" answered Allis.

"But for traveling, girl, it seems out of place. Let me put a hat on
you. I declare I thought it was Alan when you came into the room."

"I can't wait; this will do. I must be off to catch my train. Goodbye,
mother; wish me good luck," and she hurried out and took her seat in the
buggy.

XXXI

Some hours later Dixon, sitting in his cottage, oppressed by the
misfortune that had come to his stable, heard a knock at the door. When
he opened it a neatly dressed, slim youth stepped into the uncertain
light that stretched out reluctantly from a rather unfit lamp on the
center table.

"Is this Mr. Dixon?" the boy's voice piped modestly.

"Yes, lad, it is. Will you sit down?"

The boy removed his cap, took the proffered chair, and said somewhat
hesitatingly, "I heard you wanted a riding boy."

"Well, I do, an' I don't. I don't know as I said I did, but,"--and he
scanned the little figure closely, "if I could get a decent lightweight
that hadn't the hands of a blacksmith, an' the morals of a burglar, I
might give him a trial. Did you ever do any ridin'--what stable was you
in?"

"I've rode a good deal," answered the little visitor, ignoring the
second half of the question.

"What's your name?"

"Mayne."

"Main what?"

"Al Mayne," the other replied.

"Well, s'posin' you show up at the course paddocks to-morrow mornin'
early, an' I'll see you shape on a horse. D'you live about here--can
you bring your father, so if I like your style we can have things fixed
proper?"

The boy's face appealed to Dixon as being an honest one. Evidently the
lad was not a street gamin, a tough. If he had hands--the head promised
well--and could sit a horse, he might be a find. A good boy was rarer
than a good horse, and of more actual value.

"I guess I'll stay here to-night so as to be ready for the mornin',"
said the caller, to Dixon's astonishment; and then the little fellow
broke into a silvery laugh.

"By Jimminy! If it isn't--well, I give in, Miss Allis, you fooled me."

"Can I ride Lauzanne now?" the girl asked, and her voice choked a
little--it might have been the nervous excitement, or thankfulness at
the success of her plan in this its first stage.

"Do they know at home?" the Trainer asked.

"No, nobody is to know but you, Mr. Dixon--you and Mrs. Dixon."

This suggested a thought to the Trainer. "The good wife's at work in the
kitchen; I'll bring her in. Perhaps she'd like to hire a hel