Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-31


strange came up to find that the
driver was likely to die from q severed
artery before help got there. Emily
he stopped. stopped with victory IN
his hands. had the Italian lifted into
the mechanician's seat, and Rupert
held him In while they dashed around
! the course to the hospital. He got MN
there fifteen minutes before an ampu'
lance could have reached him, ana
the man will get well. But Lestrane
had lost six minutes. He had rusneu
straight to the doctors, given them
the man, and gone right on but ne had
lost six minutes When people rear
lied what he'd done, they went wild.
Every one thought he'd lost the race,
but they cheered him until they
couldn't shout. And he kept on Ndrlv'
ing. It's all here" he waved the
gaudy sheet. 1.-THE papers full Of Y.
He had half an hour to make up six
minutes, and he did it. He came IN
nineteen seconds ahead Of the nearest
car. The crowd swarmd out on the
course and fell all over him. Old
Bailey's nearly crazy"
| To see Dick excited would nave
been marvel enough to hold his audit.
ors mute. II the story itself had not
possessed quality to stir even non.
sporting blood. Emily could only SIT
and gaze at the headlines OF tho ex-
tended newspaper, her dark eyes
wide and shining, her soft lips apart
He telegraphed to Bailey, DICK
added, in the pause. ''Ten words:
First across line in Georgia race. Car
in fine shape. Lestrange.' That was
all"
Mr. Ffrench deliberately passed his
coffee cup to Emily.
"You had better take your break
fast" he advised. 1T Is unusual to see
YOU noticing business affairs, Dick;
might say unprecedented. am glad II
Bailey's new man is capable of his
work, at least. suppose for the rest.
that he could scarcely do less than
take an injured person to the hospital.
Why are you putting sugar IN my cup.
Emily?"
Il don't know" she acknowledged,
helplessly. !,
II didn's mean to disturb any one,
said Dick, sulky and resentful. It'll
be big thing enough for our cars,
Bailey says. didn't know you dis
liked Lestrange"
Mr.. French stiffened in his chair.
81 have not sufficient interest in
the man to dislike him." was the cold
rebuke, 1--WE will change the subject"
Emily bent her head, remedying
her mistake with the coffee. She
comprehended that her uncle had con-
ceived one Of his strong. silent anti.
pathies for the young manager, and
she was sorry. Sorry, although. re-
remembering Bailey's unfortunate
speech the night Lestrange's engage
ment was proposed, she was not sur
prised. But she looked across to Dick
sympathetically So sympathetically
that after breakfast he followed her
into the library, the colored Journals
in his hand.
whats the matter with the old
gentleman this morning." he COM
planned. ''He wants the business to
succeed. doesn't he? If he does, he
ought to like what Lestrange is doing
for it. What's the matter with him?"
Emily shook back her yellow curls.
turning her gaze on him.
"You might guess, Dickie. He is
lonely"
LONELY! He?"
All the feminine impulse to defend
flared up.
"Why not? she exclaimed with
passion. "Who has he got? Who
stands with him in his house? No
wonder he can not bear the man who
is hired to do what French should be
doing. 1t is not the racing driver he
dislikes, but the manager. And do not
YOU blame him, Dickie French"
Quite aghast, he stared after her as
she turned away to the nearest win
dow. But presently he followed her
over, still holding the papers.
"Don't you want to read about the
race?" he ventured.
Smiling, though her lashes were
damp, Emily accepted the peace offer
ing.
Eyes, please"
You're not angry? You know I'm a
stupid chump sometimes; don't
mean it,"
This time she laughed outright.
mo; I am sorry I was cross. 1t is
T who would like to shirk my work.
Never mind me; let us read"
They did read, seated opposite each
other in the broad window seat, and
passing the sheets across as they fin
ished them. Dick had not exaggerated.
on the contrary he had not said
enough. Lestrange and his car were
the focus of the hours attention. The
daring, the reckless courage that
risked life for victory, the generosity
which could throw that victory away
to aid comrade. and lastly the deter
mination and skill which had won the
conquest after all-the whole formed
a feat too spectacular to escape public
hysteria. It was very doubtful indeed
whether Lestrange liked his idolizing,
but there was no escape
! The two who read were young.
cit was a splendid fight" sighed
Dick, when, they dropped the last
page.
| Yes" Emily assented. when he
comes back. when you see him. give
him my congratulations"
when see him? Why don't you
tell him YOURSELF"
Something like white shadow
wiped the scarlet Of excitement from
her cheeks, as she averted her face.
II shall not see him; shall not go