Porter looked at him with a half-amused, half-tolerant expression on his
square face, and said, speaking in a very dry convincing voice: "I guess
the check will close out all deals between us; it will pay you to keep
out of my way, I think."

As they moved toward the Secretary's office, Porter was accosted by his
trainer.

"The Stewards want to speak to you, sir," said Dixon.

"All right. Send a boy over to this man's stable for Lauzanne--I've
bought him."

The Trainer stared in amazement.

"I'll give you the check when I come back," Porter continued, speaking
to Langdon.

"There's trouble on, sir," said Dixon, as they moved toward the
Stewards' box.

"There always is," commented Porter, dryly.

"The Stewards think Lucretia didn't run up to her form. They've had me
up, an' her jock, McKay, is there now. Starter Carson swears he
couldn't get her away from the post--says McKay fair anchored the mare.
He fined the boy fifty dollars at the start."

"I think they've got the wrong pig by the ear--why don't they yank
Langdon? he's at the bottom of it. It a pretty rich, Andy, isn't it?