ve we?" inquired the Honorable J. Percival,
as blandly as his violated feelings would allow.

"We haven't had any yet," cried a new voice in the stand--the wrathful
voice of Trustee Silas Wallace, of the horse department. After quite
a struggle he had managed to tip President Kitchen off the trap-door
and had ascended. "We never will have any, either," he shouted,
shaking his finger under the president's nose. "What did I tell you
would happen? We'll be reported to the National Association."

The crowd across the way roared and barked like beasts of prey, and
the insistent and shrill staccato of Marengo Todd sounded over all.

Cap'n Sproul deliberately and with much decision took off his silk
hat and held it toward the Honorable Bickford.

"I resign!" he said. "I was shanghaied into this thing against my
good judgment, and it's come out just as I expected it would. It ain't
no place for me, and I resign!"

"It isn't any place for gentlemen," agreed Mr. Bickford, ignoring
the proffered hat. "We seem to be thrown in among some very vulgar
people," he went on, his ear out for Marengo's taunts, his eyes boring
Trustee Wallace. "It is not at all as I supposed it would be. You
cannot expect us to be patrons of the races under these circumstances,
Mr. Kitchen. You will please call our barouche. We leave in great
displeasure."

"I don't give a red hoorah how you leave, so long as you leave before
you've busted up this fair--trot programmy and all," retorted Mr.
Wallace, bridling. "I've got three men waitin' ready to come into
this stand. They don't wear plug hats, but they know the diff'runce
between a dog-fight and a hoss-trot."

"Take this! I don't want it no more," insisted the Cap'n, stung by
this repeated reference to plug hats. He poked the head-gear at Mr.
Bickford. But that gentleman brushed past him, stumped down the
stairs, and strode into the stretch before the stand, loudly calling
for the carriage.

Marengo Todd, accepting his sudden and defiant appearance as gage
of battle, precipitately withdrew, leaping the fence and
disappearing under the grand-stand.

It was five minutes or more ere the barouche appeared, Mr. Parrott
requiring to be coaxed by President Kitchen to haul the three
disgraced dignitaries away. He seemed to sniff a mob sentiment that
might damage his vehicle.

Mr. Bickford's two associates followed him from the stand, the Cap'n
abashed and carrying the tall hat behind his back, Hiram Lo