Van
believed him. They told my father. And he--my dad--God forgive him! he jumped
at that. The village as one person now believes you sent the boat adrift so
Creech's horses could not cross and you could win the race."
"Lucy, if it wasn't so--so funny I'd be mad as--as--" burst out Slone.
"It isn't funny. It's terrible. . . . I know who cut those cables. . . Holley
knows. . . . DAD knows--an', oh, Lin--I--hate--I hate my own father!"
"My God!" gasped Slone, as the full signification burst upon him. Then his
next thought was for Lucy. "Listen, dear--you mustn't say that," he entreated.
"He's your father. He's a good man every way except when he's after horses.
Then he's half horse. I understand him. I feel sorry for him. . . . An' if
he's throwed the blame on me, all right. I'll stand it. What do I care? I was
queered, anyhow, because I wouldn't part with my horse. It can't matter so
much if people think I did that just to help win a race. But if they knew
your--your father did it, an' if Creech's horses starve, why it'd be a
disgrace for him--an' you.
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