er!"

Holton nodded. "On the strength o' this jockey as nobody knows. Got any
money on, yourself, Layson?"

"Not a cent. I've enough at stake, already."

Holton smiled unpleasantly, intimating that Frank's lack of betting on
his horse was proof positive that the worst tales told were true. "That
settles it. The bookies are right. Th' mare's no chance with a new
jockey, an' you know it."

"If I were betting," said Frank angrily, "I'd back her with every dollar
that I have on earth."

Holton smiled at him unpleasantly. "I say she can't win and you know
it." He waited for some answer from the anxious owner, but received
none. Then, taking out his check-book: "See here--I'll bet you
five-thousand even against her!"

Frank, annoyed but helpless, shook his head. "I haven't the money," he
admitted.

"You ain't got the sand!" said Holton, aggravatingly.

Frank turned from him angrily, and old Neb, who had listened, stepped
quickly up to him. "Marse Frank," he pleaded, "don' yo' let dat
white-trash bluff yo'!" The old darkey's voice was tremulous, his eyes
were moist with feeling for his humiliated master. A great resolve
thrilled through him. "See heah, honey, I's be'n sabin' all mah life.
I's got a pile o' money in de bank. Take it all, now, honey, an' bet it
on Queen Bess."

Frank shook his head, but smiled at the old darkey, touched alike by his
devotion to himself and confidence in the mare they both loved. "No, no,
Neb; not your money," he replied. He stood in deep thought, for a
moment, tapping the ground nervously with worried foot. "But I'll back
the mare for all _I'm_ worth!" he finally declared. "If she loses, I'm a
ruined man, anyway." He turned, now, to Holton. "Holton," he said,
"I've got just three thousand dollars in the bank. I'll put it all on
Queen Bess against your five-thousand."

It seemed, almost, as if Holton had been waiting for this offer, for his
smile broadened as he found that he had goaded Layson into making it.
"I'll take it," he said quickly, and then, turning to the crowd about
them, among which were some of the state's best citizens, he added:
"Gentlemen, you're witnesses. Three-thousand against five-thousand on
Queen Bess."

They nodded, and not one of them but looked at Layson with
commiseration, as at a man foredoomed to bitter disappointment.

Neb, however, grinned at Holton impishly. "Yes; you'll look mighty sick
when yo' hab to pay it, too."

From the judge's stand rang o