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

CHAPTER XII. (Continued).
The mornings work had begun.
It was always course race, the cup
event, and in many places the way lay
over hastily prepared country roads.
Here and there men were still at work.
banking in turns or smoothing the
ground. On the second time around,
the Mercury struck an edged stone
and lost tire with a sharp report.
Stanton drew up by the roadside, and
Floyd ran back to pitch the mischief
making rock into the fields.
George and Palmer are out" he OBJ
served, returning. "They might come
| to grief on it, too. Besides, we our
selves might hit it again. like track
race"
so do /. How many tires left?"
Three"
They worked rapidly, both for prac
tice and from force of habit. The
Duplex road past at a leisurely gait,
while they were busy, it's driver wav-
ing hand in sympathetic greeting.
Floyd paused to wave a response. and
presently the Mercury sped after it's
rival.
Those tires in yet?" demanded
Stanton, when he again drew up be-
fore the repair pit.
The harassed assistant manager
shook his head. exhibiting sheaf OF
yellow kilograms.
"Not yet. The Ruby company tele-
graphs that they shipped the order
last week by express: the express
company telegraphs that they sent the
carload on from Chicago two days ago
and it must be here"
"The freight car must have been left
in the New York yards, instead of be-
| ing sent out here" deduced Stanton
exasperatedly.
"New York says it isn't there"
s'Perhaps they shipped the order to
the Mercury factory, by mistake, :"
Floyd suggested.
| Mr.. Green looked at him in scorn.
.'Of course 'phoned there first OF
all. The chief says they are not there,
either. and to telegraph all along the
line until we trace the car"
"Have you done it?" Stanton in
quired.
.I'm doing it now. Eve got as far
west as Utica and each freight yard
denies having them"
well go to lunch, Floyd. The an
swers will come in meanwhile"
There was hotel nearby, which Mr..
Green made his Headquarters, and
where Stanton and Floyd chose to
stay A good many of the other driv-
ers and officials also remained for
that night.
.I'd like to run in to little old New
York" the driver of the Atalanta car
explained to Stanton. "only I'm afraid
| it amt healthy to 60 through Brook
| Ign SO often.
To the hotel the answers continued
to come all that afternoon, until Mr..
Green and the office were showed
over by strips of yellow paper. The
larger the city and the more crowded
it's freight yard, the longer the time re-
quired to make the search for the
missing car and report the result to
Long Island.
After four O'clock, the roads were
again open for practice until sunset.
The Mercury went out for a couple OF
circuits, and lost another tire by skid
ding on turn. After that the car
stood before its camp,-NAfraid OF
wearing out her last pair of shoes
Floyd informed solicitous questioners.
Cant you buy them somewhere
else?' chafed the irritated Stanton.
The assistant MANAGER stared In a
reproach touched with hysteria. His
collar. was wilted. his eyeglasses
dangled by their cord.
'sBuy them? Buy enough racing tires
fitting the Mercury to last you for a
three hundred mile road race. and get
them here by tomorrow morning!
What's the matter with you. Stanton?"
well, since there is nothing to do
but eat come to dinner, Floyd said
the other.
'It isn't dinner. it's supper cor
rected his mechanician. This is the
country and you had your dinner at
noon But III come. anyhow
At the table in the course of the
meal. small teapot was set before
Stanton.
"Chocolate. sir" he was appraised.
"Why. you had none at luncheon"
The pomradoured waitress giggled.
mo. sir But the gentleman sent a
saw the cook. and cooks that fond of
! nonsense. and she fifty'four next
December
Stanton lOOheu dGIUSo iiIO y AoJu .
mirtbful gray eyes.
81 hadn't anything better to do"
was the malicious explanation. And
I was afraid your nerves would go to
pieces if you didn't get your usual
drug and then you'd wreck us tornor-
row."
'He'd coax a bird off tree, sir. !"
Uttered the departing maid.
"Give me your cup and have some,
Stanton briefly commanded.
Going to throw it at me, like you
did that jug Of water on the first
night we raced together?' leased his
companion, obeying.
Stanton's head lifted slightly, the
regard in which he enve1oped Floyd
was almost savage in it's leap of in
tense passion. Such glance from
man to woman would have J. been a
declaration, from man to man 1t was
not thing to be voiced. Floyd him
self faltered before it, startled into
pallor
'You can throw it at me. If you like,
and square up was all Stanton said,
and reached for the sugar-bowl with