He remembered what Alan had said about The Dutchman's certain
chance of winning the coming race. He felt that if the horse won, Alan
would put back the stolen thousand dollars; if not, where would the boy
get money to cover up his theft?
It had seemed to Mortimer a foolish, desperate thing to risk money on
anything so uncertain as a horse race; but here was at stake the honor
of a bright, splendid young man--even the happiness of his parents,
which the poor, deluded boy had wagered on one horse's chance of winning
against six others. It was terrible. Mortimer shuddered, and closed
his eyes when he thought of the misery, the shame, that would come to
Allis and her mother when they knew, as they must, if Crane's horse were
beaten, that the son was a thief. Oh, God! why couldn't he find the boy
and save him before it was too late? Probably Alan had already betted
the money; but even if that were so, he had vain visions of forcing the
man who had received the stolen thousand to disgorge. No one had a
right to receive stolen money; and if necessary, Mortimer would give him
to understand that he was making himself a party to the crime.
But the mere fact that he couldn't find Alan Porter rendered him as
helpless as a babe; he might as well have remained in the bank that day.
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