“I’ll never drive that horse again!” said the dude.  “Not for a million dollars!”

“How are we to get home?” queried Belle.

“I’ll drive you,” said one of the men.  “I know this horse.  He used to belong to Bill Perkins.  I know how to handle him.”

“Then do so,” answered Felix, “and I’ll pay you two dollars.”

The man was as good as his word, and to Felix’s astonishment he made the horse go back to the hotel without the slightest mishap.  Then the horse was put in the stable, the dude paid the bill, and the party separated.

“I shall never drive again, never!” declared the dude to himself, and it may be added that he kept his word.

“I hope you had a nice drive,” said Joe, when he met Felix that evening.

“It was beastly, don’t you know,” was the answer.  “That horse was a terribly vicious creature.”

“He looked to be gentle enough when he started off.”

“I think he is a crazy horse.”

“By the way, Mr. Gussing, Mr. Silas Simms was looking for you.”

“You mean that lawyer who drives the spotted white horse?”

“Yes.”

Felix gave a groan.

“He says he wants damages.”

“It wasn’t my fault that the horse ran into him.”

“Well, he is very angry about it, anyway,” said our hero.

Early the next morning Felix Gussing received a communication from the lawyer.  It was in the following terms:—­

“Mr. Gussing.  Sir:—­In consequence of your reckless driving yesterday, I was thrown from my carriage, receiving a contusion on my shoulder and other injuries.  My carriage was also nearly ruined.  If you choose to make a race-course of the public highways you must abide the consequences.  The damage I have sustained I cannot estimate at less than one hundred and fifty dollars.  Indemnify me for that and I will go no further.  Otherwise, I shall be compelled to resort to legal action.

“Silas Simms, Atty.”

Felix read the letter several times and his knees shook visibly.  He did not want to pay over such an amount, yet it struck him with terror when he thought he might possibly be arrested for fast driving.  He went to see Mr. Silas Simms.

“I am very sorry,” he began.

“Have you come to pay?” demanded the attorney, curtly.

“Well—­er—­the fact is—­don’t you think you are asking rather a stiff price, Mr. Simms?”

“Not at all!  Not at all, sir!  I ought to have placed the damages at three hundred!”

“I’ll give you fifty dollars and call it square.”

“No, sir, a hundred and fifty!  Not a penny less, not one penny!  Look at my nose, sir—­all scratched!  And my ear!  Not a penny less than one hundred and fifty dollars!” And the lawyer pounded on his desk with his fist.

“All right then, I’ll pay you, but you must give me a receipt in full,” answered the dude.