“Goodness gracious,” ejaculated Shirley. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
She was silent some moments and then continued:
“Well, then, when I find the address, I’ll simply write and tell him to meet me in a certain place.”
“That will be much better,” agreed Mabel. “But, honestly, Shirley, I don’t think much of the plan. You are sure to get into trouble of some kind.”
“Perhaps,” said Shirley with a shrug of her shoulders, “but I’ll get out all right. Besides, I shall be saving Jimmy; and, after all, the saving of one boy’s honor is surely worth the risk.”
“I hardly think so,” was the reply. “It is too soon.”
“But he may write after you do, and thus lead to your discovery.”
“I had thought of that,” said Shirley, “and for that reason we must manage to get the address away from him at once. He is hardly likely to remember it, and when he cannot find the card he probably will forget all about the matter.”
Shirley waved her right hand impatiently.
“My gracious,” she exclaimed, “don’t be looking for trouble all the time. I know there is a risk, but we shall have to take it. Now the first thing to do is to get the card from Jimmy.”
“Just leave that to me,” said Shirley, airily. “I’ll get it, and he won’t know anything about it.”
“All right,” said Mabel, doubtfully, “but——”
“Come with me,” she said, and led the way from the room.
They found Jimmy Smith in the stable leaning over Gabriel’s stall and talking to him in low tones. The lad stepped back and lifted his cap from his head as the two girls approached.
“Are you telling Gabriel that he must win the Derby, Jimmy?” asked Shirley with a bright smile.
“Yes, Miss,” was the reply. “Gabriel and I have many talks, and he always promises me that he will win.”
“Why—I—yes—of course he can’t,” he stammered.
“But suppose something should happen?” persisted Shirley.
“What do you mean?” asked Jimmy, plainly startled.
“Oh, nothing,” said Shirley, and changed the subject abruptly.
“Jimmy,” she said a few moments later, “I wish you would go up in the loft and see how much hay there is up there.”
“All right, Miss,” said the boy, and reached for his coat, which hung over the stall door.
“You don’t need the coat,” said Shirley. “Hurry up, please. Dad is anxious to know right away.”