his
appearance, that something had gone seriously wrong.

"What is it, Neb; what is it?" he demanded.

"Fo' de Lawd, sech news!" said Neb. "Sech news!"

"Neb, Neb, what's the matter?" Madge asked, frightened by his manner.

"Somebody," said the negro, "done gone smuggle in a bottle o' whiskey to
dat mis'able jockey, Ike, an' he am crazy drunk!"

CHAPTER XVI

"Drunk!" cried the Colonel, shocked inexpressibly. "And the race this
afternoon!"

"Marse Frank said you was to come, suh, an' help sobuh him."

Madge approached the Colonel anxiously. "Yes; sober him, if you have to
turn him inside out!"

"'Fraid he's done on bofe sides, missy; drunk cl'ar t'rough," said Neb.

The Colonel grasped his hat. "We'll try, we'll try," he said. "Oh,
whisky, whisky! What a pity anyone can get too much of so good a thing!"

"I neber could, suh," Neb replied, "but dat 'ar jockey--"

They hurried out together.

Madge was in intense distress. She knew what this might mean. If Queen
Bess could not run--and she could not, certainly, without a jockey--the
Dyer Brothers would not buy her, probably; and if she were not sold in
time, then Layson would be quite unable to meet the assessment on his
stock in the coal-mining company. She was by no means certain what this
was, or what the reason for it, but she had heard talk of it and knew
that it was very serious. Almost beside herself with her anxiety, she
could do nothing save sit there and wait for news. The entrance, even of
Barbara Holton, who came in, now, was a relief to her overtaxed nerves.

"Say," said she, admitting Barbara nearer to good-fellowship than she
had ever done before, "I reckon you have heered the news--Ike's
drunk--dead drunk!"

Barbara regarded her excitement with a careful calm. She, herself, had
been excited by the news when it had reached her, but a moment since,
but she would not let this girl know that. Her role was to endeavor to
force the mountain girl back into what she thought her place, at any
cost.

"Yes, I've heard," said she, "and it's too late to get another jockey,
so Queen Bess can't run."

She had formed a plan, deep in her mind, and had sought the
mountain-girl with the skilful scheme.

"Then Mr. Frank is goin' to be ruined!" Madge exclaimed, dejectedly.

"Not unless you wish it," Barbara replied, looking straight into her
eyes.

"Dellaw! Me wish that? Just you tell me what you mean!"

The bluegrass girl stood looking at the