Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-07

understood that he felt with ner
brother. But he never was rough to
Jessica.
During that interval he did not meet
Floyd Jes was busy thirty miles up
the Hudson valley at the Mercury fac.
tory, Jessica said, and as Stanton OF
course knew from his merchandising
own statement Only it impressed
him as rather strange that FLOYD
could not get away even once or twice
to see his sister.
Meanwhile the cup race was APP
preaching. On the last evening before
Stanton went out to the Long Island
course. he called on Jessica.
"It is possible to come in to New
York, of course he said to her, But
| shall stay out there until after the
race. After that, after Floyd and !
come back, shall see as much OF you!
Or won't you want me around when
you have him?"
Startled, she met his eyes, then
turned away hurriedly to the piano !.
"Jes and do not tire of our friends,
she rebuked "But beyond that, how
can any one tell what will happen
We can just live our best every day
and wait to see further. Sometimes
things get twisted wrong"
What is the mater? What is twisted
wrong. Miss Floyd?"
She shook her head, smiling across
her shoulders at him.
"Nothing-nothing but me. Only !
feel disgustingly gloomy tonight; as
If Jes and were very far apart. Never
mind, wish you all good luck and VIC
tory for the race"
What was that song you were sing
ing on the first day came here?" ne
asked irrelevantly.
She hesitated, then struck Few
chords upon the piano "That?"
Eyes. Will you sing it to me. now?"
With her charming trick OF prompt
at the instrument.
1t was no ornate classic. no love-
song, that the velvet-and-gold con-
tralto voice braided into Stanton's
memory, to be in the near future a
torture more acute than physical pain
and personal grief
"Oft, in the Silly night
Ere slumber's chain hath bound me,
Fond memory brings the light
or other days around me"
That was the quaint stiff melody OF
fifty years before that Jessica Floyd
sung to Stanton before they parted.
On reaching home, an hour later
Stanton found letter awaiting him
from the assistant manager, Green. 1t
was dated from Long Island, and re-
minded him that the course would be
open for the last day'spractice next
morning during the early hours.
THE car is at last ready, and II you
see Jes Floyd, tell him that we can
not get along without him any, longer"
ran the concluding sentence.
Stanton put down the letter. frowning
at 1t in irritated establishment. Had
not Floyd gone to prepare for the race,
| with Green and by his direct order?
How then could he, Stanton, know any
thing about his mechanician and why
did not Green know everything? Pos
sibIy Floyd had been kept at the Mer
curry factory; but in that case Greer
would surely have sent there for him
instead of trusting to the faint chance
Of Stanton's encountering him. VI
course Floyd must be ready to go out
for the delayed practice work next
morning-Stanton rose impatiently
Of course he would be ready.
A thought like a needleprick halted
him when halfway across the room,
| wild fancy. Could 1t be conceived cred
ible that Valerie Carlisle did wish to
prevent the Mercury car from racing
and failing to reach the driver. might
attempt to keep away the mechanic1an
she knew to be so valuable? He re
called his own strange illness on the
eve of the Massachusetts race. On an
| impulse beyond restraint, he turned to
his telephone; there would be some
one to tell him of Floyd at the factory
! for it was working night and day to
! fill it's orders.
Eyes. 337 Frenchwood," the thin
voice finally came along the wire
"Yes, Mercury. Mr.. Stanton? Wait"
The instrument roared vilely; he
knew it was the din Of the huge en-.
gines he heard across thirty miles OF
distance
"Hello,' another voice took up
through the drone. stanton? This Is
Mr.. Bailey. What? Oh, why Floyd's
gone on there was blank click
ing "-to Long Island tonight was
fatty resumed. He'll be on his job
when you need him, Stanton; go BIT
easy on the poor kid. He isn't ma
chine"
Stanton exclaimed something ugly
and hung up the receiver with a snap
Bailey was fool, he mentally
sneered, and Green was another, and
he himself the third. AS for Miss Car
Isle. he had not seen or heard Of hel
since the trip to Indiana. No more
orchids and laurel. He smiled in sar
donic relief and went to open win
dow to the pungent October air. To
morrow he would see Floyd at the
course and begin the work which in
toxicated him as 1t does all those who
once acquire the fearless mastery OF
car at high speeds and taste the
strong excitement of the racing game
He drew a breath of anticipated ex
Ihilaration: this was the ground where
I he and Floyd stood closest in under
standing and where Jessica could
never come.
| But he wished that she had not
1oOlrod an atra npp1v grave and wistflIl