Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-05

1911.

who were breakfasting together In the
dining car he stopped In the aisle With
the expression of one brought face to
face with the disagreeable unexpected.
''WellH he calculated. We'll! :,
Start 1t with an II, II you ike.
suggested Stanton, cody amused.
Mr.. Green's mouth grew thin from
pressure.
IF you quarrel with Floyd, shall
not know where out here ! can get
you another mechanician In time, ne
gave stiff warning.
'All right" was the answer.
Floyd was engaged in blocking out
a map with toothpicks and did not
look up; he appeared even more
ridicously young and gay-spirited than
usual, in the morning sunlight. But
som ething in the poise Of his bright
head echoed that "all right" Mr.
Green went on, and interfered no more
during the journey.
The speed carnival held upon the
superb two-mile track was to extend
over three days. The contests were o.
varied types and classes. but the Mer'
curry was entered for at least one
event. and frequently several, on
each day.
aren't there any ATLANTA cars en-
tered. at all?" Floyd wondered, on the
first morning at the track.
| None" Stanton assured.
Then won't need to burn JOSS
stick"
What for?"
Luck" said Floyd sweetly; and re
fused to explain.
Their luck held good. They mad
neither illness nor serious accident to
mar their series of victories and trials
For Stanton drove as if by inspiration
and many of the honors OF the carnl
val remained with him.
you've struck the perfect course
Stanton" declared famous rival
upon offering his congratulations after
! sufferiong a mastery defeat in five
mile contest. He did not like the other
man, but he was obliged to admire
him.
How so?" queried Stanton as sue
cinctly.
Between recklessness and over
caution"
It was quite true. With Floyd beside
/ him. Stanton's driving was as daringly
! brilliant, but characterized by some
rational consideration OF the posi-
bilities of disaster. Why? No one had
time to speculate,
It was commencing to trouble Stan
/ ton himself. this growing affection
/! for his mechanician that threatened an
absorbing need. He had never needed
anyone. he had been self-sufficing and
self-centered: and now be felt blank
chill at, the idea Of losing the society
of this boy-1nan. 1t chafed and fretted
him with sense of bondage; when
! he felt the cords draw most. he turned
upon Floyd and worried him savagely
Floyd laughed. And Floyd's laughter
would have disarmed a Cossack. When
he did not laugh, he flashed back
spark to powder, so that they quar-
4 relied on an average four times day
And they spent every available mo
/ ment together, until their friendship
became patent even to the skeptical
Mr. Green
eve can plan out some of our fac
tory affairs on the way home, on the
train" Stanton arranged, at the close
LOT the last day, when. taking temper
airy leave of his mechanician at thu
4 Mercury camp.
! "I'm planning fender for each side
of the Comet racing car, SO that wher
you feel like knocking in few lengths
of the infield fence as you did this
afternoon. we'll be ready for it.
Knocked Floyd. his effervescent youth
heady as champagne.
"Fence or no fence. we won, Stan
ton retorted indulgently.
| "Of course. You kept right on driv
/ ing the front of your car. SO the rear
lust naturally had to climb back on
the road and follow. I expected that;
YOU were too busy to stop for little
thing like side-wiping fence"
! "You seemed to expect II" the other
corroborated. He looked with inter
ested curiosity at his nonchalant as
sistant. "If am too busy to worry al
such times. Floyd; you are not. Don't
YOU ever think of what is likely to
/ happen when we are on the verge OF
a smash?"
Floyd paused, turning his large clear
/ eyes on the questioner.
There's just one think I'm asking.
| he gravely returned. THAT Is, that
when it comes, 1t will be good
smash. No one minds just dying
we're sure to do 1t some day, any
how-but to be mussed up and
I patched together again. no! Now" his
1 irresponsible smile glanced out again
that's why feel so safe with you;
there is a deadly finality about your
driving methods"
"That is about enough" Stanton sig
nified. "I'll see you on the train,
then"
They did meet on the train, and
passed long hours Of travel In work
and discussion The other passengers
came to take a decided, II furtive in
,terest in the two who sat opposite
each other in absorbed conversation
or argument. making drawings on en-
yelops and timetables to illustrate
their points and even leaving rows OF
/ figures upon the menu cards In the
dining car
Incidently, both men displayed a
thorough training in mechanical de-
signing and construction, Stanton's
/, far the more finished and scientific.
| Id