ingly. "But, Dad, I'm afraid Sarch
never will beat him."

Bostil grunted. "See here. I don't want any weight up on the King. You
take him out for a few days. An' ride him! Savvy thet?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Give him miles an' miles--an' then comin' home, on good trails, ride
him for all your worth.... Now, Lucy, keep your eye open. Don't let any
one get near you on the sage."

"I won't.... Dad, do you still worry about poor Joel Creech?"

"Not Joel. But I'd rather lose all my stock then have Cordts or Dick
Sears get within a mile of you."

"A mile!" exclaimed Lucy, lightly, though a fleeting shade crossed her
face. "Why, I'd run away from him, if I was on the King, even if he got
within ten yards of me."

"A mile is close enough, my daughter," replied Bostil. "Don't ever
forget to keep your eye open. Cordts has sworn thet if he can't steal
the King he'll get you."

"Oh! he prefers the horse to me."

"Wal, Lucy, I've a sneakin' idea thet Cordts will never leave the
uplands unless he gets you an' the King both."

"And, Dad--you consented to let that horse-thief come to our races?"
exclaimed Lucy, with heat.

"Why not? He can't do any harm. If he or his men get uppish, the worse
for them. Cordts gave his word not to turn a trick till after the
races."

"Do you trust him?"

"Yes. But his men might break loose, away from his sight. Especially
thet Dick Sears. He's a bad man. So be watchful whenever you ride out."

As Lucy went down toward the corrals she was thinking deeply. She could
always tell, woman-like, when her father was excited or agitated. She
remembered the conversation between him and Creech's rider. She
remembered the keen glance old Holley had bent upon him. And mostly she
remembered the somber look upon his face. She did not like that. Once,
when a little girl, she had seen it and never forgotten it, nor the
thing that it was associated with--something tragical which had
happened in the big room. There had been loud, angry voices of men--and
shots--and then the men carried out a long form covered with a blanket.
She loved her father, but there was a side to him she feared. And
somehow related to that side was his hardness toward Creech and his
intolerance of any rider owning a fast horse and his obsession in
regard to his own racers. Lucy had often tantalized her father with the
joke that if it ever came to a choice between her and his favorites
they would come first. But was it any longer a joke?