“You didn’t? I suppose you didn’t write me to meet you in Cincinnati? And I suppose that while there you didn’t accept an offer of $500 to pull Gabriel in the Derby?”
“I did not.”
Jones took a step forward and laid an angry hand on Jimmy’s shoulder.
“Don’t you lie to me, you little shrimp,” he snarled. “You have made the bargain, and you’ll live up to it or I’ll know the reason why.”
Jimmy jerked away angrily.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” he exclaimed. “I made no bargain with you. I never saw you but once before. Now you had better get out of this stable or I shall call Mr. Willing and tell him all I know about you.”
Jones tried to temporize. He could not disbelieve the evidence of his own eyes, and he naturally concluded that Jimmy was feigning ignorance for a purpose.
“I see,” he exclaimed. “You are a shrewd little chap. Holding out for more money, eh? Well, I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll make it $750. What do you say to that, eh? See that Gabriel loses the race and I’ll give you $750. Come, what do you say?”
Jimmy hesitated.
“That’s a whole lot of money,” persisted Jones.