"It would sure be a favor," said the cow-man, at which the others drew nearer, as if hanging on Speed's answer. Even Cloudy turned his black eyes upon the young man. The object of their co-operate gaze shifted his feet uncomfortably and felt minded to flee, but the situation would not permit of it. Besides, the affair interested him. His mind was working rapidly, albeit his words were hesitating. "I--I'm afraid I'm not in shape to run," he ventured. But Stover would have none of this modesty, admirable as it might appear. "Oh, I talked with your trainer just now. I told him you was tipped off to us as a sprinter." "What did he say?" inquired Speed, with alarm. "He said 'no' at first, till I told him who let it out; then he laughed, and said he guessed you was a runner, but you didn't work at it regular. I asked him how good you was, and he said none of the college teams would let you run. That's good enough for us, Mr. Speed." "But I'm not in condition," objected the youth, with a sigh of gratitude at Glass's irony. "I reckon he knows more about that than you do. We covered that point too, and Mr. Glass said you was never better than you are right now. Anyhow, you don't have to bust no records to beat this cook. He ain't so fast." "It would sure be a kind-hearted act if you'd do it for us," said the little man in his high, boyish voice. It was a shock to discover that he spoke in a dialect. "There's a heap of sentiment connected with this affair. You see, outside of being a prize that we won at considerable risk, there goes with this phonograph a set of records, among which we all have our special favorites. Have you ever heard Madam-o-sella Melby sing _The Holy City_?" "I didn't know she sang it," said Speed. "Take it from me, she did, and you've missed a heap." "You bet," Stover agreed, in a hushed, awed tone. "Well, you must have heard Missus Heleney Moray in _The Baggage Coach Ahead_?" queried the scholarly little man. At mention of his beloved classic, Carara, the Mexican, murmured, softly: "Ah! _The Baggage Car_--Te'adora Mora! God bless 'er!"