"That's him. His name's Skinner, and that's a promisin' title to bet on." Gallagher slipped a roll of bank-notes from his pocket. "Unhook! I'll bet you." "No, no! I think myself Mr. Skinner will win. That's why I'm here." "Strip your hand, son. I don't savvy." And Fresno explained. "You see, I'm a guest over there; but there's no sentiment with me in money matters." He produced a wallet, and took from it five one-hundred-dollar bills. "Bet this for me, and don't let on where it came from. I'll see you after the race. Mind you, not a word!" "I'm dumb as the Egyptian Spinks." "This race means a lot to me, Mr. Skinner." The guest of the Flying Heart Ranch turned to its enemy. "There's a girl in it. Understand?" The cook showed the gleam of his teeth. "If you win, I'll send you some wedding-cake and--a box of cigars." "Thanks," said the other; "but I've got a bum tooth, and I don't smoke." As Fresno left, there approached, in a surging group, the opposing side. "Good-evenin', Gabby!" Stover called, loudly, as he came within speaking distance. "Here we come _en massay_, and with ladies, to further embarrass and degrade you in the hour of your defeat!" "We ain't defeated yit! How do, Mr. Chapin." "Did you get our message?" "Yes. But we ain't seen the color of y'all's money." "Mr. Speed borrowed five hundred dollars from me, and said he might want more," Chapin volunteered. "Is that all?" "All?" jeered Still Bill. "Why, this mangy layout ain't never saw that much money," upon which Gallagher carelessly displayed a corpulent roll of bills, remarking: "Count a thousand, Bill. It all goes on Skinner." "I ain't heard of no train-robbery," muttered the lanky foreman of the Flying Heart, "nor I don't aim to handle no' tainted money." And Stover and Gallagher faced each other hard before turning. Jean saw it, and whispered to Chapin: "Oh, Jack dear, I'm terribly frightened!" But Helen Blake, who overheard, left her companions and went straight to Gallagher. "I should like," she said, "to wager a few dollars on Mr. Speed and the honor of the Flying Heart." Both Skinner and his foreman stared at her nonplussed. "You don't look like a bettin' lady," the latter managed to remark, jocularly. "I'm not, I never made a wager before in all my life; but you see, Mr. Gallagher, I believe in our man." Gallagher lowered his eyes. "How much do you aim to risk, miss?" "I don't know what the rules are, but I think our side ought to bet as much as your side. That is the way it is done, isn't it?" "You mean that you aim to cover what Mr. Speed don't?" The girl nodded. Gallagher spoke admiringly. "You're right game, miss, but I reckon we don't want your money." "Why not?" "I suppose there ain't no partic'lar reason."