"Me!" declared the little man. "I'll saddle my bronc' an' lope
along with you. We'll keep to the open country."
Instantly Speed saw the direful consequences of such a procedure,
and summoned his courage to say: "No. It's very kind of you, but
I shall give up training."
"_What!_"
"I mean training on the road. I--I'll run indoors."
"Not a bit like it," declared Stover. "You'll get your daily run
if we have to lay off all the punchers on the place and put 'em
on as a body-guard."
"But I don't want a body-guard!" cried the athlete desperately.
"We can't let you get hurt. You're worth too much to us."
"Larry and I will take a chance."
"Not for mine!" firmly declared the trainer. "I don't need no
mineral in my system. I'm for the house."
"Then I shall run alone."
"You're game," said Willie admiringly, and his auditor breathed
easier, "but we can't allow it."
"I--I'd rather risk my life than put you to so much trouble."
"It's only a pleasure."
"Nevertheless, I can't allow it. I'll run alone, if they kill me
for it.
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