She fastened upon Colonel Mason just as the horses came to the post, and she was suplying him with a check blank just as they got away from the barrier.  Gamble turned to the track and distinguished his long shot off in the lead.  He smiled grimly at that irony, for he had seen long-shot horses raise false hopes before.  Mildly interested, he watched Angora reach the quarter pole, still in the lead.  Rather incredulously, he saw her still in the lead at the half.  He was eager about it when she rounded the three-quarters with nothing but daylight before her; and as she came down the stretch, with Nautchautauk reaching out for her flanks, he stuck the ash-end of his cigar in his mouth and did not see the finish.  He knew, by the colossal groan from the grandstand, however, that Angora had beaten the favorite; and, though he was not in the least excited, he felt through all his pockets for his tickets, forgetting that he had taken them out at the beginning of the race and still held them in his hand; also, he forgot completely that he was supposed to be escorting Polly, and immediately sauntered down to the betting shed--to collect the largest five thousand and one hundred dollars in captivity.

CHAPTER III

IN WHICH JOHNNY MIXES BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

A general desire to bet on the last race had sent all the occupants of the Boyden box, except Constance, Polly and Gresham, down to the betting shed when Gamble returned; and he was very glad there was room enough for him to sit down and enjoy himself.  He had evil designs upon Gresham.

“This is my lucky day,” he observed, smiling upon Miss Joy.  “I began this afternoon to pile up an exact million.  A near horse gave me a five-thousand-dollar start.”

“If you keep on at the rate of five thousand dollars an hour you’ll have your million in two hundred hours,” Constance figured for him.

“I won’t work Sundays, evenings, holidays or birthdays,” he objected.

“How fussy!” commented Polly.  “Which was the kind horse?”

“A goat by the name of Angora,” he replied.

“That race should call for an inquiry,” sternly stated Gresham.

“You must have bet on the favorite,” returned Gamble, and laughed when Gresham winced.  Not a shade of Gresham’s expression was escaping him now.

“We all did,” acknowledged Constance smilingly.  “This is the first time I ever bet on the races; and I sent down to bet on every horse in this last one, so I’ll be sure to win just once.  I suppose you attend the races frequently, Mr. Gamble?”

“I’ll give you one more guess,” he returned.  “I don’t like to walk home.”

“You won’t have to walk this time,” she reminded him.

“Not while I ride!” asserted Polly stoutly.

“I’m so glad you won, Johnny.  I guess you’ll stay in Baltimore now.”

“And give this back?  I’ll get an injunction against myself first.  Polly, I owe you twenty-five hundred dollars.  Here’s the money.”