The Trainer told Allis what he had done. He even spoke of his distrust at finding Faust laying longer odds against their mare than the other bookmakers. “But I don't see what they can do,” he said, reflectively, studying the grass at his feet, his brow quite wrinkled in deep thought. “The mare's well, and we can trust the boy this time, I think.”
“Yes, you can trust Redpath,” affirmed Allis, decisively. “If Faust is in with Langdon, as you say, it just means that they're goin' on their luck, and think their colt, The Dutchman, can't lose.”
“It must be that,” concurred the Trainer, but in a hesitating tone that showed he was not more than half satisfied.
“You backed the stable?” queried Allis, as an afterthought.
“Yes, an' Lauzanne'll have a chance to-day to show whether he's worth the pencil that wrote his name beside Lucretia's.”
“You are starting him to-day? I had almost forgotten that he was entered.”
“Yes, it'll give him a fair trial—it's a mile, an' there ain't no good horses, that is, stake horses, in the race. I'll put Redpath up on him, an' you might have a talk with the boy, if you like. You're onto Lauzanne's notions better'n I am.”
Allis gave Jockey Redpath the benefit of her knowledge of Lauzanne's peculiarities.
“I'm afraid he won't take kindly to you,” she said, regretfully; “he's as notional as most of his sire's line. But if he won't try he won't, and the more you fight him the sulkier he'll get. I wish I could ride him myself,” she added, playfully; then fearing that she had hurt the boy's feelings by discounting his ability, added, hastily: “I'm afraid I've spoiled Lauzanne; he has taken a liking to me, and I've learned how to make him think he's having his own way when he's really doing just what I want him to do.”
Redpath's admiration for Allis Porter was limited to his admiration for her as a young lady. Being young, and a jockey, he naturally had notions; and a very prominent, all-absorbing notion was that he could manage his mount in a race much better than most boys. Constrained to silent acquiescence by respect for Allis, he assured himself, mentally, that, in the race his experience and readiness of judgment would render him far better service than orders—perhaps prompted by a sentimental regard for Lauzanne.