n. Oh, let
me go, Allis, I'll come back, I will."

"Wait here, mother," commanded the girl. "Doctor Rathbone will tell us
if--if--" she could not finish the sentence--could not utter the dread
words, but clasping her mother's hands firmly in her own, kept her in
the chair. Once Mike came out and said, "He's jest stunned, Ma'am. The
docthor says he'll be all roight by an' by."

"He won't die--"

"He's worth a dozen dead men, Ma'am; he's jest stunned; that's all!"

There was another long wait, then Dr. Rathbone appeared.

"Porter will be all right, Madame; it'll take time; it'll take time--and
nursing. But you're getting used to that," he added, with a smile, "but,"
and he looked fixedly at Allis, "he must have quiet; excitement will
do more harm than the fall."

"Tell me the truth, doctor," pleaded Mrs. Porter, struggling to her
feet, and placing both hands on his shoulders, "I can stand it--see, I'm
brave."

"I've told you the truth, Mrs. Porter," the doctor answered. "There's no
fear for your husband's recovery if he has quiet for a few days."

She looked into his eyes. Then crying, "I believe you, doctor; thank
God for his mercy!" swayed, and would have fallen heavily but for Mike's
ready arm.

"She'll be better after that," said the doctor, addressing Allis. "It
has been a hard pull on her nerves. Just bathe her temples, and get her
to sleep, if you can. I'll come back soon. Your father is not conscious,
or will he be, I'm thinking, for a day or two. He has heavy concussion.
Cynthia has full directions what to do."

XVI

After Dr. Rathbone had left Mike and Carter went down to the stables.

"I'll jest have a look at that broke rein," said Gaynor; "that sthrap
was strong enough to hang Diablo. If there's not some dirty business in
this, I'll eat me hat. T'umbs up! but it was a gallop, though. The Black
kin move whin he wants to."

"But what do you think of old Lauzanne?" exclaimed Carter. "He just wore
Diablo down, hung to him like a bulldog, an' beat him out."

"It was the girl's ridin'; an' Lauzanne was feared, too. He's
chicken-hearted; that's what he is. Some day in a race he'll get away in
front av his horses, an' beat 'em by the length av a street. He'll be a
hun'red to wan, an' nobody'll have a penny on."

When they arrived at the stable Mike headed straight for the harness
room. The light was dim, coming from a small, high, two-paned window;
but Mike knew where every bridle and saddl