p," and he
chuckled as he opened a door and called, "Come here for a minute. This
is a boy"--he turned his head away--"I'm takin' on for Lauzanne."

"Oh," said Mrs. Dixon. Then, with severe politeness, "Good evenin',
young man."

The two figures in male attire broke into a laugh simultaneously. The
good lady, oblivious to the humorous side of her greeting, flushed in
anger. "Appears to be mighty funny," she said. "What's the joke?"

"Oh, nuthin'," replied the husband, speaking hastily. "Can you give the
lad a bed? He wants to bunk here."

"Why, Andy, you know I can't. There's only Miss Allis's room."

"Give her--him that."

"Are you crazy, Andy?"

"It's too bad, Mrs. Dixon; I sha'n't let your husband tease you any
more. I am Allis; but I'm glad you didn't know."

"Oh, Miss Allis, where's your beautiful hair gone? Surely you didn't cut
that off just for a joke?"

Then she was taken fully into their confidence; and before Allis retired
Dixon had been quite won over to the plan of Allis's endeavor.

In the morning the Trainer asked the girl whether she would ride
Lauzanne a working gallop to get accustomed to the new order of things,
or would she just wait until race day and take her place in the saddle
then.

"I'm afraid Mike'll spot you," he said--"even Carter may."

"I'll ride to-day," declared Allis; "I musn't take any chances of losing
this race through my inexperience. Even Lauzanne will hardly know me,
I'm afraid. Mike and Carter needn't see much of me--I can slip away as
soon as I've ridden the gallop."

"Here's a boy's sweater, then," said Dixon; "the collar'll half hide
your face. I'll get a pair of ridin' breeches an' boots for you by
tomorrow. The little mare's in for it sure," he added; "her legs are
swellin', an' she's off her feed--just nibbles at a carrot. I feel as
bad as if it was a child that was sick, she's that gentle. She can't
start, an' I'll just tell Redpath that he can take another mount if he
gets it. You're still bound to ride the Chestnut?" he asked, by way of
assurance.

"Yes, I am."

"Well, we'll get five pounds off the weight for 'prentice
allowance--that's somethin'. I'll arrange about a permit for you. What
did you say your name was, mister?"

"Al Mayne, please, sir," this in the humble tone of a stable-boy.

"Well, Miss--Al, I mean--you can carry Lauzanne around the course at
nine o'clock sharp; then you'd better come back here an' rest up all
day--lay low."

"A n