Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-05
CHAPTER v. Continued. }

a damp hand across his forehead.
II think you're mad to stand talk
ing here. Come to the office, for
heavens sake. And, I'd be ground up
there, If you hadn't caught me-" he
looked toward the jaws sullenly
shredding and reshredding strip Of
cloth from his sleeve. "I1l do any
thing you want
"Will your Lestrange flashed
quickly. He flung back his head with
the resolute setting of expression the
other knew so we'll, his eyes brilliant
with a resolve that took no heed of
physical discomfort. Then give me
your word that you'll stick to your
work here That Is my fear; that the
change in you Is just mood you'll
tire Of some day. want you to stand
up to your work and not drop out dis
qualified
II will, said Dick, subdued and earn.
est. II couldn't help doing it-your
arm"
Lestrange impatiently dragged out
his handkerchief and wound it around
the cut
go on"
"T can't help keeping on; couldn't
90 back now. You've got me awake.
No one else ever tried, and was hav-
ing a good time. It began with liking
you and thinking of all you did, and
feeling funny alongside of you" He
paused, struggling with Anglo-Saxon
shyness. I'm awfully fond of you, old
fellow"
The others gray eyes warmed and
cleared. Smiling, he held out his left
hand.
tits mutual" he assured. 1T isn't
playing the game to trap you while
you are upset like this. But don't be-
lieve you'll be sorry. Come find some
one to tie this up for me; can't
have it stiff tomorrow"
But in spite of his protested haste,
Lestrange stopped at the head-of the
stairs and went back to recover some
small object lying on the floor beneath
a pool OF chilling metal When he re-
joined Dick, it was to linger yet a
moment to look back across the
teeming room.
cts worth having, all this, he COM
mented, with the first touch of sad
ness the other had ever seen in him.
Don't throw it away, French"
There is usually surgeon within
reach Of factory. When Mr.. French
passed out to the cart where Emily
waited, he passed Dick and the vii
lage physician entering. The elder
gentleman put on his glasses to sur
vey his nephew's white face.
can accident?" he inquired.
The casual curiosity was sufficiently
exasperating, and Dick nerves were
badly gone.
Nothing worth mentioning" he
snapped. "Just that nearly fell into
the machinery and Lestrange has
done up his arm pulling me out. That's
all"
And he hurried the doctor on with
out further parley or excuse.
Lestrange was in the room behind
the office smoking one of Bailey's
cigars and listening to that gentle
mans vigorous remarks concerning
managers who couldn't keep Mt of
their own machinery, the patient not
having considered it worth while to
explain Dicks share in the mischance.
An omission which Dick himself
promptly remedied in his anxious con-
triton
Later, when the arm was being
swathed in white linen, it's owner
spoke to his companion Of the morn
ing:
Il hope you didn't annoy Miss
French with this trifling matter, as
you came in"
II didn't speak to her at all, only
to my uncle"
Every good"
Something in the too-indolent tone
reused Dicks usually dormant obser-
walton. Startled, he scrutinized Lee
strange.
'Is that why you bothered yourself
with me he stammered. rs that
why
"Shut up!" warned Lestrange forci-
bly, and inelegantly 'That isn't tight
enough, Doc. You know I'm expe-
rionced at this sort of thing, and I'm
going to use this arm"
But Dick was not to be silenced in
his new enlightenment. When the sur
geon momentarily turned away, he
leaned nearer, his plump face grim.
"If brace up, it won't be for Emily,
but for you, Darling Lestrange," he
whispered viciously. "She don't want
me and I don't want her, that way.
rye got over that. And, and oh, con-
found it, I'm sorry, old MANI
Shut up!" said Lestrange again.
But though Dicks very sympathy
unconsciously showed the hopeless
chasm between the racing driver and
Miss French, the hurt did not cloud
the cordial smile Lestrange sent to
mitigate his command.
CHAPTER WI.
Emily first heard the full story Of
the accident that evening, when Dick
sat opposite her on the veranda and
gave the account in frank anxiety and
detection.
.'We're going down tonight on the
nine o'clock train" he added in con-
clusion. Tomorrow morning he'll
spend practising on the track, and to-
morrow evening at six the race starts
And Lestrange starts crippled because
I'm a clumsy idiot. He laughs at me,
but-he'd do that anyhow"
Yes agreed Emily. He would do
that anyhow Her eyes were wide
and terrified, the little hands she
-