Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-26
! bitior Of what Floyd called tuning up

bition of what Floyd called tuning up
his motor.
"Got her all the way up?., shouted
the mechanician, when they let out on
the first straight stretch.
Stanton nodded. fully occupied; the
speedometer was indicating eighty-four
miles an hour.
stop her--she needs fixing"
It was Floyds hour of empire. Stan
ton brought his car to halt in an APP
propriate situation, and the mechant-
clan spring out to Investigate the un-
hooded power-plant.
Now We'll try. She is good for
ninety an hour" he painted, returning.
Stanton accordingly restarted.
They spent the morning so; speed
ing furiously, stopping for Floyd to
fuss with one thing or another, watch
ing the speedometer Floyd listened to
the engine as to speaking voice,
translating its plant unerringly and
going to remedy the cause. As the as
sistant manager had said, he was a
gasolene freak. a clairvoyant magi-
clan of DELEGATE touches and manipu-
lation
II At twelve o'clock the Mercury came
to its camp and stopped.
"How is she doing?" inquired Mr..
Green. "You made that last circuit
record breaker, can tell you"
up to ninety-two miles an hour"
Stanton reported with brevity. 1T
T6nf MIR
Floyd"
Floyd got out, flushed. tired, his
heavy hair clinging In damp rings to
his temples. but sunnily content. Mr..
Green contemplated him anxiously; he
had heard an account of Stanton's
morning greeting to his mechanician,
and he was not pleased at the pros
pect of having to find another man to
fill his place.
How" he hesitated, testing his
way, "how are you-er-feeling,
Floyd
Hungry" answered Floyd, prompt
ly and Unexpectedly.
The ,.oyish freshness of 1t brought
a smile to the lips of every one within
hearing. The assistant manager
chuckled outright in his relief.
"There's some kind of eats in a
stand over there" volunteered grin
ming reporter from Boston news
paper, III you can bear them. Say,
Floyd, do you know, guess If you had
a sister she'd be right pretty girl"
II have got one" was the serene re-
turn.
"You have? Can l ask what she
looks like?"
"Just like me; we're twins" he re-
piled absently, his eyes dwelling on the
Mercury.
The description accorded SO oddly
with his appearance, as he stood IN his
rumrled attire, his serious face stained
and darkened with dust, that there
was universal roar Of laughter.
For shame, to SANDER LADY,"
jeered once.
Doesn't she ever wash her face,
Floyd?' called another.
Cant you support her without max.
ing her heave coal for living?"
gibed a third.
Floyd laughed with the rest, glanc.
ing down at himself.
YOU never saw me dressed for the
opera" he tossed back, as he went IN
search or water.
Stanton descended from his car
flung his mask and gauntlets on the
seat, and followed his mechanician
He found him, presently, emerging
damp and refreshed from additions
performed in bucket with the aid OF
some cotton-waste.
viii you come to lunch with me?'
Stanton asked abruptly.
Floyd paused, regarding him IN
grave surprise and hesitation.
Thank you," he began.
Stanton made an impatient gesture,
his eyes glinting steelblue behind their
black lashes.
"Do you want me to apologize for
bullying you this morning?" he de-
manded.
over the others face swept its char
acteristic sudden warming of express
sion.
mo; wanted to be sure that YOU
want me- Thanks, I'll come with pleas
ure."
He slipped into a long motor coat
and accompanied Stanton with ready
cord iality that took no account OF pas
events. No reproach could have
moved the offender SO much, no injured
dignity could have SO forced curl
upon his tongue for the future.
It was not to one of the temporary
earthquakes erected in anticipation OF
the race carnival, that Stanton took
his guest, but to q quiet. cool hote
within reach. There, the order given
he looked across the width OF white
linen at his companion with an ODD
sense of triumph and satisfaction: he
felt for this boy-man something akin
to the elation with which a youth
takes the admired girl out of dinner
for the first time.
'I missed the train, yesterday" ne
remarked. II suppose you had ne
trouble getting the car here?"
None at ALL" Floyd confirmed.
fancied you accepted Miss Carlisle's
invitation to drive"
II did, afterward. 1t was her car
cranked with the spark forward"
Floyd glanced up, ripple Of incredu
lous amusement crossing his gray
ewes, but he said nothing.
"At least, set the spark as be