the colonel's Rogue a hard drive. You know, if the colonel enters for
the next Carter, I intend to contest it with him--and win." He chuckled.

"Then you don't know anything about this Garrison?" persisted Garrison
slowly.

"Nothing more than I've said. He was a first-class boy in his time. A
boy I'd like to have seen astride of Dixie. Such stars come up quickly
and disappear as suddenly. The life's against them, unless they possess
a hard head. But Mr. Waterbury, when he arrives, can, I dare say, give
you all the information you wish. By the way," he added, a twinkle in
his eye, "what do you think of the colonel's other thoroughbred? I mean
Miss Desha?"

Garrison felt the hot blood mounting to his face. "I--I--that is, I--I
like her. Very much indeed." He laughed awkwardly, his eyes on the
parquet floor.

"I knew you would, boy. There's good blood in that girl--the best in the
States. Perhaps a little odd, eh? But, remember, straight speech means a
straight mind. You see, the families have always been all in all to each
other; the colonel is a school-chum of mine--we're never out of school
in this world--and my wife was a nursery-chum of Sue's mother--she was
killed on the hunting-field ten years ago. Your aunt and I have always
regarded the girl as our own. God somehow neglected to give us a
chick--probably we would have neglected Him for it. We love children. So
we've cottoned all the more to Sue."

"I understand that Sue and I are intended for each other," observed
Garrison, a half-cynical smile at his lips.