Dillard turned at this.
"I told you we"d catch Marston in some crooked work, but I"ve changed my mind. He"s a sly fox. He"s scented something. I"ve watched him all right, and he"s been straight as a shingle."
"I don"t see that it matters now," replied John, coolly, busy at his desk.
"Why?"
"We don"t want to ruin him just for the fun of it, do we? It was to help the Dudleys we planned his downfall. That necessity is removed now. Of course he should be punished for holding that dividend back, but that alone hardly merits the penitentiary, especially since our little plan about the insurance worked. They"re easy now, but we must see that no more tricks like that are played at the bank. Marston"s behaving very well now. At least he has quit annoying our friends."
"You"re a devilish funny fellow!" commented Dillard.
"And I want him to be on hand at the races," continued John. "He has entered the pick of his stables. Two of them--the best he has--go against The Prince. The colt will win. I want Marston to see him win. I want him to see a Dudley horse walk away from the fastest thing in a Marston stable!"
He swung around in his chair with flashing eyes.
"You"re pretty confident, aren"t you?"
"No more than I have cause to be."
"Do you know the private record of that big black, Imperial Don?"
"No, and I don"t care to. I don"t care if it"s two minutes flat! I tell you, Tom Dillard, there"s nothing on four legs that can outrun The Prince! It is uncanny! Have you ever seen him go with a loosened rein?
It takes your breath away to watch him! Peter is going to work him out this afternoon at the track. Miss Dudley and I are going. When you come back you will understand what I mean when I say this colt was born of the wind and the lightning!"
Dillard flushed at the mention of Julia"s name and looked embarra.s.sed.
John wondered. Had the poor fellow cast his die, and lost? His own uncertain position brought a warm feeling of sympathy to his heart, but he could say nothing personal.
"I don"t suspect I can come," answered Dillard, in a changed voice, and John no longer doubted it was all over with his friend. "But I hope you"re right. It would give me a lot of pleasure to see the Dudleys win over Marston."
"There are plenty of people around here who will enjoy that pleasure,"
muttered Glenning, turning to his writing materials.
"I"ll be on hand at the race, anyway," said Dillard, walking to the door, "and I"ll keep on watching Marston."
John"s engagement with Julia was at five in the afternoon. The days were extremely hot, and it had not been thought wise to allow the colt his exercise until the sun had declined somewhat. The Prince was green. He was young. Conditions which older and hardened horses might not feel would likely affect him seriously. He had been sheltered and pampered since earliest colthood. Really he had not been given a chance to prove what was in him. The run this afternoon was a part of the process of hardening. The race wherein his name made one was to be a mighty game for blood and brawn. It was no place for a weakling.
Old Peter, sly and wise with his many years, years which had been given almost entirely to learning lore about horses, and acquainting himself with their moods and disposition--Old Peter knew all this, and he was making ready. With all his enthusiasm and confidence, he knew there was scant hope of his beloved colt winning in three straight heats. The race might be drawn out to four or five, or even six or eight, and then the horse with the greatest endurance would be the horse to win. But Peter knew what he knew. He knew that The Prince"s sire, and his grandsire, had been noted for their staying qualities, and though the colt was slender of barrel and limb, yet hidden somewhere within that satin-smooth skin was power to go indefinitely.
Glenning presented himself at Julia"s door promptly. She received him cordially, but with a sort of maidenly reserve which he had noticed ever since that night when she had almost asked him to lift the veil which hid his past. She was not quite as open and free as upon former occasions. Her appearance was charming, as usual. She disdained ornaments, a small cl.u.s.ter of some delicate flowers or a single blossom which had mayhap struck her fancy, being the only attempt she ever made to adorn herself beyond the delightfully simple costumes, which were always graceful and airy. Today she came to John swinging by its ribbons her hat--a boy"s broad-brimmed straw--and wearing a gingham dress, belted at the waist and becomingly ruffled.
The man"s heart surged as his eyes beheld her.
"Oh, let"s walk!" she exclaimed, as she caught sight of a horse and buggy on the driveway.
"Certainly, if you wish. But the roads are dusty; even driving is unpleasant."
He tried to speak naturally, but invisible fingers had him by the throat, and his words were strained.
She flashed a quick glance at him.
"That"s one reason why I proposed walking--because of the dusty roads.
We"ll go through, you know. Back through the garden, over a spa.r.s.ely wooded upland, and down to the track. You did not know we were so near, did you?"
"No; but that will be fine. Is the Major in the library? I should like to pay my respects, if nothing more than to greet him."
"Yes; walk in. He"s reading, and seems much improved. He"ll be glad to see you."
Major Dudley looked up from his book as they appeared for a moment in the doorway, side by side. He smiled, and essayed to rise. Then John was at his side, gently pressing him back into his chair.
"Sit still, I beg you!" he said, taking the thin, soft hand of the old aristocrat. "I"ve only a moment, for Miss Dudley has promised to go with me to the track, and we mustn"t delay. I"m glad to see you looking so well, Major."
"My health seems excellent, suh! But I cannot undergo any exertion. My haht is gettin" a little tahed, it seems, but it"s been workin" long enough to deserve a rest. Won"t you take a chair, suh?"
"Another time, thank you. The Prince is in fine trim, I believe?"
"Great colt, suh! Peter reports his condition puhfect."
"You have no apprehension in regard to the race?"
The old gentleman"s eyes shot fire under their gray brows, and his body became more erect.
"I"m as satisfied he"ll win as I am the sun will rise tuhmorrow!"
"Good! I share your belief to the full. Let me say good-bye now. The sun will not last much over an hour."
A minute later Julia and John were pa.s.sing through the garden, side by side.
"Of course you read in the paper about Uncle Arthur"s death?" she said.
John flushed guiltily, and he gave her a covert look. Her face was a little shadowed, and very sweet.
"Yes," he answered, seeking vainly in his mind for an excuse to change the subject.
"It was all very queer," she resumed, puckering her brow and shaking her head slowly. "The letter from the lawyer was so formal, and was not explicit. We have feared there was some mistake, as we have not heard from Uncle Arthur for so many years. Father wrote to the lawyer asking for further details, but has heard nothing from him."
"It was queer," admitted Glenning, feeling the weight of his duplicity, while his conscience writhed as though a white hot iron had touched it.
"It saddened us so much to think that he was coming back to us, and did not live to get home. Wasn"t it dreadful?"
"Indeed it was."
John drew a long breath, and fidgeted inwardly. They had reached the stone fence bounding the garden, and he seized his chance.
"Let me help you over!" he cried, leaping to the flat top of the fence and extending his hand.
She took it, and allowed herself to be drawn up. Then he descended and swung her to the ground with her hands in his. A gently sloping, slightly wooded hill stretched up before them, and as they began the leisurely ascent she spoke again.
"You know that local news comes to us rather slowly, and we have just learned of what you did to Mr. Marston--that day."