Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-09

head, and in that space of hundren
seconds Emily reached the Anal un-
selhshness.
What David wants" she SAID.
Uncle, what David wants
You're >brick!" cried Dick, IN q
passion of relief. Emily. you're
brick"
She looked at him with eyes he
never forgot.
IF anything happens to him. I hope
I die too" she answered, and drew the
silk veil across her face.
Go back, Mr.. Dick, you're no good
here" advised Bailey, in the pause. !
guess Miss Emily is right. Mr.. French;
we've got nothing to do but look on.
for David French was wiped out 20
make Darling Lestrange."
Having left the decision to Emily
lit was in character that her uncle OF
fered no remonstrance when she dls-
appointed his wish. Nor did he reply
to Bailey's reminder of who had sent
David French to the track. But ne
did adopt the suggestion to look on
and there was sufficient to see.
When Lestrange came into his camp
for oil and gasoline, near eight o'clock,
Dick seized the brief halt, the first IN
three hours.
"Emily's up In the stand" ne an
nounced. "Send her word. old man
and don't get reckless In front OF ner.
"Emily?" echoed Lestrange, 100
weary for astonishment. Give me q
pencil. No, I can't take OF my
gauntlet; it's glued fast. III manage:
Rupert, go take an hours rest ana
send me the other mechanician.
~ can't get of my car; It's glued
fast" Rupert confided, leaning over
the back OF the machine to appropriate
a sandwich fom the basket a man was
carving to the neighboring camp. GO
on with your correspondence, dearest. :
So resting the card Dick supplied on
the steering-wheel, Lestrange wrote
difficult two lines.
He was out again on the track when
Dick brought the message to EMILY.
81 Just told him you were mere,
cousin" he whispered at her ear, and
dropped the card in her lap.
"Tll enjoy this more than ever, with
Won here" she read otis the right
place for my girl I'll give you the
cup for our first dinner table, tonight.
David"
Emily lifted her face. The tragedy
OF the scene was gone, Lestranges
eyes laughed at her out of mist. Inc
sky was blue, the sunshine golden; the
merry crowds commencing to pour IN
woke carnival in her heart.
"He said to tell you the machine was
running magniflcently," supplemented
Dick, 'and not to insult his veteran
reputation by getting nervous. He's
coming by-look."
He was coming by; and. although
unable to look toward the grand-stand
he raised his hand in salute as he
passed, to the one he knew was
watching. Emily flushed rosily, her
dark eyes warm and shining.
1T can wait" she sighed gratefully.
"Dickie, can wait until 1t ends, now.
Dick went back.
The hours passed. One more car
went out of the race under the grinding
test: there were the usual incidents Of
blowout tires and temporary with
drawals for repairs. Twice Mr..
French sent his partner and Emily to
the restaurant below, tolerating no pro-
tests, but he himself never left his
seat. Perfectly composed. his express
sion perfectly self-contained, he watch
ed his son.
The day grew unbearably hot to-
ward afternoon, heat rather of July
than June. After visit to his camp
Lestrange reappeared without the
suffocating mask and cap, driving
bareheaded, with only the narrow
goggles crossing his face. The change
left visible the drawn pallor of ex-
haustion under stains Of dust and OIL,
his rolled-back sleeves disclosed the
crimson bandage on his right arm and
the fact that his left wrist was tightly
wound with linen where swollen and
strained muscles rebelled at the long
trial.
Hes been driving fos nineteen
hours" said Dick, climbing up to his
party through the excited crowd. 1.-TWO
hours more to six o'clock. Listen to
the mob when he passes!"
The Injunction was unnecessary. AS
the sun slanted low the enthusiasm
grew to fever. This was crowd OF
connoisseurs-m chauffeurs,
automobile lovers and drivers-they
knew what was being done before
them. The word passed that Lestrange
was in his twentieth hour; people
climbed on seats to cheer him as he
went by. When one of his tires blew
out, in the opening of the twenty-first
hour of his driving and the twenty
fourth of the race, the great shout
of sympathy and encouragement that
went up shook the grand-stand to its
cement foundations.
Neither Lestrange nor Rupert left
his seat while that tire was changed.
III we did amt sure we'd get
back" Rupert explained to Dick, who
lowered around them agitatedly. IF
I'd thought Darling's mechanician
would getin for this, I'd have taken in
sewing for living. How much
longer?'
"Half an hour"
"Well, watch us finish"
A renewed burst of applause greet
ed the Mercury cars return to the
track. Men were standing watch in
hand to count the last moments, their