a quotation against
Porter's stable.

"Twelve is the best I can do," answered the Cherub.

"I'll take fifteen to one," declared Dixon.

"Can't lay it; some of the talent--men as doesn't make no mistake, is
takin' twelve to one in my book fast as I open my mouth."

"I want fifteen," replied Dixon, doggedly. "Surely the owner is entitled
to a shade the best of it."

"What's the size of your bet?" queried the Cherub.

"If you lay me fifteen, I'll take it to a thousand."

"But you want it ag'in' the stable, an' you've two in; with two horses
twelve is a long price."

"I'm takin' it against the stable just because it's the usual thing
to couple it in the bettin. It's a million to one against Lauzanne's
starting if Lucretia keeps well."

Faust gave a little start and searched Dixon's face, furtively. The
Trainer's stolid look reassured him, and in a most sudden burst of
generosity he said: "Well, I'll stretch a point for you, Dixon. Your
boss is up ag'in' a frost good and hard. I'll lay you fifteen thousand
to one ag'in' the stable, an' if Lauzanne wins you'll buy me a nice
tiepin."

His round, fat sides heaved spasmodically with suppressed merriment at
the idea of Lauzanne in the Brooklyn Derby.

"They must have a pretty good opinion of The Dutchman," Dixon thought,
as he moved away after concluding the bet. "I'm naturally suspicious of
that gang, when they get frisky with their money. It's a bit like I've
heard about the Sultan of Turkey always givin' a present to a man before
cutting his head off."

The Trainer told Allis what he had done. He even spoke of his distrust
at finding Faust laying longer odds against their mare than the other
bookmakers. "But I don't see what they can do," he said, reflectively,
studying the grass at his feet, his brow quite wrinkled in deep thought.
"The mare's well, and we can trust the boy this time, I think."

"Yes, you can trust Redpath," affirmed Allis, decisively. "If Faust is
in with Langdon, as you say, it just means that they're goin' on their
luck, and think their colt, The Dutchman, can't lose."

"It must be that," concurred the Trainer, but in a hesitating tone that
showed he was not more than half satisfied.

"You backed the stable?" queried Allis, as an afterthought.

"Yes, an' Lauzanne'll have a chance to-day to show whether he's worth
the pencil that wrote his name beside Lucretia's."

"You are starting him to-day? I had almost forgotten that he was
entere