Then in her ears rang a cry:
"A hundred dollars Jack Rabbit! A thousand! Jack Rabbit! Jack
Rabbit!"
It was like a douche of cold water. The girl's heart sank. She felt, she knew that Jack Rabbit had won. Then into her ears poured a babel of voices. The roar had died out, and the crowd were waiting for the numbers to go up.
Nan had no further interest. She turned to seek her father. He was there, not far behind her, and she pushed her way toward him. She smiled bravely as she came up, but the pathos of it was lost on Bud. He was craning, and his eyes were on the number board. He did not even see her.
"I'm—I'm sort of tired, Daddy," she began.
But Bud held up his hand. There was a rattle at the number board. Nan understood. She waited. Then it seemed as if the crowd had timed itself for one unanimous shout.
"Sassafras!"
It came with a sort of electric thrill for the girl. In one wild moment all her shadows seemed to clear.
"Sassafras!" she cried.
And her father's deep gray eyes beamed down upon her