's hardly fast enough and it's too expensive
in various ways--but there's a little semi-private meeting to be held
before long at a place about thirty miles off. I might have a chance
there if we put him into training immediately. You know something about
horses?"

"Not much," responded Lisle. "I've made one long journey in the saddle in
Alberta; but you've seen our British Columbian trails. Our cayuses have
generally to climb, and as a rule I've used horses only for packing.
Still, I'm fond of them; I'd be interested in the thing."

Nasmyth nodded.

"One difficulty is that there's nothing in the neighborhood that I could
try him for pace against except that horse of Gladwyne's."

"He'd no doubt let you have the beast."

"It's possible," Nasmyth agreed dryly. "But I've objections to being
indebted to him; and I don't want Batley, Marple and Crestwick to take a
hand in and put their money on me. However, we'll think it over."

They retired to sleep soon afterward; and the next day Lisle walked
across to call on Gladwyne, in a quietly determined mood. Clarence was in
his library, and he looked up with some curiosity when Lisle was shown
in. Lisle came to the point at once.

"You've no doubt noticed that Jim Crestwick has been going pretty hard of
late," he said. "Bets, speculation, and that sort of thing. He can't keep
it up on a minor's allowance. It will end in a bad smash if he isn't
checked."

Gladwyne's manner became supercilious.

"I fail to see how it concerns you, or, for that matter, either of us."

"We won't go into the question--it's beside the point. What I want you to
do is to pull him up."

He spoke as if he meant to be obeyed, and Gladwyne looked at him in
incredulous astonishment.

"Do you suppose I'm able to restrain the lad?"

"You ought to be," Lisle answered coolly. "It's your friend Batley who's
leading him on to ruin; I'm making no comments on your conduct in
standing by and watching, as if you approved of it."

The man grew hot with anger.

"Thank you for your consideration." His tone changed to a sneer. "I
suppose you couldn't be expected to realize that the attitude you're
adopting is inexcusable?"

"If you don't like it, I'll try another," Lisle returned curtly. "You'll
give Batley his orders to leave the lad alone right now."

Gladwyne rose with his utmost dignity, a fine gentleman whose feelings
had been outraged by the coarse attack of a barbarian; but Lisle waved
his han