ut my dollars on
Sassafras."

The man's quiet smile was good to see. And Nan warmed under its
influence. This was the Jeff she had known so long and loved so well.
There was no other woman near to have provoked that smile. It was
hers. She felt it was all hers, and her eyes shone up into the depths
of blue she so loved.

"Why, Nan, I just hate to disappoint you," he said, in a gentle
fashion. "But you'll surely be crazy to back my plug with Tommy
Cleveden's 'Jack Rabbit' in the race. It's a cinch for him. It is so."

Nan laughed a glad buoyant laugh.

"Jack Rabbit?" she echoed scornfully. "Why, he points the toe. Guess
he'd outrun Sassafras if he kept his feet, but he'll never do it.
He'll peck. Then he'll change his stride. No, Jeff. Sassafras goes
with me."

The smile in the man's eyes faded out. He hated the thought of Nan
losing her money on what he considered a foolish bet. His practical
mind could not see under her purpose.

"Say, Nan, just don't you do it," he said persuasively. "We aren't.
We're backing Jack Rabbit for a big roll."

"We?"

"Mrs. Van Blooren and me."

Jeff's manner was quite unconcerned. At that instant he had no thought
of anything but to dissuade Nan from throwing her money away uselessly.
And Nan. Her eyes never wavered for an instant in their regard. Their
warmth of expression remained. Yet it was a cruel blow. Perhaps the
cruelest that could have been inflicted at such a moment. Jeff had
inflicted it--Jeff of all men.

She smiled up at him. Oh, how she smiled. Her eyes shone like two
superb brown diamonds as she forced her money upon him with even
greater determination.

"Take it, Jeff. Take it," she cried urgently. "Say, if you never,
never do another thing for me--ever. Take it, and, why, I guess every
cent of it says Sassafras wins. Sassafras is your pony, Jeff, and I'd
back him if he'd only three legs and a fence post." Then just the
smallest gleam of the woman peeped through. "Maybe Mrs. Van Blooren's
a pretty bright woman. But I guess I'm wise to horses."

Jeff hurried away. There was no time to waste. The horses had already
assembled at the start. Nan watched him go with eyes that had lost
their last gleam of sunshine. The mask she had set up before the man
had completely fallen. Jeff was--was betting for Mrs. Van Blooren! He
was betting with her! Maybe even they were pooling their bets! Oh!

For some moments she stood alone wher