And now he will have their blood in him. It’s the only way, Meester Veterinary.”

“All right,” the veterinarian said quietly. “It will make our job easier. When can you have him here?”

“Tomorrow morning I be back,” Tony said excitedly. “I go now and get him, and we drive all night.” Turning, Tony ran hard to Henry’s van.

He took one look in the back of the van to make sure all the tack had been removed, then slammed the door shut and went to the front. Inside the cab, he turned on the ignition and started the motor. He had the van in gear and was slowly moving away when Henry, Alec and Mr. Ramsay appeared at the barn door.

It was only when Tony had the van in high gear and was speeding down the road that he waved to them.

“Now what’s come over him?” Henry asked. “And where’s he going with my van?”

“Probably back to the inn,” Mr. Ramsay suggested. “But I don’t understand why he didn’t wait for us.”

“I can’t see it either,” Alec said; then he looked over at the stone house, to find the veterinarian standing on the porch, watching the van until it had disappeared among the trees. “I wonder,” he muttered.

“Wonder what, Alec?” Henry asked.

“Nothing, Henry. Nothing.”

SMALL, WORRIED WORLD
15

Early the following morning, Alec, Henry and Mr. Ramsay left their rooms at the inn and went to the small dining room for breakfast. Already the room was crowded with trainers, owners and reporters, but Henry was able to find three empty seats at the counter.

“I still can’t understand Tony’s fadeout,” he said as they sat down.

“He probably wanted to get back to work,” Mr. Ramsay said after they had given their orders. “But he did tell me he had arranged for a friend to take over his route while he was away. I was under the impression that he intended to stay here awhile. He was so concerned about the Black and Satan.”

“But why did he have to take my van?” Henry persisted. “ ’Course I don’t have any use for it just now. But he could have asked me, anyway. I don’t like it.”

“No,” Mr. Ramsay agreed, “and I don’t blame you. It’s not at all like Tony.” Turning to Alec, he asked, “What do you think is the reason for his leaving, Alec?”

The boy shrugged his shoulders. “Tony usually has a good reason for anything he does. So I’m just letting it go at that. I’m sure we’ll know before long.”

“We’d better,” Henry growled, turning to the plate of ham and eggs which the counterman had placed before him.

When they had finished breakfast and were leaving, Henry stopped to talk to the other trainers before rejoining Alec and Mr. Ramsay outside the inn.

“Seems like ‘most everybody is leavin’,” Henry said as they got into Mr. Ramsay’s car. “They don’t see what good their hanging around is goin’ to do.