“There’s no hope for it,” said Wolfe to himself, and set off toward the pike.
Shirley and Mabel had overheard the conversation.
“Come,” said the former, “we must at least find out what Jones says to Jimmy.”
They left the house silently, and as silently followed the two to the stable. They managed to crawl into the stall next to Gabriel’s without being discovered.
“Well, how is everything?” asked Jones.
“All right, sir,” was the reply.
“How’s Gabriel, in condition?”
“Perfectly fit, sir.”
“Good; and do you think you can ‘pull’ him without causing talk? It must be neatly done, you know, for should the judges suspect anything they will disqualify the winner.”
“What do you mean?”