-as win he will--I would quickly stop those fine
fellows." He tapped his left side under the arm-pit, and while the
policeman was too lazy and indifferent to feel this spot himself, he
assumed that a pistol nestled there.

"I will myself guard your bet," he promised.

They had reached the two book-makers and the policeman promptly
communicated to them Don Mike's ultimatum. The pair exchanged glances.

"If we don't take this lunatic's money," one of them suggested
presently, "some other brave man will. I'm game."

"It's a shame to take it, but--business is business," his companion
laughed. Then to the policeman: "How much is our high-toned Mexican
friend betting and what odds does he expect?"

The policeman put the question. The high-toned Mexican gentleman bowed
elaborately and shrugged deprecatingly. Such a little bet! Truly, he
was ashamed, but the market for steers down south had been none too
good lately, and as for hides, one could not give them away. The
American gentlemen would think him a very poor gambler, indeed, but
twelve hundred and twenty-eight dollars was his limit, at odds of ten
to one. If they did not care to trifle with such a paltry bet, he
could not blame them, but--

"Holy Mackerel. Ten to one. Joe, this is like shooting fish on a
hillside. I'll take half of it."

"I'll take what's left."

They used their cards to register the bet and handed the memorandum to
Don Mike, who showed his magnificent white teeth in his most engaging
smile, bowed, and insisted upon shaking hands with them both, after
which the quartet sauntered back to the grand-stand and sat down among
the old shepherd and his flock.

As the bugle called out the horses for the handicap, Father Dominic
ceased praying and craned forward. There were ten horses in the race,
and the old priest's faded eyes popped with wonder and delight as the
sleek, beautiful thoroughbreds pranced out of the paddock and passed in
single file in front of the grand-stand. The fifth horse in the parade
was Panchito--and somebody had cleaned him up, for his satiny skin
glowed in the semi-tropical sun. All the other horses in the race had
ribbons interlaced in their manes and tails, but Panchito was barren of
adornment.

"Well, Don Quixote has had him groomed and they've combed the cactus
burrs out of his mane and tail, at any rate. He'd be a beautiful
animal if he was dolled up like the others," the book-maker, Joe,
declared.

"Go