him for that price.
With a touch of kindly humor, Crane declared that he would have a small
bet on the horse for Allis the first time he started.

Beyond parting with Diablo, Allis would not go farther in the matter of
selling the horses; this was the full extent of her concession to the
mother. Had she known that her father had entered Diablo in the Brooklyn
Handicap she might even have refused to part with the horse. As it
happened, Porter had entered both Lucretia and Diablo in the Brooklyn a
day or so before his accident, but had not spoken of it.

Crane assured Mrs. Porter that she need not distract her mind over money
matters, the bank could easily carry their lead until her husband was
himself again. No matter how things turned out, it was a delicate matter
to touch upon, the possibility of Porter's condition taking a
serious turn, but coming from Crane it seemed like an earnest of his
sincerity--well, Mrs. Porter would find a friend in him, quite willing
and able to smooth their difficult path.

Crane had meant to defer any protestations of regard for Allis until
a propitious future, but with his quick perception he saw that the
psychological moment had been moved forward by the sudden effacement of
the master of Ringwood. If he spoke now to Mrs. Porter it would give
her a right to call upon his services. He would appear in the light of
a debtor; it would break down barriers which might seem to exist because
of their non-relationship.

Crane had not been without a suspicion that the younger man, Mortimer,
might prove a rival; heroics such as the Diablo episode were apt to
give young people a romantic interest in each other; Fate had more than
evened matters up by giving him the present opportunity. He thought with
some satisfaction how perfectly helpless Mortimer was in the present
instance, for he was most undeniably poor. It was an opportunity to be
grasped; and Crane never let the tide pass its flood in the waters of
his life.

So the banker spoke to Mrs. Porter of his strong love for Allis; so
delicately, and with so much sincerity, that she was completely won
over. It is true, the ground had been prepared for the seed, for the
mother had long feared that Allis might become attached to some one of
Porter's racing associates. Though strong in spiritual matters, the
good woman was not without worldly instinct. She was pleased with Crane
personally; he was not by any means a racing man; a rich banker, who