried eggs, oatmeal, and all that debilitating stuff!Those girls overload his stomach. Why, he ought to have somethingto make him strong--fierce!"

"Name it, " said Willie, shortly. 

"Something like--like--bear meat. "

"We ain't got no bear. " Willie looked chagrined. 

"This ain't their habitat, " added Stover apologetically. 

"Well, he ought to have meat, and it ought to be wild--raw, ifpossible. "

"There ain't nothin' wilder 'n a long-horn. We can git him asteer. "

"You are sure the meat isn't too tender?"

"It's tougher 'n a night in jail. "

"There ain't no sausage-mill that'll dent it. "

"Good! The rarer it is the better. Some raw eggs and a goodstrong vegetable--"

"Onions?"

"Fine! We'll save him yet!"

"We'll get the grub. "

"And he'll eat it!" Willie nodded firmly. 

Stover issued another order, this time to Carara. "You 'n Cloudybutcher the wildest four-year-old you can find. If you can't getclose enough to rope him, shoot him, and bring in a hind quarter. It's got to be here in time for breakfast. "

"Si, Senor!" The Mexican picked up his lariat; the Indian took aWinchester from an upper bunk and filled it with cartridges. 

"Of course, he'll have to eat out here; they spoil him up at thehouse. "

"Sure thing!"

"I'd hate to see him lose; it would be a terrible blow to MissBlake. " Fresno shook his head doubtfully. 

"What about us?"

"Oh, you can stand it--but she's a girl. Ah, well, " the speakersighed, "I hope nothing occurs between now and Saturday toprevent his running. "

"It won't, " Stover grimly assured the Californian. "Nothin'whatever is goin' to occur. "

"He was speaking yesterday about the possibility of some businessengagement--"

The small man in glasses interrupted. "Nothin' but death shalltake him from us, Mr. Fresno. "

"If I think of anything else, " offered Berkeley, kindly, "I'lltell you. "

"We wish you would. "

Fresno returned to the house, humming cheerily. It was still anhour until his breakfast-time, but he had accomplished much. Inthe midst of his meditation he came upon Miss Blake emerging uponthe rear porch. 

"Good-morning!" he cried. She started a trifle guiltily. "Whatare you doing at this hour?"

"Oh, I just love the morning air, " she answered. "And you?"

"Same here! 'Honesty goes to bed early, and industry risesbetimes. ' That's me!"

"Then you have been working?"

Fresno nodded. He was looking at four cowboys who were enteringthe gymnasium, staggering beneath dripping gunny-sacks. Then heturned his gaze searchingly upon the girl. 

"Were you looking for Speed?" he asked accusingly. "The idea!"Miss Blake flushed faintly. 

"If you are, he has gone for a run. I dearly love to see him getup early and run, he enjoys it so. To give pleasure to others isone of my constant aims. That is why I learned to sing. " "I havebeen baking a cake, " said Helen, displaying the traces of heroccupation upon hands, arms, and apron, while Fresno, at sight ofthe blue apron tied at her throat and waist, felt that he himselfwas as dough in her hands. "I had a dreadful time to make itrise. "

"Early rising is always unpopular. "

"How clever you are this morning. "

"If I were a cake I would rise at your lightest word. "

"The cook said it wouldn't be fit to eat, " declared Helen. 

"Jealousy! She hadn't been up long. "

"And I _did_ leave a lot of dishes to wash after I hadfinished, " Miss Blake admitted. 

"I should love to eat your cooking. "

"Once in a while, perhaps, but not every day. "

"Every day--always and always. You know what I-mean, Miss Blake--Helen!" The young man bent a lover's gaze upon his companionuntil he detected her eyes fastened with startled inquiry uponhis toilet. Remembering, he buttoned his coat, but ran on. "Thisis the first chance I've had to see you alone since Speedarrived. There's something I want to ask you. "

"I--I know what it is, " stammered Helen. "You want me to let yousing again. Please do. I love morning music--and your voice is sotender. "

"Life, " said Berkeley, "is one sweet--"

"What is going on here?" demanded a voice behind them, and Mrs. Keap came out upon the porch, eying the pair suspiciously. It wasevident that she, like Fresno, had dressed hurriedly. 

"Mr. Fresno is going to sing to us, " explained the younger girl, quickly. 

"Really?"

"I am like the bird that greets the morn with song, " laughed thetenor, awkwardly. 

"What are you going to sing?" demanded the chaperon, stillsuspiciously. "_Dearie_. "

"Don't you know any other song?"

"Oh yes, but they are all sad. "

"I'm getting a trifle tired of _Dearie_, let's have one ofthe others. " Mrs. Keap turned her eyes anxiously toward thetraining-quarters, and it was patent that she had not countedupon this encounter. Noting her lack of ease, Fresno saidhopefully:

"If you are going for a walk, I'll sing for you at some othertime. "

"Is Mr. Speed up yet?"

"Up and gone. He'll be back soon. "

Then Mrs. Keap sank into the hammock, and with something likeresignation, said:

"Proceed with the song. "

Along the road toward the ranch buildings plodded two dustypedestrians, one a blond youth bundled thickly in sweaters, theother a fat man who rolled heavily, and paused now and then tomop his purple face. Both were dripping as if from an immersion, while the air about the latter vibrated with heat waves. Theyboth stumbled as they walked, and it was only by the strongesteffort of will that they propelled themselves. As they neared thecorner of the big, low-lying ranch-house, already reflecting thehot glare of the morning sun, a man's clear tenor voice came tothem. 

 "The volley was fired at sunrise, Just at the break of day"--

"Did you get that?" one of the two exclaimed hoarsely. "They'repractising a death-march, and it's ours. "

 "And as the echoes lingered, His soul had passed away. "

"That's you, Wally!" wheezed the trainer. 

 "Into the arms of his Maker, There to learn his fate"--

Speed broke into a run. "A tear, a sigh, a last 'Good-bye'-Thepardon came too late. "

"Here, what are you singing about?" angrily protested Speed, ashe rounded into view. 

"Oh, it's Mr. Speed!"

"Good-morning!" chorused Helen and the chaperon. 

"Welcome to our city!" Fresno greeted. 

Glass tottered to the steps. "Them songs, " he puffed, "is bad fora man when he's trainin'; they get him all worked up. "

"We had no idea you would be back so soon, " apologized Helen. 

"Soon!" Speed measured the distance to a wicker chair, gave itup, and sank beside his trainer. "We left yesterday! We've runmiles and miles and miles!"

"You can't be in very good shape, " volunteered the singer. 

"Oh, is that so?" Glass retorted. "I say he's great. He got mygoat--and I'm some runner. "

"And I'd be obliged to you if you'd cut out those deeplyappealing songs. " Speed glowered at his rival. It was Helen whohastened to smooth things. 

"It's all my fault. I asked Mr. Fresno to sing something new. "

"Bah! That was written by William Cromwell. "

"No more of them battle-hymns, " Glass ordered. "They don't do Mr. Speed no good. "

"All I want is a drink, " panted that youthful athlete, and Helenrose quickly, saying that she would bring ice-water. 

But the trainer barked, sharply: "Nix! I've told you that twentytimes, Wally. It'll put hob-nails in your liver. " He rose withdifficulty, swaying upon his feet, and where he had sat was alarge, irregular shaped, sweat-dampened area. "Come on! Don't getchilled. "

"I'd give twenty dollars for a good chill!" exclaimed theoverheated college man longingly. 

"I would like to see you a moment, Mr. Speed. " Roberta rose fromthe hammock. 

"Oh, and I've forgotten my--" Helen checked her words with astartled glance toward the kitchen. "It will be burned to acrisp. " She hastened down the porch, and Fresno followed, whileSpeed looked after them. 

"He must be an awful nuisance to a nice girl. Think of a fat, sandy-haired husband in a five-room flat with pink wall-paper anda colored janitor. Run along, Muldoon, " to Glass, "I'll be withyou in a moment. "

When the trainer had waddled out of hearing, Mrs. Keap inquired, eagerly:

"Have you heard from Culver?"

"Didn't you know about it?" Speed swallowed. 

Roberta shook her dark head. 

"He's in--he's detained at Omaha for ten days. I fixed it. "

The overwrought widow dropped back into the hammock, cryingweakly:

"Oh, you dear, good boy!"

"Yes, I'm all of that. I--I suppose I'd be missed if anythinghappened to me!"

"How ever did you manage it?"

"Never mind the details. It took some ingenuity. "

Mrs. Keap wrung her hands. "I was so terribly frightened! Yousee, Jack will be back to-morrow, and I--was afraid--"

There was a call from Glass from the training-quarters. 

"How can I ever do enough for you? You have averted a tragedy!"

"Don't let Helen know, that's all. If she thought I'd been thehead yeller--"

"I won't breathe a word, and I hope you win the race for hersake. "

Mrs. Keap pressed the hand of her deliverer, who trudged hislonely way toward the gymnasium, where Glass was saying:

"'The volley was fired at sunrise. ' That means Saturday, Bo. "

"Larry, you're the best crepe-hanger of your weight in theworld. "

Larry bent a look of open disgust upon his employer. 

"And you're a good runner, you are, " said he. "Why, _I_ beatyou this morning. "

The younger man glanced up hopefully. "Couldn't you beat thiscook?"

"You're the only man in this world I can outrun. 

"'A tear, a sigh, a last good-bye. '"

"_Shut up!_"

As Glass consented to do this, the speaker mused, bitterly, "'Early to bed and early to rise. ' I wish I had the night-watchman who wrote those words. "

"Didn't you never see the sun rise before?"

"Certainly not. I don't stay up that late. "

"Well, ain't it beautiful!" The stout man turned admiring eyes tothe eastward, and his husky voice softened. "All them colors andtints and shades and stuff! And New York on the other end!"

"I'm too tired to see beauty in anything. " As if mindful of aneglected duty, Glass turned upon him. "What are you waiting for?Get those dog-beds off your back. " He seized the slack of asweater and gave it a jerk. 

"Don't be so rough; I'll come. You might care to remember you'reworking for me. "

"I am working"--Glass dragged his protege about the roomregardless of complaints that were muffled by the thickness ofthe sweaters--"for my life, and I'll be out of a job Saturday. Now, get under that shower!"

CHAPTER XIII

"Do you know, Larry, I'm beginning to like these warm showers;they rest me. " As he spoke, Wally took his place beneath thebarrel and pulled the cord that connected with the nozzle. Thenext instant he uttered a piercing shriek and leaped from beneaththe apparatus, upsetting Glass, who rose in time to fling hischarge back into the deluge. 

"Let me out!" yelled the athlete, and made another dash, at whichhis guardian bellowed:

"Stand still, or I'll wallop you! What's got into you, anyhow?"

The heads of Stover and Willie, thrust through the door, noddedwith gratification. 

"It's got him livened up considerable, " quoth the former. "Listento that!" It seemed that a battle must be in progress behind thescreen, for, mingled with the gasping screams of the athlete andthe hoarse commands of the trainer, came sounds of physicalcontact. The barrel rocked upon its scaffold, the curtains swayedand flapped violently. 

"Stand still!"

"It's--it's as c-c-cold as _ice!_"

"Nix! You're overheated, that's all. "

"Ow-w-w! Ooo-h-h! I'm dying!"

"It'll do you good. "

"He's certainly trainin' him some, " said Stover. 

"Larry, I've got a cramp!"

"It did harden him, " acknowledged Willie. 

"What's wrong with you, anyhow?" demanded Glass. 

"It's not _me_, it's the w-w-water!"

Evidently Speed made a frantic lunge here and escaped, for theflow of water ceased. 

"It froze d-d-during the night. Oh-h! I'm cold!"

"Cold, eh? Get onto that rubbing-board; I'll warm you. "

An instant later the cow-men heard the sounds of a violentslapping mingled with groans. 

"Go easy, I say! I'll be black and blue all--LOOK OUT!--not somuch in one spot! _Ow_!"

"Turn over!"

"He's spankin' him, " said Stover admiringly. 

Again the spatting arose, this time like the sound of a musketryfusilade, during which Berkeley Fresno entered by the other door. 

"Don't be so brutal!" wailed the patient to his masseur. 

"I'm pretty near through. There! Now get up and dress, " orderedthe trainer, who, pushing his way out through the blankets, halted at sight of the onlookers. 

"How is he?" demanded Stover. 

"He--he's trained to the minute. I'm doin' my share, gents. "

"Sounds that way, " acknowledged Stover's companion. "Say, does itlook like we'd win?"

"Well, he just breezed a mile in forty, with his mouth open. "

"A mile?" Fresno queried. 

"Yes, a regular mile--seven thousand five hundred and thirtyfeet. "

"Is 'forty' good?" queried Willie. 

"Good? Why, Salvator never worked no faster. Here he is now--lookfor yourselves. "

Speed appeared, partly clad, and glowing with a rich salmon pink. 

"Good-morning, " said Fresno politely. "I came in to see how youliked the cold water. "

"So that was one of your California jokes, eh? Well, I'll--"

Speed moved ominously in the direction of the tenor, but Williechecked him. 

"We put the ice in that bar'l, Mr. Speed. "

"You!"

Willie and Stover nodded. 

"Then let me tell you I expect to have pneumonia from that bath. "The young man coughed hollowly. "That's the way I caught it oncebefore, and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if I'd be too sick torun by Saturday. "

"Oh no; you don't get pneumony but once. "

"And, besides, " Fresno added, "it wouldn't have time to show upby Saturday. "

"Get that ice-chest out of my room, that's all; it makes the airdamp. "

"No indeed!" said Still Bill. "We're goin' to see that you use itreg'lar. " Then of Glass he inquired: "What do you do to himnext?"

"I give him a nerve treatment. A jack-rabbit jumped at him thismorning and he bolted to the outside fence. " Larry forced hisemployer to a seat, then, securing a firm hold of the flesh, began to discourse learnedly upon anatomy and hygiene, the whilehis victim writhed. It was evident that the cattle-men wereintensely interested. "Well, sir, when I first got him hissploven was in terrible shape, " said Larry. "In fact, I never sawsuch a--"

"What was in terrible shape?" ventured the tenor. "His sploven. "

"Sploven! Is that a locality or a beverage?"

Glass glowered at the cause of the interruption. "It's a nerve-centre, of course!" Then to the others, he ran on, glibly: "Thetreatment was simple, but it took time. You see, I had to firsttrace his bedildo to its source, like this. " He thrust a fingerinto Wally's back and ploughed a furrow upward. "You see?" Hepaused, triumphantly. "A fore-shortened bedildo! It ain't wellyet. "

"Can a man run fast with one of them?" inquired Willie. 

"Certainly, cer-tain-ly--provided, of course, that the percentageof spelldiffer in the blood offsets it. "

Both cowboys came closer now, and hung eagerly upon every word. 

"And does it do--that?" they questioned, while Fresno suggestedthat it was not easy to tell without bleeding the patient. 

"No, no! You can hear the spelldiffers. " Glass motioned toWillie. 

"Put your ear to his chest. Hear anything?"

"Hearts poundin' like a calf's at a brandin'. "

"Which proves it!" proudly asserted the trainer. "Barrin'accidents, Mr. Speed will be in the pink of condition bySaturday. "

The cow-men beamed benignantly. 

"That's fine!"

"We are sure pleased, and we've got something for you, Mr. Speed. Come on, Mr. Fresno, and give us a hand. We'll bring it in. "

"It's a present!" exclaimed the athlete, brightly, when the threehad gone out. "They seem more friendly this morning. "

"Yes!" Glass laughed, mirthlessly. "They think you're going towin. "

"Well, how do you know I can't win? You never saw this cook run. "

"I don't have to; I've seen you. "

"Just the same, I'm in pretty good shape. Maybe I could run if Ireally tried. "

"Send yourself along, Kid. It won't harm you none. " The speakerfanned himself, and took a seat in the cosey-corner. 

"Ah! Here they come, bearing gifts. " Speed rose in pleasedexpectancy. "I wonder what it can be?"

The three who had just left re-entered the room, carrying a tray-load of thick railroad crockery. 

"We've brought your breakfast to you, " explained Stover. "We'dlike you to eat alone till after the race. " Still Bill began towhittle what appeared to be a blood-rare piece of flesh, whileWillie awkwardly arranged the dishes. 

"You want me to _eat_ as well as sleep here?"

"Exactly. "

"Oh, I can't do that! I'm sorry, but--"

"Don't make us insist. " Willie looked up from his tray, and Glassraised a moist hand and said:

"Don't make 'em insist. "

With fascinated stare Speed drew nearer to Stover and examinedthe meat bone. 

"Why--why, that's _raw_!" he exclaimed. 

"Does look rar', " agreed the foreman. 

"Then take it out and build a fire under it. I'll consent to eathere, but I won't turn cannibal, even to please you. "

"I'm sorry. " Stover did not interrupt his carving. 

"Your diet ain't been right, " explained Willie. "You ain't wildenough to suit us. "

Speed searched one serious face, then another. Fresno was noddingapproval, his countenance impassive. 

"Is this a joke?"

"We ain't never joked with you yit, have we?"

"No. But--"

"This breakfast goes as she lays!"

Glass broke abruptly into smothered merriment. "When I laughnowadays it's a funny joke, " he giggled. 

That grown men could be so stupid was unbelievable, and Wally, seeing himself the object of a senseless prank, was roused toanger. 

"Lawrence, get my coat, " said he. "I've been bullied enough; I'mgoing up to the house. " When Stover only continued whittlingmethodically, he burst out: "Stop honing that shin-bone! If youlike it you can eat it! I'm going now to swallow a stack of hotcakes with maple syrup!"

"Mr. Speed, " Willie impaled him with a steady glare, "you'll eatwhat we tell you to, and nothin' else! If we say 'grass, ' grassit'll be. You're goin' to beat one Skinner if it takes a humanlife. And if that life happens to be yours, you got nobody butyourself to blame. "

"Indeed!"

"You heard me! I've been set to ride herd on you daytimes, theother boys'll guard you nights. We been double-crossed once--itwon't happen again. "

"Then it amounts to this, does it: I'm your prisoner?"

"More of a prized possession, " offered Stover. "If you ain't gotthe loy'lty to stand by us, we got to _make_ you! This dietis part of the programme. Now if you think beef is too hearty forthis time of day, tear into them eggs. "

"You intend to make me eat this disgusting stuff, whether I wantto or not?" Even yet the youth could not convince himself thatthis was other than a joke. 

"No. " Willie shook his head. "We just aim to make you _want_to eat it. "

Then Larry Glass made his fatal mistake. 

"Say, why don't you let Mr. Speed buy you a new phonograph, andcall the race off?" he inquired. 

Stover, stricken dumb, paused, knife in hand; Willie stared as ifbereft of motion. Then the former spoke slowly. "Looks like we'dought to smoke up this fat party, Will. "

Willie nodded, and Glass realized that the little man's steel-blue eyes were riveted balefully upon him. 

"I've had a hunch it would come to that, " the near-sighted onereplied. "Every time I look at him I see a bleedin' bullet-holein his abominable regions, about here. " He laid a finger upon hisstomach, and Glass felt a darting pain at precisely the samespot. It was as agonizing as if Willie's spectacles were hugeburning-glasses focussing the rays of a tropic sun upon his bareflesh. He folded protecting hands over the threatened region andbacked toward the prayer-rug, mumbling "Allah! Allah!" No matterwhither he shifted, the eyes bored into him. 

"That's where you hit the gambler at Ogden, " he heard Stover say--it might have been from a great distance--"but I aim for thebridge of the nose. "

"The belly ain't so sudden as the eye-socket, but it's morelingerin', and a heap painfuller, " explained the gun man, andSpeed was moved to sympathy. 

"Larry only wanted to please you--eh, Larry?" he said, nervously, but Glass made no reply. His distended orbs were frozen uponWillie. It was doubtful if he even heard. 

"Our honor ain't for sale, " Still Bill declared. 

Here Berkeley Fresno spoke. "Of course not. And you mustn't thinkthat Speed is trying to get out of the race. He _wants_ torun! And if anything happened to prevent his running he'd bebroken-hearted, I know he would!"

Willie's hypnotic eye left the trainer's abdomen and travelledslowly to Speed. 

"What could happen?" questioned he. 

"N-nothing that I know of. "

"You don't aim to leave?"

"Certainly not. "

"Oh, you fellows take it too seriously, " Fresno offeredcarelessly. "He might _have_ to. "

Willie's upper lip drew back, showing his yellow teeth. 

"They don't sell no railroad tickets before Saturday, and thewalkin' is bad. There's your breakfast, Mr. Speed. When you've etyour fill, you better rest. And don't talk to them ladies, neither; it spoils your train of thought!"

CHAPTER XIV

Now that the possibility of escape from the Flying Heart was cutoff, the young man felt agonizing regret that he had not yieldedto his trainer's earlier importunities and taken refuge in flightwhile there was yet time. It would have been undignified, perhaps; but once away from these single-minded cattle-men, hislife would have been safe at least, and he could have trusted hisingenuity to reinstate him in Miss Blake's good graces. Everything was too late now. Even if he made a clean breast ofthe whole affair to Jean, or to her brother when he arrived, whatgood would that do? He doubted Jack's ability to save him, in thelight of what had just passed; for men like Willie cared nothingfor the orders of the person whose pay-roll they chanced tograce. And Willie was not alone, either; the rest of the crewwere equally desperate. What heed would these nomads pay to JackChapin's commands, once they learned the truth? They were Arabswho owed allegiance to no one but themselves, the country waswild, the law was feeble, it was twenty miles to the railroad!And, besides, the thought of confession was abhorrent. Physicalinjury, no matter how severe, was infinitely preferable to HelenBlake's disdain. He cast about desperately for some savingloophole, but found himself trapped--completely, hopelesslytrapped. 

There were still, however, two days of grace, and to youth twodays is an eternity. Therefore, he closed his eyes and trusted tothe unexpected. How the unexpected could get past that grim, watchful sentry just outside the door he could not imagine, butwhen the breakfast-bell reminded him of his hunger, he banishedhis fears for the sake of the edibles his custodians had served. 

"Don't you want anything to eat?" he inquired, when Larry made nomove to depart for the cook-house. 

"No. "

"Not hungry, eh?"

"I'm hungry enough to eat a plush cushion, but--"

"What?"

"Mary!"

"Mariedetta?"

"Sure. She's been chasin' me again. If somebody don't side-trackthat Cuban, I'll have to lick Carara. " He sighed. "I told youwe'd ought to tin-can it out of here. Now it's too late. "

Willie thrust his head in through the open window, inquiring, "Well, how's the breakfast goin'?" and withdrew, humming afavorite song:

 "'Sam Bass was born in Indiany; It was his natif home. At the early age of seventeen Young Sam commenced to roam. '"

"Fine voice!" said Lawrence, with a shudder. 

It was perhaps a half-hour later that Helen Blake came trippinginto the gymnasium, radiant, sparkling, her crisp white dresstouched here and there with blue that matched her eyes, in herhands a sunshade, a novel, and a mysterious little bundle. 

"We were so sorry to lose you at breakfast, " she began. 

Wally led her to the cosey-corner, and seated himself beside her. 

"I suppose it is a part of this horrid training. I would neverhave mentioned that foot-race if I had dreamed it would be likethis. "

Here at least was a soul that sympathized. 

"The only hardship is not to see you, " he declared softly. 

Miss Blake dropped her eyes. 

"I thought you might like to go walking; it's a gorgeous morning. You see, I've brought a book to read to you while you rest--youmust be tired after your run. "

"I am, and I will. This is awfully good of you, Miss Blake. "Speed rose, overwhelmed with joy, but the look of Glass was notto be passed by. "I-I'm afraid it's impossible, however. " Theblue eyes flew open in astonishment. "Why?" the girl questioned. 

"They won't let me. I--I'm supposed to keep to myself. "

"They? Who?"

"Glass. "

Miss Blake turned indignantly upon Larry. "Do you mean to say Mr. Speed can't go walking with me?"

"I never said nothing of the sort, " declared the trainer. "He cango if he wants to. "

"Just the same, I--oughtn't to do it. There is a strict routine--"

A lift of the brows and a courteous smile proclaimed Miss Blake'sperfect indifference to the subject, just as Willie saunteredpast the open window and spoke to Glass beneath his breath:

"Git her out!"

"I'm so sorry. May I show you a surprise I brought for you?" Sheunwrapped her parcel, and proudly displayed a pallid, anaemiccake garlanded with wild flowers. 

Speed was honestly overcome. "For me?"

"For you. It isn't even cold yet, see! I made it beforebreakfast, and it looks even better than the one I baked atschool!"

"That's what I call fine, " declared the youth. "By Jove! and I'mso fond of cake!"

"Have a care!" breathed Larry, rising nervously, but Speed paidno attention. 

"Break it with your own hands, please. Besides, it's too hot tocut. "

Miss Blake broke it with her own hands, during which operationthe brown face of the man outside reappeared in the window. Atsight of the cake he spoke sharply, and Lawrence lumbered swiftlyacross the floor and laid a heavy hand upon the cake. 

"Mr. Speed!" he cried warningly. 

"Here, take your foot off my angel-food!" fiercely ordered theyouth. But the other was like adamant. 

"Bo, you are about to contest for the honor of this ranch! Thatcake will make a bum of you!"

"Oh--h!" gasped the author of the delicacy. "Stop before it istoo late!" Glass held his hungry employer at a distance, strivingto make known by a wink the necessity of his act. 

"There is absolutely nothing in my cake to injure any one, " Helenobjected loyally, with lifted chin; whereupon the corpulenttrainer turned to her and said:

"Cake would crab any athlete. Cake and gals is the limit. "

"Really! I had no idea I was the least bit dangerous. " MissBlake, turning to her host, smiled frigidly. "I'm so sorry Iintruded. "

"Now don't say that!" Speed strove to detain her. "Please don'tbe offended--I just _have_ to train!"

"Of course. And will you pardon me for interrupting your routine?You see, I had no idea I wasn't wanted. "

"But you are, and I _do_ want you! I--"

"Good-bye!" She nodded pleasantly at the door, and left her loverstaring after her. 

When she had gone, he cried, in a trembling voice: "You're a fineyap, you are! She got up early to do something nice for me, andyou insulted her! You wouldn't even let me sit and hold herhand!"

"No palm-readin'. " Speed turned to behold his trainer ravenouslydevouring the cake, and dashed to its rescue. 

"It's heavier than a frog full of buckshot. You won't like it, Cul. "

"It's perfectly delicious!" came the choking answer. 

"Then get back of them curtains. Willie'd shoot on sight. "

All that morning the prisoner idled about the premises, followedat a distance by his guard. Wherever he went he seemed to see thesun flash defiance from the polished surface of those lenses, andwhile he was allowed a certain liberty, he knew full well thatthis espionage would never cease, night or day, until--what? Hecould not bear to read the future; anything seemed possible. Timeand again he cursed that spirit of braggadocio, that thoughtlesslack of moral scruple, which had led him into this predicament. He vowed that he was done with false pretences; henceforth thestrictest probity should be his. No more false poses. Praise wonby dissimulation and deceit was empty, anyhow, and did he escapethis once, henceforth the world should know J. Wallingford Speedfor what he was--an average individual, with no uncommon gifts ofmind or body, courage or ability. 

Yet it was small comfort to realize that he was getting his justdeserts, and it likewise availed little to anathematize Fresno asthe cause of his misfortune. 

At noon Wally went through the mockery of a second blood-raremeal, with no cake to follow, and that afternoon Glass draggedhim out under the hot sun, and made him sprint until he was readyto drop from exhaustion. His supper was wretched, and his fatigueso great that he fell asleep at Miss Blake's side during theevening. With the first hint of dawn he was up again, and Fridaynoon found him utterly hopeless, when, true to his prediction, the unexpected happened. In one moment he was raised from theblackest depths to the wildest transports of delight. It came inthe shape of a telegram which Jean summoned him to the house toreceive. He wondered listlessly as he opened the message, thenstarted as if disbelieving his eyes; the marks of a wild emotionspread over his features, he burst into shrill, hystericallaughter. 

"Do tell us!" begged Roberta. 

"Covington--Covington is coming!" Wally felt his head whirl, andfailed to note the chaperon's cry of surprise and see the palingof her cheeks. "_Covington is coming!_ Don't youunderstand?" he shouted. After all, the gods were not deaf! Goodold Culver, who had never failed him, was coming as a deliverer. 

Even in the face of his extraordinary outburst the attention ofthe beholders was drawn to Lawrence Glass, who caused the porchto shake beneath his feet; who galloped to his employer, and, seizing him by the hands, capered about like a hippopotamus. 

"I told you 'Allah' was some guy, " he wheezed. "When doesCovington arrive?" Wally reread the message. "It says 'NoonFriday. ' Why, that's to-day! He's here now!"

"'Rah! 'Rah! 'Rah! Covington!" bellowed the trainer, and Mrs. Keap sank to a seat with a stifled moan. 

"Why all the 'Oh joy! Oh, rapture!' stuff?" questioned BerkeleyFresno. 

"As Socrates, the Hemlock Kid, would put it, 'Snatched from theshadow of the grave, '" quoth Glass, then paused abruptly. "Say, you don't think nothin' could happen to him on the way over fromthe depot?"

"I'm so sorry we didn't know in time to meet him, " lamented MissChapin. 

"And I could have run over to the railroad to bid him welcome, "laughed Speed. "Twenty miles would do me good. "

Still Bill and Willie approached the gallery curiously, and insubdued tones inquired:

"What's the matter, Mr. Speed?"

"You ain't been summoned away?" Willie stared questioninglyupward. "No, no! My running partner is on his way here, that'sall. "

"Running pardner?"

"Culver Covington. "

"Oh, we was afraid something had happened. You see, GabbyGallagher has just blowed in from the Centipede to raise ourbets. "

"We think it's a bluff, and we'd like to call him. "

"Do so, by all means!" cried the excited athlete. "Come on, let'sall talk to him!"

The entire party, with the exception of Mrs. Keap, trooped downfrom the porch and followed the foreman out toward the sheds, where, in the midst of a crowd of ranch-hands, a burly, loud-voiced Texan was discoursing. 

"I do wish Jack were here, " said Jean nervously, on the way. 

Gabby Gallagher seemed a fitting leader for such a desperate crewas that of the Centipede, for he was the hardest-looking citizenthe Easterners had beheld thus far. He was thickset, and burnedto the color of a ripe olive; his long, drooping mustaches, tobacco-stained at the centre, were bleached at the extremitiesto a hempen hue. His bristly hair was cut short, and stoodaggressively erect upon a bullet head, his clothes were soiledand greasy beneath a gray coating of dust. A pair of alert, lead-blue eyes and a certain facility of movement belied the drawlthat marked his nativity. He removed his hat and bowed at sightof Miss Chapin. 

"Good-evenin', Miss Jean!" said he. "I hope I find y'all well. "

"Quite well, Gallagher. And you?"

"Tol'able, thank you. "

"These are my friends from the East. "

The Centipede foreman ran his eyes coldly over Jean's companionsuntil they rested upon Speed, where they remained. He shifted alump in his cheek, spat dexterously, and directed his remark atthe Yale man. 

"I rode over to see if y'all would like to lay a little mo' onthis y'ere foot-race. I allow you are the unknown?"

Speed nodded, and Stover took occasion to remark: "Them's ourinclinations, but we've about gone our limit. "

"I don't blame you none, " said Gallagher, allowing his gaze torove slowly from top to toe of the Eastern lad. "No, I cain'tblame you none whatever. But I'm terrible grieved at themtidin's. Though we Centipede punchers has ever considered y'all acheap an' poverty-ridden outfit, we gives you credit for bein'game, till now. " He spat for a second time, and regarded Stoverscornfully. 

A murmur ran through the cowboys. 

"We are game, " retorted Stover, "and for your own good don'tallow no belief to the contrary to become a superstition. " Of asudden the gangling, spineless foreman had grown taut andforceful, his long face was hard. 

"Don't let a Centipede bluff you!" exclaimed Speed. "Coveranything they offer--give 'em odds. Anything you don't want, I'lltake, pay or play, money at the tape. We can't lose. "

"I got no more money, " said Carara, removing his handsomebespangled hat, "but I bet my sombrero. 'E's wort' two hondredpesos. "

Murphy, the Swede, followed quickly:

"Aye ban' send may vages home to may ole' moder, but aye skallbat you some. "

"Haven't you boys risked enough already?" ventured Miss Chapin. "Remember, it will go pretty hard with the losers. "

"Harder the better, " came a voice. 

"Y'all don't have to bet, jest because I'm h'yar, " gibedGallagher. 

"God! I wish I was rich!" exclaimed Willie. 

But Miss Chapin persisted. "You are two months overdrawn, all ofyou. My brother won't advance you any more. "

"Then my man, Lawrence, will take what they can't cover, " offeredSpeed. 

"That's right! Clean 'em good, brothers, " croaked the trainer. 

"If you'll step over to the bunk-house, Gabby, we'll dig up somepersonal perquisites and family heirlooms. " Stover nodded towardhis men's quarters, and Gallagher grinned joyously. 

"That shore listens like a band from where I set. We aim to annexthe wages, hopes, and personal ambitions of y'all, along withyour talkin'-machine. "

"Excuse me. " Willie pushed his way forward. "How's she gettin'along?"

"Fine!"

"You mule-skinners ain't broke her?"

"No; we plays her every evenin'. "

The little man shifted his feet; then allowed himself to inquire, as if regarding the habits of some dear departed friend:

"Have you chose any favorite records?"

"We all has our picks. Speakin' personal, I'm stuck on thatbaggage coach song of Mrs. More's. "

"Mo_ray!_" Willie corrected. "M-o-r-a! Heleney Mo_ray_is the lady's name. "

"Mebbe so. Our foot-runner likes that Injun war-dance best ofall. " Carara smiled at Cloudy, who nodded, as if pleased by thecompliment. Then it was that the Flying Heart spokesman made aninquiry in hushed, hesitating tones. 

"How do you like _The Holy City_"--he removed his hat, asdid those back of him. "As sung by Madam-o-sella Melby?"

"Rotten!" Gallagher said promptly. "That's a bum, for fair. "

During one breathless instant the wizened man stood as ifdisbelieving his ears, the enormity of the insult robbing him ofspeech and motion. Then he uttered a snarl, and Stover was barelyin time to intercept the backward fling of his groping hand. 

"No voylence, Willie! There's ladies present. "

Stover's captive ground his teeth and struggled briefly, thenturned and made for the open prairie without a word. 

"It's his first love, " said Stover, simply. The other foremanexploded into hoarse laughter, saying:

"I didn't reckon I was treadin' on the toes of no bereafedrelatif's, but them church tunes ain't my style. However, we'rewastin' time, gents. Where's that bunk-house? Nothin' but moneytalks loud enough for me to hear. Good-day, white folks!"Gallagher saluted Miss Chapin and her friends with a flourish, and moved away in company with the cowboys. 

"I never, " said Glass, "seen so many tough guys outside of astreet-car strike. "

"Gallagher has been in prison, " Jean informed him. "He's awonderful shot. "

"I _knew_ it!"

Speed spoke up brightly: "Well, let's go back to the house andwait for Covington. "

"But you were getting ready to go running, " said Helen. 

"No more running for me! I'm in good enough shape, eh, Larry?"

"Great! Barring the one thing. "

"What's that?" queried Fresno. 

"A little trouble with one of his nerve-centres, that's all. Buteven if it got worse during the night, Covington could run therace for him. "

The Californian started. At last all was plain. He had doubtedfrom the first, now he was certain; but with understanding camealso a menace to his own careful plans. If Covington ran inSpeed's place, how could he effect his rival's exposure? On theway back to the house he had to think rapidly. 

Mrs. Keap was pacing the porch as the others came up, and calledSpeed aside; then, when they were alone, broke out, with blazingeyes:

"You said you had stopped him!"

"And I thought I had. I did my best. "

"But he's coming! He'll be here any minute!"

"I suppose he learned you were here. " Wally laughed. 

"Then you must have told him. "

"No, I didn't. "

"Mr. Speed"--Roberta's cheeks were pallid and her voice trembled--"you--didn't--send that telegram--at all. "

"Oh, but I did. "

"You wanted him to get here in time to run in your place. I seeit all now. You arranged it very cleverly, but you will pay thepenalty. "

"You surely won't tell Helen?"

"This minute! You wretched, deceitful man!"

Before he could say more, from the front of the house came therattle of wheels, a loud "Whoa!" then Jean's voice, crying:

"Culver! Culver!" while Mrs. Keap clutched at her bosom andmoaned. 

Her companion bolted into the house and down the hall, shoutingthe name of his room-mate. Out through the front door he dashedheadlong, in time to behold Fresno and the two girls assistingthe new arrival toward the veranda. They were exclaiming in pity, and had their arms about the athlete, for Culver Covington, Intercollegiate One-Hundred-Yard Champion, was hobbling forwardupon a pair of crutches. 

The yell died in Speed's throat, he felt himself grow deadlyfaint. 

"Crippled!" he gasped, and leaned against the door for support. 

CHAPTER XV

In a daze, Speed saw his friend mount the porch painfully; in adaze, he shook his hand. Subconsciously he beheld Lawrence Glasscome panting into view, throw up his hands at sight of Covington, and cry out in a strange tongue. When he regained his facultieshe broke into the conversation harshly. 

"What have you done to yourself?"

"I broke a toe, " explained the athlete. 

"You broke a toe?"

"He broke a toe!" wailed Glass, faintly. 

"If it's nothing but a toe, it won't hurt your running. " Speedseized eagerly upon the faintest hope. 

"No. I'll be all right in a few weeks. " Covington spokecarelessly, his eyes bent upon Jean Chapin. "You've g-got to runto-morrow. "

"What!" Covington dragged his glance away from the cheeks of hissweetheart. 

"I--I'm sick. You'll have to. "

"Don't be an idiot, Wally. I can't walk!"

Helen explained, with the pride of one displaying her ownhandiwork: "Mr. Speed defends the Flying Heart to-morrow. You arejust in time to see him. "

"When did you learn to box, Wally?" Covington was genuinelyamazed. 

"I'm not going to box. It's a footrace. I'm training--beentraining ever since I arrived. "

In his first bewilderment the latecomer might have unwittinglybetrayed his friend had not Jean suddenly inquired:

"Where is Roberta?"

"Roberta!" Covington tripped over one of his crutches. "Robertawho?"

"Why, Roberta Keap, of course! She's chaperoning us while motheris away. "

The hero of countless field-days turned pale, and seemed upon thepoint of hobbling back to "Nigger Mike's" buck-board. 

"You and she are old friends, I believe?" Helen interposed. 

"_Yes!_ Oh yes!" Culver flashed his chum a look of dumbentreaty, but Speed was staring round-eyed into space, strivingto read the future. 

Helen started to fetch her just as the pallid chaperon wasentering the door. 

She shook hands with Covington. She observed that he was toodeeply affected at sight of her to speak, and it awakened freshmisgivings in her mind. 

"H-how d'y do! I didn't know you were--here!" he stammered. 

"I thought it would surprise you!" Roberta smiled wanly, amazedat her own self-control, then froze in her tracks as Jeanannounced:

"Jack will be home to-night, Culver. He'll be delighted to seeyou!"

J. Wallingford Speed offered a diversion by bursting into ahollow laugh. Now that the world was in league to work his owndownfall, it was time someone else had a touch of suffering. Tothis end he inquired how the toe had come to be broken. 

"I broke it in Omaha--automobile accident. " Culver was fightingto master himself. 

"Omaha! Did you stop in Omaha?" inquired Jean. 

"A city of beautiful women, " Speed reflected, audibly. "Somebodystep on your foot at a dance?"

"No, of course not! I don't know anybody in Omaha! I wentmotoring--"

"Joy-ride?"

"Not at all. "

"Who was with you?" Miss Chapin's voice was ominously sweet. 

"N--nobody I knew. "

"Does that mean that you were alone?"

"Yes. I stopped off between trains to view the city, and took a'Seeing Omaha' ride. The yap wagon upset, and--I broke my toe. "

"You left Chicago ten days ago, " said Speed accusingly. 

"Of course, but--when I broke my toe I had to stay. It's abeautiful city--lots of fine buildings. " "How did you like thejail?"

"What in the world are you boys talking about?" queried MissBlake. 

"Mr. Speed seems amused at Culver's accident. " Roberta gave him astinging look. "Now we'd better let Culver go to his room andfreshen up a bit. I want to talk to you, Helen, " and Speeddrooped at the meaning behind her words. But it was time for ageneral conference; events were shaping themselves too rapidlyfor him to cope with. Once the three were alone he lost no timein making his predicament known, the while his friend listened inamazement. 

"But is it really so serious?" the latter asked, finally. 

"It's life or death. There's a homocidal maniac named Willieguarding me daytimes, and a pair of renegades who keep watch atmy window all night. The cowboys bathe me in ice-water to toughenme, and feed me raw meat to make me wild. In every corner therelurks an assassin with orders to shoot me if I break training, every where I go some low-browed criminal feels my biceps, pinches my legs, and asks how my wind is. I tell you, I'm goingmad. "

"And the worst part of it is, " spoke Glass, sympathetically, "they'll bump me off first. It's a pipe. "

"But, Wally, you can't run. "

"Don't I know it?"

"Don't _I_?" seconded the trainer. 

"Then why attempt the impossible? Call the race off. "

"It's too late. Don't you understand? The bets are made, and its'pay or play. ' The cowboys have mortgaged their souls on me. "

"He was makin' a play for that little doll--"

"Don't you call Miss Blake a doll, Larry! I won't stand for it!"

"Well, 'skirt, ' then. "

"Why don't you cut it? There's a train East at midnight. "

"And leave Helen--like that? Her faith in me has weakenedalready; she'd hate me if I did that. No! I've got to face itout!"

"They'll be singin' hymns for both of us, " predicted the fat man. 

"I don't care. They can boil me in oil--I won't let her think I'ma coward. "

"Larry doesn't have to stay. "

"Of course not. He can escape. "

"Not a chance, " said the trainer. "They watch me closer 'n theydo him. "

Covington considered for a moment. "It certainly looks bad, butperhaps the other fellow can't run either. Who is he?"

"A cook named Skinner. "

"Happy name! Well, two-thirds of a sprint is in the start. Howdoes Wally get in motion, Lawrence?"

"Like a sacred ox. " Glass could not conceal his contempt. 

"I'll give him some pointers; it will all help. " But Speed wasnervous and awkward--so awkward, in fact, that the coach finallygave it up as a bad job, saying:

"It's no use, Wally, you've got fool feet. "

"I have, eh? Well, I didn't break them getting out of jail. "

"The less said about that jail the better. I'm in troublemyself. "

Speed might have explained that his chum's dilemma was by nomeans so serious as he imagined, had not watchman Willie thrusthis head through the open window at that moment with the remark:

"Time to get busy!"

"We'll be right with you!" Glass seized his protege by the armand bore him away, muttering: "Stick it out, brother, we'renearin' the end!"

Again Speed donned his running-suit and took to the road for hisfarewell practise. Again Willie followed at a distance onhorseback, watching the hills warily. But all hope had fled fromthe Yale man now, and he returned to his training-quartersdisheartened, resigned. 

He was not resigned, however, to the visit he received later fromMiss Helen Blake. That young lady rushed in upon him like aminiature cyclone, sweeping him off his feet by the fury of herdenunciation, allowing him no opportunity to speak, until, with ahalf-sob, she demanded:

"Why--why did you deceive me?"

"I love you!" Wally said, as if no further explanation werenecessary. 

"That explains nothing. You made sport of me! You couldn't loveme and do that!"

"Helen!"

"I thought you were so fine, so strong, but you lied--yes, thatis what you did! You fibbed to me the first day I met you, andyou've been fibbing ever since. I could never, never care for aman who would do that. "

"Who has told you these things?"

"Roberta, for one. She opened my eyes to your--baseness. "

"Well, Roberta has a grudge against my sex. She's engaged to allthe men she hasn't already married. Marriage is a habit with her. It has made her suspicious--"

"But you did deceive me, didn't you?"

"Will you marry me?" asked J. Wallingford Speed. 

"The idea!" Miss Blake gasped. "Will you?"

"Please don't speak that way. When a man cares for a woman, hedoesn't deceive her--he tells her everything. You told me youwere a great runner, and I believed you. I'll never believe youagain. Of course, I shall behave to you in a perfectly friendlymanner, but underneath the surface I shall be consumed withindignation. " Miss Blake commenced to be consumed. "See! Youdon't acknowledge your perfidy even now. "

"What's the use? If I said I couldn't run, and then beat thecook, you'd believe I deceived you again. And suppose that Ican't beat him?"

"Then I shall know they have told me the truth. "

"And if, on the other hand, I should win"--Miss Blake's eyesfell--"Helen, would you marry me?" Speed started toward her, butshe had fled out into the twilight. 

Dusk was settling over stretches of purple land, and already theroom was peopled by shadows. Work was over; there were sounds ofcheerful preparations for supper; from the house came faintchords of laughter; a Spanish song floated in, as Carara told hislove to the tune of Mariedetta's guitar:

 "'Adios! adios! adios! por siempre, Adios! coqueta, mi amor; Adios! adios! adios! por siempre, Adios! coqueta, mi amor!'"

It was the hush that precedes the evening as it does the dawn;the hour of reverie, in which all music is sweet, and forgottenfaces arise to haunt. 

Speed stood where the girl had left him, miserable, hopeless, helpless; the words of the Spanish song seemed sung for a lostlove of his. And certainly his love was lost. He had stayed on inthe stubborn superstitious belief that something would surelyhappen to relieve him from his predicament--fortune had neverfailed him before--and instead, every day, every incident, hadserved to involve him deeper. Now she knew! It was her goldenheart that had held her true thus far, but could any devotionsurvive the sight of humiliation such as he would suffer on themorrow? Already he heard the triumphant jeers of the Centipedehenchmen, the angry clamor of the Flying Heart, the mockinglaughter of his rival. 

He groaned aloud. Forsooth, a broken toe! Of all the countlesstens of thousands of toes in Christendom, the one he had hung hissalvation upon had proven weaker than a reed. What cruel jest ofFate was this? If Fate had wished to break a toe, why had she notselected, out of all the billions at her disposal, that of someother athlete than Culver Covington--even his own. 

J. Wallingford Speed started suddenly and paled. He hadremembered that no one could force a crippled man to run. 

"By Jove, " he exclaimed, "I'll do it!"

He crossed quickly to the bunk-house door and looked in. The roomwas empty. The supper-bell pealed out, and he heard the cow-menanswer it. Now was the appointed moment; he might have no other. With cat-like tread he slipped into the sleeping-quarters, returning in a moment with a revolver. He stared thankfully atthe weapon--better this than dishonor. 

"Why didn't I think of it before? It's perfectly simple. I'llaccidentally shoot myself--in the foot. "

But even as he gazed at the gun he saw that the muzzle was aslarge as a gopher-hole. A bullet of that size would sink a ship, he meditated in a panic, and as for his foot--what frightfulexecution it would work! But--it were better to lose a foot thana foot-race, under present conditions, so he began to unlace hisshoe. Then realizing the value of circumstantial evidence, hepaused. No! His disability must bear all the earmarks of anaccident. He must guess the location of his smallest and leastimportant toe, and trust the rest to his marksmanship. Visions ofblood-poisoning beset him, and when he pressed the muzzle againstthe point of his shoe his hand shook with such a palsy that hefeared he might miss. He steeled himself with the thought thatother men had snuffed out life itself in this manner, then satdown upon the floor and cocked the weapon a second time. Hewondered if the shock might, by any chance, numb him intounconsciousness. If so, he might bleed to death before assistancearrived. But he had nothing to do with that. The only questionwas, which foot. He regarded them both tenderly. They were nicefeet, and had done him many favors. He loved every toe; they werealmost like innocent children. It was a dastardly deed to takeadvantage of them thus, but he advanced the revolver until itpressed firmly against the outside of his left foot, then closedhis eyes, and called upon his courage. There came a great roaringin his ears. 

How long he sat thus waiting for the explosion he did not know, but he opened his eyes at length to find the foot still intact, and the muzzle of the weapon pointing directly at his instep. Healtered his aim hurriedly, when, without warning of any sort, aman's figure appeared silhouetted against the window. 

The figure dropped noiselessly to the floor inside the room, andcried, in a strange voice:

"Lock those doors! Quick!"

Finding that it was no hallucination, Speed rose, calling out:

"Who are you?"

"Sh-h-h!" The stranger darted across the room and bolted bothdoors, while the other felt a chill of apprehension at thesesinister precautions. He grasped his revolver firmly while hisheart thumped. The fellow's appearance was anything butreassuring: he was swarthy and sun-browned, his clothes wereragged, his overalls were patched; instead of a coat, he wore aloosely flapping vest over a black sateen shirt, long sincerusted out to a nondescript brown. 

"I've been trying to get to you for a week, " announced themysterious visitor hoarsely. 

"W-what do you want? Who are you?"

"I'm Skinner, cook for the Centipede. "

"The man I race?"

"Not so loud. " Skinner was training for the faintest sound fromthe direction of the mess-house. 

"I'll kill him!" exulted the Eastern lad. But the otherforestalled a murder by running on, rapidly:

"Listen, now! Humpy and I jobbed this gang last month; we'repardners, see? He's got another race framed at Pocatello, and Iwant to make a get-away--"

"Yes! yes! y-you needn't stay here--on my account. "

"Now don't let's take any chances to-morrow, see? We're both outfor the coin. What do you want to do--win or lose?" Skinnerjumped back to the door and listened. 

"What?"

"Don't stall!" the stranger cried, impatiently. "Will I win orwill you? What's it worth?" He clipped his words short, his eyesdarted furtive glances here and there. 

"Can _I_ win?" gasped Speed. 

"You can if there's enough in it for me. I'm broke, see? You betfive hundred, and we'll cut it two ways. "

"I-I haven't that much with me. "

"Borrow it. Don't be a boob. Meet me in Albuquerque Sunday, andwe'll split there. "

"Is that all I have to do?"

"Certainly. What's the matter with you, anyhow?" Skinner cast asuspicious glance at his companion. 

"I-I guess I'm rattled--it's all so sudden. "

"Of course you'll have to run, fast enough so we don't tip off. "

"How fast is that?"

"Oh, ten-four, " carelessly. "That's what Humpy and I did. "

"Ten and four-fifths-seconds?"

"Certainly. Don't kid me! They're liable to break in on us. "Skinner stepped to the window, but Speed halted him with atrembling hand and a voice of agony. 

"Mr. Skinner, I-I can't run that fast. F-fifteen is going somefor me. "

"What!" Skinner stared at his opponent strangely. "That's right. I'm a lemon. "

"Ain't you the Yale champ? The guy that goes under 'even time'?"

Wally shook his head. "I'm his chum. I couldn't catch a cramp. "

The brown face of the Centipede sprinter split into a grin, hiseyes gleamed. "Then I'll win, " said he. "I'm the sucker, but I'llmake good. Get your money down, and I'll split with you. "

"No, no! Not you! Me! _I_ must win!" Speed clutched hiscaller desperately. 

"All right, I'll frame anything; but I can't run any slower thanI did with Joe and make a live of it. They'd shoot us both. "

"But there's a girl in this-a girl I love. It means more thanmere life. "

Skinner was plainly becoming nervous at the length of theinterview. 

"Couldn't you fall down?" inquired the younger man, timidly. 

The cook laughed derisively. "I could fall down twice and beatyou in fifteen. " After an instant's thought:

"Say, there's one chance, if we don't run straight away. There'sa corral out where we race; you insist on running around it, see?There's nothing in the articles about straight-aways. That'll kid'em on the time. If I get too far ahead, I'll fall down. "

"B-but will you stay down? Till I catch up?"

"Sure! Leave it to me. "

"You won't forget, or anything like that?"

"Certainly not. But no rough work in front of the cowboys, understand? Sh-h!"

Skinner vaulted lightly through the window, landing in the dirtoutside without a sound. "Somebody coming, " he whispered. "Understand Merchants' Hotel, Albuquerque, noon, Sunday. " And thenext instant he had vanished into the dusk, leaving behind him ayouth half hysterical with hope. 

Out of the blackest gloom had come J. Wallingford Speed'sdeliverance, and he did not pause to consider the ethicsinvolved. If he had he would have told himself that by Skinner'sown confession the Centipede had won through fraud at the firstrace; if they were paid back in their own coin now it would be nomore than tardy justice. With light heart he hastened to replacethe borrowed revolver in the bunk-room just as voices comingnearer betokened the arrival of his friends from the house. As hestepped out into the night he came upon Jack Chapin. 

"Hello, Wally!"

"Hello, Jack!" They shook hands, while the owner of the FlyingHeart continued. 

"I've just got in, and they've been telling me about this foot-race. What in the deuce is the matter with you, anyhow? Whydidn't you let me know?"

The girls drew closer, and Speed saw that Miss Blake was pale. 

"I wouldn't have allowed it for a minute. Now, of course, I'mgoing to call it off. "

"Oh, Jack, dear, you simply can't!" exclaimed his sister. "You'veno idea the state the boys are in. "

"They'll never let you, Chapin, " supplemented Fresno. 

The master laughed shortly. "They won't, eh? Who is boss here, I'd like to know?"

"They've bet a lot of money. And you know how they feel aboutthat phonograph. "

"It's the most idiotic thing I ever heard of. Whatever possessedyou, Wally? If the men make a row, I'll have to smuggle you andGlass over to the railroad to-night. "

"I'm for that, " came the voice of Larry. 

"I suppose it's all my fault, " Miss Blake began wretchedly, whereat the object of their general solicitude took on an aspectof valor. 

"Say, what is all this fuss about? I don't want to be smuggledanywhere, thank you!"

"I may not be able to square my men, " Chapin reiterated. "It mayhave gone too far. "

"Square! Square! Why should you do any squaring? I'm not going torun-away. " Miss Blake clasped her hands and breathed a sigh. "I've got to stay here and run a foot-race to-morrow. "

"Don't be a fool, Wally!" Covington added his voice to theothers. 

Speed whirled angrily. "I don't need your advice--convict!" Thechampion hobbled hastily out of range. "I know what I'm doing. I'm going to run tomorrow, and I stand a good chance to win. "

Mr. Fresno, if he had been a girl, would have been said to havegiggled. 

"All right, _Dearie_! I'll bet you five hundred dollars--"as there emerged from the darkness, whence they had approachedunseen, Stover, and behind him the other men. 

"Evenin'! What's all the excitement?" greeted the leader, softly. 

The master of the ranch stepped forward. 

"See here, Bill, I'm sorry, but I won't stand for this foot-race. "

"Why not?" queried the foreman. 

"I just won't, that's all. You'll have to call it off. "

"I'm sorry, too. "

"You refuse?" The owner spoke ominously. 

"You bet he does!" Willie pushed himself forward. "This foot-raceis ordained, and it comes off on time. I make bold to inquire ifyou're talkin' for our runner?"

"Gentlemen, I can only say to you that for myself I want to run!"declared Speed. 

"Then you'll run. "

"I refuse to allow it, " Chapin declared, and instantly there wasan angry murmur; but before it could take definite form, Speedspoke up with equal decisiveness. 

"You can't refuse to let me run, Jack. There are reasons"--hesearched Miss Blake's countenance--"why I must run--and win. Andwin I shall!" Turning, he stalked away into the darkness, andthere followed him a shout of approbation from the ranchmen. 

Jack Chapin threw up his hands. 

"I've done my best. "

"The man's mad!" cried Covington, but Fresno was nearer thetruth. "Nothing of the sort, " he remarked, and struck a match;"he's bluffing!"

As for Helen Blake, she shook her fair head and smiled into thenight. 

"You are all wrong, " she said. "_I_ know!"

CHAPTER XVI

The day of the race dawned bright and fair, without a cloud tomar its splendor. As the golden morning wore on, a gradualexcitement became apparent among the cowboys, increasing as thehours passed, and as they prepared with joy to invade theirrival's territory; nevertheless, the vigilant watch upon theirchampion did not relax. Theirs was an attitude of confidencetinged with caution. 

It was some time after midnight that Lawrence Glass had been thecause of a wild alarm that brought the denizens of the ranch outin night apparel. Jack Chapin, awakened by a cry for help, hadfound him in the hands of Carara and Cloudy, who had been doingnight duty in accordance with Stover's orders. What with thetrainer's loud complaints, the excited words of his captors, andthe confusion resulting when the bunk-house emptied itself of menhalf clad, it had taken the ranch-owner some time to discoverthat Glass had been surprised in the act of escaping. It seemedthat the sentries, seeing a figure skulking past the white adobewalls of the house, had called upon it to halt. There had been adash for liberty, then a furious struggle before the intruder'sidentity became clear, and but for Chapin's prompt arrival uponthe scene violence would inevitably have resulted. As it was, theowner had difficulty in restraining his men, who saw in thissignificant effort a menace to their hopes. 

"I tell you, I'm walkin' in my sleep, " declared Glass for thetwentieth time. 

"_Caramba!_ You try for get away, " stormed the Mexican. "Pig!"

"Not a bit like it! I've been a sonnambulust ever since I'm ababy. "

"Why didn't you answer when we called?" Cloudy demanded. 

"How can I talk when I'm sound asleep?"

"If you couldn't hear us call, why did you run?"

"Now have a little sense, pal. A sleep-walker don't know whathe's doin'. "

"Since there's no harm done, you'd better all go back to bed, "Chapin advised. "Mr. Glass has the liberty of the ranch, boys, night or day, asleep or awake. "

"Looks to me like he was tryin' to elope some. " Stover balancedupon one bare foot, and undertook to remove a sand-burr from theother. In the darkness he seemed supernaturally tall, so thatGlass hastened to strengthen his story. 

"I was walkin' in my sleep as nice as you please when thoserummies lep' on me. Say! You know that's dangerous; you can killa guy wakin' him up so sudden. "

"There's easier ways than that, " spoke Willie from the gloom. 

"It's a yap trick just the same. I was in the middle of a swelldream, too. "

"Come, come, Stover, get your boys back to bed! We'll have thewhole ranch up with this noise. "

Chapin himself led Glass around the house, while that gentlemanmade no offer to explain the dream which had prompted him to packhis suit-case before letting himself out of the training-quarters. Once safely back in the gymnasium, he sat up till dawn, a prey to frightful visions which the comfortable morning lightdid not serve to dissipate. 

Wally Speed slept serenely through the whole disturbance, and wasgreatly amused at the story when he awoke. He was sorely temptedto make known his agreement with Skinner, and put an end to histrainer's agony of mind; but he recalled Skinner's caution, andreflected that the slightest indiscretion might precipitate atragedy. For the first time since the beginning of the adventurehe was perfectly at ease, and the phenomenon added to histrainer's dismay. 

Others beside Lawrence Glass were apprehensive. Culver Covington, for instance, was plainly upset, while Roberta Keap pleadedheadache and had her breakfast served in her room. 

It was shortly afterward that she appeared in the gymnasiumdoorway, and cried, in an accusing voice:

"Well, Mr. Speed!"

"Yes, quite well. "

"You traitor!"

"You modern Borgia! Didn't you go and tell Helen everything?"

"Didn't you promise to stop Culver?"

"I did. I had him thrown in jail at Omaha. What more could I do?"

"You _did_ try? Honestly?" Mrs. Keap allowed her indignationto abate slightly. "If I had known that, I wouldn't have toldHelen. I'm sorry you didn't explain. I was angry--furious. And Iwas frightened so!" She broke down suddenly. "What shall I doabout them? I can see what they want to say, and yet I daren'tlet either speak a word. "

"Mrs. Keap, are you sure Culver loves you?"

"Horribly! And he suspects the truth. I saw him change the momenthe found me here. " Roberta began to weep; two limpid tears stoledown her cheeks, she groped for a chair, and Wally hastened toher assistance. As he supported her, she gave way completely andbowed her head upon his shoulder. 

It was in perfect keeping with the luck of things that Miss Blakeshould enter at the moment. She had come with Jack and his sisterto inquire regarding the fitness of her champion and to nerve himfor the contest, and she stood aghast. Chapin stepped forwardwith a look of suspicion, inquiring:

"What's going on here?"

Miss Blake spoke brightly, tinkling ice in her voice. 

"There's no necessity for an explanation, is there? It seems timefor congratulations. "

"Oh, see here now! Mrs. Keap's really engaged to Culver, youknow. "

"Culver!"

"Culver!"

Both the young ranchman and his sister stared at the chaperonwith growing horror, while she undertook to explain; but the blowhad fallen so swiftly that her words were incoherent, and in themidst of them her hostess turned and fled from the room. 

"Now don't begin to aviate until you understand the truth, " Speedcontinued. "While she's engaged to that broken-toed serpent, shedoesn't love him, do you see?" He smiled. 

"I do _not_ see!"

"It was simply a habit Mrs. Keap had got into--I should say itwas an impulsive engagement that she has repented of. "

"No doubt she was repenting when we interrupted you, " said MissBlake, bitterly. 

Then Chapin added, helplessly: "But Culver is engaged to mysister Jean!"

"Jean!" Mrs. Keap exposed her tragic face. "Then--he deceived_me_! Oh-h! What wretches men are!" The widow commenced tosob. 

Outside came Miss Chapin's voice: "So here you are, Mr. Covington!" And the next moment she reappeared, dragging thecrippled champion behind her. Thrusting him toward Roberta, shepouted: "There, Mrs. Keap! I give him back to you. "

"Perhaps you'd better go on with your explanations, " Chapinsuggested, coldly, to Speed. 

"How can I when you won't listen to me? Hear ye! Hear ye! Culverwas engaged to marry Mrs. Keap, but she discovered what areprobate he is--"

There was indistinguishable dissent of some sort from Mr. Covington. 

"--and she learned to detest him!"

Mrs. Keap likewise dissented in accents muffled. 

"Well, she would have learned to detest him in a short time, because she's in love with Jack Chapin; so she came to old DoctorSpeed in her troubles, and he promised to fix it all up. Now Iguess you four can do the rest of the explaining. Let this be alesson to all of you. If you ever get in trouble, come to thematch-making kid. I'll square it. "

They were four happy young people, and they lost no time inescaping elsewhere. When they had gone, their benefactor said toMiss Blake:

"Wouldn't you like to make that a triple wedding? We might getclub rates. "

For answer Miss Blake hurried to the door and was gone. 

Over at the Centipede there was a great activity and yet acertain idleness also, as if it had been a holiday. The men hungabout in groups listening to the peripatetic phonograph. A dozenor more outsiders had ridden over from the post-office to witnessthe contest. Out by the corral, which stood close to the firstbreak of the foot-hills, Skinner was superintending the layingout of a course, selecting a stretch of level ground worn smoothand hard by the tread of countless hoofs. 

"Makes a pretty good track, eh?" he said to Gallagher. "I wonderhow fast this feller is? Ever heard?"

"They seem to think he's a whirlin' ball of fire, but that don'tworry you none, does it?" Gallagher bent his lead-blue eyes uponthe cook, who shrugged carelessly, and Gallagher smiled; he wasforced to admit that his man did not appear to be one easilyfrightened. Skinner's face was hard, his lips thin, his jaw wasnot that of a weakling. He had dressed early, then wrapped ahorse-blanket about his shoulders, and now, casting this aside, sprinted down the dirt track for a few yards to test the footing, while Gallagher watched him with satisfaction--a thing of steeland wire, as tough, as agile, and as spirited as a range-raisedcow-pony. He was unshaven, his running-trunks were cut from apair of overalls, held up at the waist by a section of window-cord, and his chest was scantily covered by an undershirt fromwhich the sleeves had been pulled. But when he returned to pickup his blanket Gallagher noted approvingly that he was not evenbreathing heavily. With a knowledge confined mainly to live-stock, the foremen inquried:

"How's your laigs? I like to see 'em hairy, that-a-way; it's asign of stren'th. I bet this college boy is as pink as a maiden'spalm! He don't look to me like he could run. "

"They fool you sometimes, " said Skinner. "By-the-way, what haveyou bet?"

"We laid the phonograph agin their treasures an' trappin's--"

"But how much money?"

"We got three hundred pesos down, but they sent word they wascomin' loaded for b'ar, so we rustled five hundred more. "

Skinner's eyes gleamed. "I wish I had a couple of hundred to beton myself. "

"Broke, eh?"

"I'm as clean as a hound's tooth. "

"I'm sorry y'all tossed off your wages, but"--Gallagher startedsuspiciously--"say! I reckon that won't affect your runnin' none, will it?"

Skinner admitted that he could run best when he had something torun for. "You might advance me a month's wages, " he reflected. 

"I'll do it. Hello! Say, ain't that one of them Flyin' Heart cityvisitors?" From the direction of the ranch buildings BerkeleyFresno was approaching. 

"Good-afternoon! You are Mr. Gallagher, I believe? I rode overwith our crowd just now. " Fresno looked back. "Let's step aroundto the other side of the corral; I want to talk to you. " He ledthe way; then inquired, "Is this your runner?"

"That's him. His name's Skinner, and that's a promisin' title tobet on. " Gallagher slipped a roll of bank-notes from his pocket. "Unhook! I'll bet you. "

"No, no! I think myself Mr. Skinner will win. That's why I'mhere. "

"Strip your hand, son. I don't savvy. "

And Fresno explained. 

"You see, I'm a guest over there; but there's no sentiment withme in money matters. " He produced a wallet, and took from it fiveone-hundred-dollar bills. "Bet this for me, and don't let onwhere it came from. I'll see you after the race. Mind you, not aword!"

"I'm dumb as the Egyptian Spinks. "

"This race means a lot to me, Mr. Skinner. " The guest of theFlying Heart Ranch turned to its enemy. "There's a girl in it. Understand?" The cook showed the gleam of his teeth. "If you win, I'll send you some wedding-cake and--a box of cigars. "

"Thanks, " said the other; "but I've got a bum tooth, and I don'tsmoke. "

As Fresno left, there approached, in a surging group, theopposing side. 

"Good-evenin', Gabby!" Stover called, loudly, as he came withinspeaking distance. "Here we come _en massay_, and withladies, to further embarrass and degrade you in the hour of yourdefeat!"

"We ain't defeated yit! How do, Mr. Chapin. "

"Did you get our message?"

"Yes. But we ain't seen the color of y'all's money. "

"Mr. Speed borrowed five hundred dollars from me, and said hemight want more, " Chapin volunteered. 

"Is that all?"

"All?" jeered Still Bill. "Why, this mangy layout ain't never sawthat much money, " upon which Gallagher carelessly displayed acorpulent roll of bills, remarking:

"Count a thousand, Bill. It all goes on Skinner. "

"I ain't heard of no train-robbery, " muttered the lanky foremanof the Flying Heart, "nor I don't aim to handle no' taintedmoney. " And Stover and Gallagher faced each other hard beforeturning. 

Jean saw it, and whispered to Chapin: "Oh, Jack dear, I'mterribly frightened!" But Helen Blake, who overheard, left hercompanions and went straight to Gallagher. 

"I should like, " she said, "to wager a few dollars on Mr. Speedand the honor of the Flying Heart. "

Both Skinner and his foreman stared at her nonplussed. 

"You don't look like a bettin' lady, " the latter managed toremark, jocularly. 

"I'm not, I never made a wager before in all my life; but yousee, Mr. Gallagher, I believe in our man. " Gallagher lowered hiseyes. "How much do you aim to risk, miss?"

"I don't know what the rules are, but I think our side ought tobet as much as your side. That is the way it is done, isn't it?"

"You mean that you aim to cover what Mr. Speed don't?" The girlnodded. 

Gallagher spoke admiringly. "You're right game, miss, but Ireckon we don't want your money. "

"Why not?"

"I suppose there ain't no partic'lar reason. "

"If Mr. Speed can beat Mr. Covington, who is the best runner atYale, I'm sure he can defeat Mr. Skinner, who never went tocollege at all. They have all turned against him, and he-he is sobrave!" Miss Blake's indignation was tearful, and Gallagher spokehurriedly:

"He may be brave all right, miss, but he can't win unless Skinnerdies. You save your money to buy chocolates an' bon-mots, miss. Why, listen" (the stock man softened his voice in a fatherlymanner): "this Fresno party is wise; five hundred of this coin ishis. "

Helen uttered a cry. "Do you mean he is betting _against_Mr. Speed?"

"Nothin' else. "

"Despicable!" breathed the girl. "Wait a moment, please!" Helenhurried back to Chapin, while Gallagher muttered something like"I ain't takin' no orphan's money. "

"Jack!" (the girl was trembling with excitement), "you told me onthe way over that you had five hundred dollars with you. Let mehave it, please. I'll give you my check when we get home. "

"My dear girl, you aren't going to--bet it?"

"Yes, I am. "

"Don't do that!"

For answer she snatched the pocket-book from his hand. 

"Mr. Gallagher!" she called. 

Skinner watched from afar. "Some class to that gal!" was what hesaid, which proved that he was a person not wholly withoutsentiment. 

CHAPTER XVII

Speed leaped down from the buckboard in which Carara had drivenhim and Glass over to the Centipede corral. 

"I told you to jump out when we crossed that bridge, " was Larry'sreproach to him. "You could have broke your arm. Now--it's toolate. "

But Speed joined his friends with the most cheerful of greetings. 

They responded nervously, shocked at his flippant assurance. 

"This, Mr. Speed, is the scene of your defeat!" Gallagher madethe introduction. 

"And this is Mr. Skinner, no doubt?" Wally shook hands with theCentipede runner, who stared at him, refused to recognize hisknowing wink, and turned away. "You think pretty well ofyourself, don't you?" suggested Gallagher unpleasantly, and Speedlaughed. There was no reason why he should not laugh. Either wayhis hour had come. 

"I s'pose that satchel is full of money?" Gallagher pointed tothe suitcase. 

"On the contrary, it is full of clothes. It is I who contain themoney. " He thrust a cold palm into his pocket as Covingtondragged him aside to advise him not to be an utter idiot, tothrow his money away if he must, but to throw it to charity or tohis friends. 

"Yes, " Glass seconded, lugubriously, "and hold out enough to buyme a _Gates Ajar_ in immortelles. " But he said also, as ifto himself, "He may be wrong in the burr, but he's a game littleguy. "

As the Centipede foreman counted the money, Helen came forward, announcing:

"You'll _have_ to win now, won't you, Mr. Speed? I'vewagered five hundred dollars on you. I bet against Mr. Fresno. ""Fresno! So he's out from cover at last, eh?"

"I haven't been under cover, " spoke up the Californian. "I'vebeen wise all along. "

Chapin wheeled. "Does it seem to you quite the thing to betagainst our man, Fresno?" he inquired, his glance full in theother's eyes. 

"Why not? There's no sentiment in financial affairs. "

Speed shrugged. "Our tenor friend will sing his way back toCalifornia. " He turned with his thanks to Helen. 

"The talkin'--machine!" interrupted Still Bill, suddenly. A groupof men was approaching, who bore the phonogragh upon a dry-goodsbox, and deposited it in state beside the race-course. "Say, Gabby, s'pose you give us a tune, just to show she's in goodorder. "

"Suspicious, eh?"

"You bet! There's a monologue I'd admire to hear. It's called-"

"We'll have _The Holy City_, " said Willie, positively. "It'smore appropriate. "

So, with clumsy fingers, Gallagher fitted a record, then wound upthe machine under the jealous eyes of the Flying Heart cowboys. 

Drawn by the sound, Skinner, wrapped to the chin in his blanket, idled toward the crowd, affording Glass a sight of his face forthe first time. The latter started as if stung, and crying underhis breath, "Salted car-horse!" drew his employer aside. 

"Say, " he said, pointing a finger, "who's that?"

"Skinner, the man I run. "

Glass groaned. "His name ain't Skinner; that's 'Whiz' Long. Sixyears ago I saw him win the Sheffield Handicap from scratch innine-three. " Then, as Speed did not seem to be particularlypressed, "Don't you understand, Wally? He's a pro; this is hisgame!"

To which the younger man replied, serenely and happily, "It'sfixed. "

"What's fixed?"

"The race. It' s all arranged--framed. "

"Who framed it? How? When?"

"Sh-h! I did. Yesterday; by stealth; I fixed it. "

"You win from 'Whiz' Long, and you can't run under fifteen?"

Wally nodded. "I told him that--it's all right. "

"You told him?" Glass staggered. "It's all right? Say! Don't youknow he's the fastest, crookedest, cheatingest, double-crossingest--why, he just came to feel you out!"

And Speed turned dizzy. 

"And you fell for that old stuff!" Larry's voice was tremblingwith anger and disgust. "Why, that's part of his 'work. ' He'sdouble-crossed every runnin' mate he ever had. He'd cheat hismother. Wait!"

Skinner had left the crowd, and was seated now in the shade ofthe corral fence. He glanced upward from beneath his black browsas Larry reached and greeted him. "Hello, Whiz! I just 'made'you--" Then he shook his head. 

"I haven't got you. My name is Skinner. "

"Nix on that monaker, " Glass smiled, indulgently. "I had a man inthat Sheffield Handicap six years ago. "

"You're in bad, " asserted the cook steadily, "but assuming thatmy name _is_ Long--"

"I didn't say your name was 'Long. ' I called you 'Whiz. '" Glasschuckled at the point as he scored it. "Now come in; be good. "

Skinner darted a look toward Gallagher and the Centipede mengathered about the shrilling phonograph, stooped and tied hisshoes, and breathed softly:

"Spiel!"

"This little feller I'm trainin'--does he win?"

Without an upward glance, Skinner inquired:

"Did the man you trained for the Sheffield Handicap win?"

"Never mind that. Does this frame-up go through?" It happenedthat Speed, drawn irresistibly, had come forward to hang uponevery word, and now chose this moment to interrupt. 

"It's all right, Mr. Skinner--" But Skinner leaped to his feet. 

"Don't try anything like that!" he cried, in a terrible voicethat brought Gabby Gallagher striding toward them. 

"What's goin' on here? Are they try in' to fix you, Skinner?"

"Not a bit like it, " Glass protested stoutly. "I only asked himwhich side he'd rather run on, and now he calls for policeprotection. "

"Don't try it again, that's all!" the cook warned, sullenly. 

"I reckon I'll take a hand in this!" Gallagher was in a finerage, and would have fallen upon the offender had not Stoverstepped in his path. 

"I reckon you won't!" he said easily. 

The two glared at each other, and were standing thus when Speedand his trainer moved gently off. They made their way to thehouse in comparative silence. "I--I made a mistake, " said Wally. 

"You've been jobbed like you was a baby, " said Glass. "Thereain't but one thing to do now. Go into the house and change yourclothes, and when you get ready to run, get ready to run for yourlife--and mine. " Over on the race-course Gallagher was inquiring:

"Who's goin' to send these y'ere athaletes away?"

"I am!" announced Willie without hesitation "Bein' perhaps thehandiest man present with a weepon, I'm goin' to start thisjourney. " He looked his foes squarely in the eyes. "Has anybodygot objections to me?" The silence was nattering, and more loudlynow, so that Skinner might hear, he added: "If your man tries tobeat the gun, I'll have him wingin' his way to lands celestialbefore he makes his second jump. "

Gallagher acknowledged the fairness of this proposition. "Thisrace is goin' to be squar', " said he. "We're ready when y'allare. "

J. Wallingford Speed stepped out of his clothes and into hissilken running-suit. He was numb and cold. His hands performedtheir duties to be sure, but his brain was idle. All he knew wasthat he had been betrayed and all was lost. He heard Glasspanting instructions into his ear, but they made no impressionupon him. In a dull trance he followed his trainer back to thetrack, his eyes staring, his bones like water. Not until he heardthe welcoming shout of the Flying Heart henchmen did he realizethat the worst was yet to come. He heard Larry still coachingearnestly: "If you can't bite him, trip him up, " and some onesaid:

"Are we ready?"

Glass held out his hand. "Good-bye, Mr. Speed. "

Chapin came forward and spoke with artificial heartiness, "Good-luck, Wally; beat him at the start, " and Covington followed. 

"Remember, " he cautioned, sadly, "what I told you about thestart--it's your only chance. "

"Why don't you fellows think about the finish of this race?"faltered the runner. 

Then, in a voice broken with excitement, Helen Blake spoke, holding out her hand for a good-bye clasp. "Dear Mr. Speed, " shesaid, "will you try to remember this?--remember to run before hedoes, and don't let him catch up to you. If you do that, I just_know_ you'll win. "

This magnificent display of confidence nerved the athlete, and hesmiled at her. He wished to speak, but dared not trust himself. 

Gallagher was calling; so he went to the starting-point, whencehe surveyed the course. There it lay, no more than a lane leadingdown between ranks of brown-faced men whose eyes were turned uponhim. On the top rail of the corral perched Willie, revolver inhand. The babble of voices ceased, the strident laughter stilled, Speed heard the nervous Tustle of feminine skirts. Skinner wasstanding like a statue, his toe to the mark, his eyes averted. 

"You'll start here and run a hundred yards out yonder to thetape, " Gallagher announced. 

"I refuse!" said Speed firmly. 

For one breathless instant there was a hush of amazement, then acry of rage. Still Bill Stover hurled the nearest man out of hispath, and stode forward, his lean face ablaze. He wheeled andflung up his hand as if to check some hidden movement ofWillie's. 

"No voylence yet, Will! What d'you mean, Mr. Speed?"

Speed uttered what he knew was his final joke on earth. "I meanthat I refuse to run straightaway. I'm an all-around athlete, andI must run all around something. "

Amid shouts of confusion, those who had taken positions along thecourse came crowding back to the starting-point. Willie wrappedhis legs about the top rail of the fence and drew a secondrevolver, while the two foremen bellowed indistinguishablethreats at each other. Chapin lost no time in withdrawing hisguests out of the turmoil, but Helen kept her place, her facechalky but her eyes very bright. 

"What are you tryin' to hand us?" roared Gallagher. 

Still Bill was quick to take a cue. "Don't get hectic!" said he. "There's nothin' in the articles about runnin' straight. Let 'emrun around the corral. " But at this suggestion every voice seemedto break out simultaneously. 

"Humpy Joe ran straightaway, " declared Gallagher. 

"Yes, an' he kept at it, " piped Willie. "I favor the idea of themrunners comin' back where they start from. "

"Listen, all of you, " Speed announced. "I am going to run aroundand around and around this corral. If Mr. Skinner chooses toaccompany me, he may trail along; otherwise I shall run alone. "

"Never heerd of such a thing!" Gallagher was dancing in hisexcitement, but Skinner calmed him by announcing, curtly:

"I'll beat him any way he wants to run. "

"You couldn't beat a rug, " retorted Wally, and Glass suddenlysmote his palms together, crying, blankly:

"I forgot the rug!"

"We don't want no arg'ment afterwards. Does the Centipede acceptits fate?" Still Bill glared at the faces ringed about him. 

"We do if Skinner says so. "

"Twice around the corral, " agreed Skinner. "But no accidents, understand? If he falls, I keep going. "

Instantly there ensued a scramble for grand-stand seats; thecowboys swarmed like insects upon the stout fence of the corral. 

"Then you'll start and finish here. Once y'all pass we'll stretcha string to yonder post, and the first man to bust it wins. Who'sgot a string?"

"Mr. Gallagher, won't you use my sash?" Helen quickly unfastenedthe long blue bow of ribbon from her cotton gown, and Gallagherthanked her, adding:

"Moreover, the winner gets it!"

For the first time, then, Skinner addressed Miss Blake. 

"Hadn't you better make that the loser, miss? The winner gets thecoin, " and the assent came in a flashing smile from sky-blueeyes. 

"Then the loser gets the ribbon!" Gallagher announced loudly, andmade one end fast to the corral. "Which I call han'some treatmentfor Mr. Speed, an' only wish we might retain it at the Centipedeas a remembrance. Are the runners ready?"

Those near the starting-line gave room. Skinner stepped quicklyout from his blanket, and stamped his spikes into the soil; heraised and lowered himself on his toes to try his muscles. Speeddrew his bath-robe from his shoulders and thrust it toward histrainer, who shook his head. 

"Give it to Covington, Bo; I won't be here when you come back. "

"Get on your marks!" The starter gave his order. 

Speed set his spikes into the dirt, brought his weight forwardupon his hands. He whispered something to Skinner. That gentlemanstraightened up, whereupon Willie cried for a second time:

"On your marks!" and again Skinner crouched. 

"Get set!"

The crowd filled its lungs and waited. Helen Blake buried hernails in her rosy cold palms. Chapin and his friends were swayedby their heart-beats, while even Fresno was balanced upon histoes, his plump face eager. The click of Willie's gun soundedsharp as he cocked it. 

Into the ear close by his cheek Speed again whispered anagonized--

"Don't forget to fall down!"

This time the cook of the Centipede leaped backward with an angrysnarl, while the crowd took breath. 

"Make him quit talking to me!" cried Skinner. 

Gallagher uttered an imprecation and strode forward, only to havehis way once more barred by Still Bill Stover. "He can talk if hewants to. "

"There is nothing, " Speed pointed out with dignity, "in thearticles to forbid talking. If I wished to, I could sing. Yes, orwhistle, if I felt like it. "

"_On your marks!"_ came the rasping voice of Willie as Wallymurmured to Skinner:

"Remember, I trust you. "

Skinner ground his teeth; the tendons in his calves stood outrigidly. 

"Get set!"

Once more the silence of death wrapped the beholders, and Willieraised his arm. Speed cast one lingering farewell glance to theskies, and said, devoutly: "What a beautiful, beautiful day!"

Now the starter was shaking in an ague of fury. 

"Listen, you!" he chattered, shrilly. "I'm goin' to shoot twicethis time--once in the air, and the next time at the nearestfoot-runner. Now, _get set_!" and the speaker pulledtrigger, whereupon Speed leaped as if the bullet had been aimedat him. 

Instantly a full-lunged roar went up that rolled away to thefoot-hills, and the runners sped out of the pandemonium, theirlegs twinkling against the dust-colored prairie. Down to the turnthey raced. Speed was leading. Fright had acted upon him as anelectric charge; his terror lent him wings; he was obsessed by apropelling force outside of himself. Naturally strong, lithe, andactive, he likewise possessed within him the white-hot flame ofyouth, and now, with a nameless fear to spurn him on, he ran asany healthy, frightened young animal would run. At the secondturn Skinner had not passed him, but the thud of his feet wasclose behind. 

This unparalleled phenomenon surprised Lawrence Glass perhapsmost of all. He had laid his plans to slip quietly out of thecrowd under cover of the first confusion and lay his own courseeastward; but when he beheld his protege actually in the lead, heremained rooted to his tracks. Was this a miracle? He turned toCovington, to find him dancing madly, his crutches waving overhis head, in his eyes the stare of a maniac. His mouth wasdistended, and Glass reasoned that he must be shouting violently, but could not be sure. Suddenly Covington dashed to the turnwhence the runners would be revealed as they covered the lasthalf lap, for nothing was distinguishable through the fence, burdened by human forms, and Larry lumbered after him, ploughinghis way through the crowd and colliding with the box upon whichstood the Echo Phonograph, of New York and Paris. He hurledMariedetta out of his path with brutal disregard, but even beforehe could reach his point of vantage the sprinters burst into thehomestretch. Larry Glass saw it all at a glance--Speed wasweakening, while Skinner was running easily. Nature had done herutmost; she could not work the impossible. As they tore past, Skinner was ahead. 

The air above the corral became blackened with hats as if a flockof vultures had wheeled suddenly; the shriek of triumph that rosefrom the Centipede ranks warned the trainer that he had tarriedtoo long. Heavily he set off across the prairie for New York. 

The memory of that race awakened Speed from his slumbers manytimes in later years. When he found the brown shoulder of hisrival drawing past he realized that for him the end of all thingswas at hand. And yet, be it said to his credit, he held doggedlyto his task, and began to fight his waning strength with reneweddetermination. Down through the noisy crowd he pounded at theheels of his antagonist, then out upon the second lap. But nowhis fatigue increased rapidly, and as it increased, so didSkinner's lead. At the second turn Wally was hopelesslyoutdistanced, and began to sob with fury, in anticipation of thelast, long, terrible stretch. Back toward the final turn theycame, the college man desperately laboring, the cook striding onlike a machine. Wally saw the rows of forms standing upon thefence, but of the shouting he heard nothing. Skinner was twentyyards ahead now, and flung a look back over his shoulder. As heturned into the last straightaway he looked back again andgrinned triumphantly. 

Then--J. Wallingford Speed gasped, and calling upon his uttermostatom of strength, quickened the strides of his leaden legs. Skinner had fallen!

A shriek of exultation came from the Flying Heart followers; itdied as the unfortunate man struggled to his feet, and was offagain before his opponent had overtaken him. Down the alley ofhuman forms the two came; then as their man drew ahead for aninstant or two, such a bedlam broke forth from Gallagher's crewthat Lawrence Glass, well started on his overland trip, judgedthat the end had come. 

But Skinner wavered. His ankle turned for a second time; heseemed about to fall once more. Then he righted himself, but hecame on hobbling. 

The last thirty yards contained the tortures of a lifetime toWally Speed. His lungs were bursting, his head was rolling, everystep required a separate and concentrated effort of will. He knewhe was wobbling, and felt his knees ready to buckle beneath him, but he saw the blue, tight-stretched ribbon just ahead, andcontinued to lessen the gap between himself and Skinner until hefelt he must reach out wildly and grasp at the other man'sclothing. Helen's face stood out from the blur, and her lipscried to him. He plunged forward, his outflung arm tore theribbon from its fastening, and he fell. But Skinner was behindhim. 

CHAPTER XVIII

The only thing in the world that the victorious Speed wanted wasto lie down and stretch out and allow those glowing coals in hischest to cool off. But rough hands seized him, and he foundhimself astride of Stover's shoulders and gyrating about the EchoPhonograph in the midst of a war-dance. He kicked violently withhis spiked shoes, whereat the foreman bucked like a wild horseunder the spur and dropped him, and he staggered out of thecrowd, where a girl flew to him. 

"Oh, Wally, " she cried, "I knew you could!" He sank to theground, and she knelt beside him. 

Skinner was propped against the corral fence opposite, his facedistorted with suffering, and Gallagher was rubbing his ankle. 

"'Taint broke, I reckon, " said Gallagher, rising. "I wish to hellit was!" He stared disgustedly at his fallen champion, and added:"We don't want y'all for a cook no more, Skinner. You never wasno good nohow. " He turned to Helen and handed her a doublehandful of bank-notes, as Berkeley Fresno buried his hands in hispockets and walked away. "Here's your coin, miss. If ever you getanother hunch, let me know. An' here's yours, Mr. Speed; it's aweddin'-present from the Centipede. " He fetched a deep sigh. "Thank the Lord we'll git somethin' fit to eat from now on!"

Speed staggered to Skinner, who was still nursing his injury, andheld out his hand, whereat the cook winked his left eye gravely. 

"The best man won, " said Skinner, "and say--there's a parson atAlbuquerque. " Then he groaned loudly, and fell to massaging hisfoot. 

There came a fluttering by his side, and Miss Blake's voice saidto him, with sweetness and with pity: "I'm so sorry you lost yourposition, Mr. Skinner. You're a splendid runner!"

"Never mind the job, miss, I've got something to remember it by. "He pointed to a sash which lay beside him. "The loser gets theribbon, miss, " he explained gallantly. 

Off to the right there came a new outcry, and far across thelevel prairie a strange sight was revealed to the beholders. Afat man in white flannels was doubling and dodging ahead of twohorsemen, and even from a considerable distance it could plainlybe seen that he was behaving with remarkable agility for one soheavy. Repeatedly his pursuers headed him off, but he rushed pastthem, seemingly possessed by the blind sense of direction thatguides the homing pigeon or the salmon in its springtime run. Hewas headed toward the east. 

"Why, it's Larry!" ejaculated Speed. "And Cloudy and Carara. "

"Wally, your man has lost his reason!" Chapin called. 

At that instant the watchers saw the Mexican thunder down uponGlass, his lariat swinging about his head. Lazily the ropeuncoiled and settled over the fleeing figure, then, amid a cloudof dust, Carara's horse set itself upon its haunches and thewhite-clad figure came to the end of its flight. There was aviolent struggle, as if the cowboy had hooked a leaping tuna, cactus plants and sage-brush were uprooted, then the pony beganto back away, always keeping the lariat taut. But Glass was noeasy captive, as his threshing arms and legs betrayed, and evenwhen he was dragged back to the scene of the race, panting, grimy, dishevelled, the rope still about his waist, he seemedobsessed by that wild insanity for flight. He was drenched withperspiration, his collar was dangling, one end of a suspendertrailed behind him. 

At sight of Speed he uttered a cry, then plunged through thecrowd like a bull, but the lariat loop slipped to his neck andtightened like a hangman's noose. 

"Larry, " cried his employer, sharply, "have you lost your head?"

"Ain't they g-g-got you yet?" queried the trainer in a stranglingvoice. 

"You idiot, I won!"

"What!"

"I won--easy. "

"You _won!_" Larry's eyes were starting from his head. 

"He sure did, " said Stover. "Didn't you think he could?"

Glass apprehended that look of suspicion. "Certainly!" said he. "Didn't I say so, all along? Now take that clothesline off of me;I've got to run some more. "

That evening J. Wallingford Speed and Helen Blake sat together inthe hammock, and much of the time her hand was in his. The breathof the hills wandered to them idly, fragrant with the odors ofthe open fields, the heavens were bright with dancing stars, thenight itself was made for romance. From the bunk-house across thecourt-yard floated the voice of the beloved Echo Phonograph, nowsad, now gay; now shrilling the peaceful air with Mme. Melba's_Holy City_, now waking the echoes with the raspingreflections of _Silas on Fifth Avenue. _ To the spellboundaudience gathered close beside it, it was divine; but deep as wastheir satisfaction, it could not compare with that of the tiredyoung son of Eli. Ineffable peace and contentment were his; thewhole wide world was full of melody. 

"And now that I've told you what a miserable fraud I am, youwon't stop loving me?" he questioned. 

Helen nestled closer and shook her head. There was no need forwords. 

Jack Chapin came out upon the porch with the chaperon. "Well, Fresno caught his train, " he told them. 

"And we had such a glorious drive coming back! The night issplendid!"

"Yes, so nice and moonlight!" Wally agreed pleasantly, whereatJack Chapin laughed. 

"It's as black as pitch. "

"Why, so it is!" Then as a fresh song burst forth from the veryheart of the machine, he murmured affectionately: "By Jove! theregoes _The Baggage Coach Ahead_ once more! That makes tentimes. "

"It's a beautiful thing, isn't it?" Miss Blake sighed dreamily. 

"I--I believe I'm learning to like it myself, " her lover agreed. "Poor Frez!"

The bridesmaids wore white organdie and carried violets.