CHAPTER XVI.--MORE TROUBLES FOR JIMMY.

Jimmy returned to the stable and the rest went to bed. The night passed without further incident.

"Jimmy," said Mr. Willing the following morning, "I want you to go to town and buy a new strong lock, one that cannot be opened from the outside. We will take no further chances with Jones and his crowd."

"Very well, sir," replied the boy, and a half hour later started on his way, riding one of the horses.

The lock purchased, Jimmy, in an unfrequented part of town, was just preparing to mount for his homeward journey, when a rude hand was suddenly laid on his shoulder. Jimmy turned about quickly and looked into the smiling face of Jones.

"You listen to me, son," said Jones. "We haven't been able to get together so far, but I still think I can make it worth your while to do what I ask."

"I don't want anything to do with you," replied Jimmy.

"Come, now," said Jones, "don't be stubborn. Come with me to where we can talk without fear of being overheard."

Jimmy hesitated.

"Perhaps I can learn something," he told himself. Aloud he said: "All right."

Jones smiled and led the way down the street. He turned in the door of what appeared to be a small hotel, and walked up the steps, Jimmy following.

Jones went into a little room, and drew two chairs up to the table that stood in the center.

"Now we can get down to business," he said.

Jimmy sat down, and at that moment the door opened again and a newcomer appeared upon the scene. He was young, but large and apparently very strong. He took a seat at the table without a word. Then Jimmy noticed for the first time that his hand was tightly bandaged.

"This, Dick," said Jones to the newcomer and indicating Jimmy, "is the youngster who put the bullet through your hand."

Dick jumped up.

"Is that so," he cried. "Then I have a score to settle with him."

He advanced toward Jimmy, but Jones stopped him.

"Not now," he said; "at any rate, not if he will do my bidding."

Dick sat down again.

"Now," said Jones to Jimmy, "I am going to give you one last chance to do as I have asked. I am willing yet to pay the stipulated amount. However, in case you refuse, I might as well tell you that I shall use other means. Gabriel must not win the Derby. In offering you the chance I have, I am simply taking the easiest way. If you refuse or I think you will play me false, I shall take other steps. What do you say?"

Jimmy got slowly to his feet.

"What other means could you use?" he said.

"Plenty," was the reply. "I might dope the horse, or shoot him in the leg, or I might even burn the stable."

Jimmy shuddered.

"You wouldn't do that," he said.

"Wouldn't I?" exclaimed Jones. "Don't try me. I will go the limit to make sure that Gabriel doesn't win. Now, what is your answer?"

Jimmy drew himself up.

"The same as it was yesterday," he said quietly. "You can't buy me."

"I can't, eh?" exclaimed Jones, springing to his feet. "Let me ask you something. Suppose you should disappear; who would ride Gabriel in the Derby?"

Jimmy was frightened.

"Why, I don't know," he replied. "Nobody but me can ride Gabriel. But why do you ask that?"

"Because," said Jones slowly, "you are about to disappear."

"Disappear?" repeated Jimmy.

"Exactly. I am going to keep you out of sight until after the race."

Jimmy had surmised what Jones meant at the other's first words, but he had feigned ignorance, playing for time. He had been edging closer and closer toward the door.

Suddenly he darted toward it and laid his hand on the knob. Jones and his companion were after him with a shout. Unfortunately for Jimmy, the door opened inward, and he was forced to step back to let it swing wide. This caused his undoing.

"You would, would you," exclaimed the villain, as he drew Jimmy forcibly back into the room. "Take that, and that, then, and see if it will teach you I am not to be trifled with."

He cuffed Jimmy's ears soundly. Then he hurled the boy into a chair.

"You sit there until I tell you to get up," he said angrily, "or I'll give you a little more."

Jimmy realized that for the time being escape was impossible, and he sat back in his chair, determined to make the best of a bad situation. He said nothing.

"What are you going to do with him, sir?" asked the youth called Dick.

"Keep him safe until after the race," was the reply.

"But you can't keep him here all that time."

"That's so. I'll have to find some place for him."

"Well," said Dick, "I know where you can put him."

"Good; where is it?"

"I have an old uncle who lives down the creek. He has a little house down there, and for a small sum he'll do almost anything."

"And you think he'll keep this kid quiet until after the big race?"

"Sure."

"Then you go and fix it up with him. Tell him it will mean $50 to him."

Dick left the room, and Jones turned to Jimmy.

"You see now what a fool you are," he exclaimed. "You might just as well have the money if you had brains. Now you won't get a cent."

"I don't want it," replied Jimmy quietly, "and if you think you can hold me a prisoner till after the race you are mistaken."

"Is that so?" sneered Jones. "And how do you figure you are going to get away?"

"That is my business," said Jimmy.

Jones laughed aloud. He got up from his chair and went toward the door.

"I'm going out for a few minutes," he said, "and I am going to lock you in. You can yell all you please. No one will pay any attention to you."

He went through the door, and Jimmy heard the key turn in the lock on the outside. No sooner had the man gone than Jimmy walked quickly toward a little window in the back of the room and looked out. Then he shook his head gloomily.

Suddenly he was struck with an idea. He drew a piece of paper and a pencil from his pocket, and seating himself at the table wrote rapidly. Then again he approached the window.

A few minutes later a small boy passed along the street below. Jimmy whistled sharply, and the boy looked up. Jimmy gesticulated violently, and the lad below stopped.

Quickly Jimmy drew out his pocket knife, and a silver quarter--all the money he had--and these he wrapped in the paper upon which he had written, and dropped them through the window.

They fell almost at the boy's feet. The latter stooped and picked them up. He glanced at the address Jimmy had written, then looked up and nodded. He pocketed the knife and the quarter and then hurried away.

Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief, and sank into a chair. He was still there when Jones returned.

"Decided to make the best of your lot, eh?" said Jones, noticing that, apparently, the lad had given up.

"I guess I'll have to," was Jimmy's reply.

"I'm glad you are that sensible. I don't want to use force unless it is necessary."

Now Jimmy bethought himself it would be a good plan to temporize with his captor.

"Look here, Jones," he said, not deigning to use the prefix, "Mr.," "I have been thinking. Why can't we get together on this thing?"

Jones laughed amusedly.

"So you are going to try that on me," he said. "It's too late now, son, and I am too old a bird to be caught like that. Think you can fool me, eh, and then go back and tell Willing all about it. No. You had your chance and you refused; and to tell the truth, I am glad of it. I will be money ahead."

Half an hour later Dick returned.

"What luck?" asked Jones.

"The best," was Dick's reply. "My uncle said he would be glad to keep him. And he'll guard him carefully, never fear."

"That is settled then. Now how about getting him there?"

"Well, I would say that the thing to do is to get a closed carriage. It's still light, you know, and if he made a break we might have trouble, for some one would be sure to see us."

"A good plan. Better go now and get a carriage."

Dick again turned toward the door. Jones called after him.

"And do the driving yourself."

Fifteen minutes later Dick returned and announced that the carriage was at the door. Jones turned to Jimmy.

"Now," he said harshly, "I want you to understand that I will stand no nonsense. Make a false move when you go out the door, or utter a sound, and I'll hit you over the head with this," and he displayed an evil-looking cane.

Jimmy made no reply, and went through the door between Jones and his companion.

At first Jimmy had thought of flight, but the nearness of his captors made this impossible. He took his seat without a word, and soon was being driven away.

Before a small frame house, at the far end of town, upon the very brink of the creek, Dick pulled up, and Jones and Jimmy alighted. As they approached the house, an old man came to meet them.

"And is this the boy I am to guard?" he asked.

"It is," replied Jones.

"Well, I'll guard him," was the reply, and the old man bared his ugly teeth in a snarl.

He took Jimmy by the coat collar, and twisted it until the boy gasped.

"Get in the house there, you!" he commanded.

Jimmy obeyed. Jones climbed back into the carriage and was soon being driven away. The old man followed Jimmy closely, snarling at every step.