Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-02

q classy car to run myselI. W uooA
driving some Of the stripped cars, late
ly. and like It."
II will give you q car. II you want
one" answered his uncle, quite KIND
ly. Go select any you prefer.
Thank you," Dick sat up, beaming.
But I'll have to walt my turn, we've
orders ahead now. Lestrange says I've
no right to come in and make some
other fellow wait"
"Mr. French slowly stifened.
1--WE do not require lessons IN ethics
from this Lestrane,' was the cold re-
buke II shall telephone Bailey TO
send up your car at once"
Rupert brought the sixty-horse power
roadster to the door, three hours later.
And Emily appreciated that Lestrane
was discreet as we'll as compelling.
when she found the black-eyed young
mechanician was detailed to accom-
pany Dicks maiden trips; which duty
was fulfilled, incidentally, with the
fine tact of Richelieu.
In May there was a still greater &C
cession of work at the factory. In ad-
dition, the first of June was to open
with a twenty four hour race at the
Beach track, and Lestrange was enter
ed for It. Excitement was in the air;
Dick came In the house only to eat
and sleep.
The day before, the race, Mr.. Ffrench
walked into the room where his niece
was reading.
II want to see Bailey" he said brief
ly. "Do you wish to drive me down to
the factory, or shall have Anderson
bring around the limousine?'
please let US drive" she exclaimed,
rising with alacrity II have not been
to the factory for months"
Every good. You are looking we'll,
Emily, Of late"
Surprised, a soft color swept the
face she turned to him.
IT am WELL Dear, think we are all
better this spring.
Perhaps" said Ethan French. His
bitter gray eyes passed deliberately
over the large room with all its
traces Of family life extending back
to pre-Colonial times, but he said no
more.
1t was an exquisite morning, too vir-
ginal for June, too richly warm for
May. When the two exchanged the
sunny road for the factory office, a
north room none too light, 1t was a
moment before their dazzled eyes per-
ceived no one was present. This was
Bailey's private office, and it's owner
had passed into the room beyond.
II will watt conceded Mr.. Ffrench,
Diminishing the boy who had ushered
them in. "Sit down, Emily: Bailey will
return directly, no doubt
p,,$ r0,,o{11, ho1 o1v dp cof dnuyr fors
she knew the voice speaking beyond
the half-open door, and that the long
prevented meeting was now imminent.
1T will not do" Lestrange was stat
ing definitely. "It should be rein
forced"
1T has always been strong enough, :"
Bailey's slower tones objected. For
years. It's not thing likely to break"
mot likely to break? Look at last
years record, Mr.. Bailey, and tell me
that. A broken steering-knuckl kill
ed Brook in Indiana, another sent Lit
tie to the hospital in Massachusetts.
the same thing wrecked the leader at
the last Beach race and dashed him
through the fence. DO you know what
1t means to the driver of machine
hurting itself along the narrow verge
Of destruction, when the steering
wheel suddenly turns useless in his
grasp? Can you feel the sick helpless
ness, the confronting Of death, the
compressed second before the crash?
Is It worth while to risk it for bit Of
costless steel?"
The clear. realism Of the picture
forced pause, filed by the dull roar
and throb through the machinery
crowded building.
"They were not our cars that broke,
any Of Them" Bailey insisted.
mot our cars, no. But the steering
knuckle of my own machine broke un-
der my hands last March, on the road.
and If I had been on curve instead OF
a straight stretch there would have
been a wreck. AS 1t was, brought her
to stop in the ditch. There is no
other thing that may not leave fight
ing chance after 1t breaks. but this
leaves absolutely none I know, you
both know, that the steering-wheel Is
the only weapon in the drivers grasp.
If it fails him, he goes out and his
mechanician with him."
Emily paled. shrinking. She remem-
bered the road under the naples and
Lestrange's laughing face as he lean
ed breathlessly across his useless
wheel. That was what it had meant,
then. the lightly treated episode!
YOU'D better fix 1t like he wants It,"
advised Dicks disturbed tones Ere
member, he's got to drive the car Fri
day and Saturday, Bailey, not u.s."
Its not alone for my racer I'm
speaking, but for every car that leaves
the shop" Lestrange caught him up.
'I'm not flinching; I've driven the car
before and / will again. It may hold
for ever, that part, but I've tested 1t
and it's weak point take the warn
ing for what it's worth"
There was movement as II he rose
with the last word Emily laid her
hand on the arm Of the chair, turn
ing her excited dark eyes on her
uncle. Surely II. ever Mr.. French was
to meet his manager, this was the
moment; when Lestrange's ringing
argument was still in their ears, his
splendid force of earnestness still
vibrant in the atmosphere. And sud-
denly she wanted them to meet, pas
aion al o1v anfod TCthan Tfronch,a lik-