"Came up to see your father's mare run, I suppose--I'm deuced sorry she
was beaten."
"What are they waiting for--why have they taken the horses' numbers down
again? Are they trying to steal the race from Lauzanne now?" It was
the woman's voice behind them, petulantly exclaiming.
Crane turned in his seat, looked over his shoulder, and raised his hat.
"The impatient lady is my trainer's sister," he explained in a modulated
tone to Allis. "A trainer is quite an autocrat, I assure you, and one
must be very careful not to forget any of the obvious courtesies"
Allis wondered why he should find it necessary to make any explanation
at all.
"I want to thank you, Miss Porter, for that reading about Crusader."
Allis's eyes opened wide.
"Yes, I was there," Crane added, answering the question that was in
them.
As he said this a man came hurriedly up the steps, spoke to a policeman
on guard, and searched the faces with his eyes. Catching sight of Crane,
he came quickly forward and whispered something in his ear.
"Excuse me, I must go--I'm wanted," Crane said to Allis.
As he turned, the Trainer's sister spoke to him.
"What's the matter, Mr. Crane--there's something going on up in the
Stewards' Stand?"
"I fancy there's an objection, though I don't know anything about it,"
he answered, as he went down the steps with the messenger.
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