Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-29
CHAPTER 1I.-(Continued.)

M french responded to the in.
direct appeal with more than usual
irritation, his level gray EYEBROWS
contracting.
1--WE ought to have better drivers
| Why do you not get better men
Bailey? You wanted to go into this
racing business; you said the cars
needed advertising. My brother al
WAYS attended to that side OF the FAC
tory affairs, while he lived, with you
as his manager. Now 1t Is altogether
in your hands. Why do you not nnd
a proper driver?"
Perhaps my hands are not used to
holding so much" unused Bailey un.
resentfully. "A man might be a good
manager, maybe, and weak as part
liner. It isn't the same job. But
first class driver isn't easy to get. MT.
Ffrench. There's Delmar killed, and
George tied up with another company,
and Dorian retired, all this last sea-
son: and we don't want foreigner.
There's only one man l like"
| well, get him. Pay him enough"
| Bailey hunched himself together
and crossed his legs.
yes. sir. He's beaten our cars.
land others-every race lately, with
poorer machines, just by sheer pretty
driving. He drives fast, yet he don't
knock out his car. But there's lot
after him-there's just one way we
could get him, and get him for keeps. :
And that
Hes ambitious; he wants to get
into something more solid than rae
ing. If we offered to make him man
ager, he'd come and put some new
ideas, maybe, into the factory, and
race cur cars wherever we chose to
enter them. l know him pretty
we'll"
The proposition was advanced ten
tatively with the hesitation OF one
venturing in unknown places: But
Ethan French said nothing, his gray
eyes fixed on the hearth.
HE understands motor construction
and designing, and he's been with big
foreign firms" Bailey resumed, after
4 waiting He'd be useful around;
can't be everywhere. What he'd do
for us in racing would help whole
lot. It's very we'll to make fine
standard car, but 1t needs advertising
to keep people remembering. AND
men like to say my machine is the
same as Lestrange won the cup race
with. They ike IL.
81 don't know" said Mr.. Ffrench
slowly, that it Is dignified for the
manager of the Mercury factory to be
racing driver"
'The Christine cars are driven by
the son of the man who makes them.
was the response. "Some drive theli
own"
"The son Of the man who makes
| 0tha
ed his face still more to the quiyerlns
fire, his always severe expression
hardening strangely and bitterly
THE son"
The girl rose to draw the crimson
curtain before the windows and 10
push an electric switch, filling the
room with a subdued golden glow in
place of the late afternoon grayness
Her delicate face, as she regarded her
uncle. revealed most strongly it's char
acteristic over-earnestness and a sen.
lsitive reflection Of the moods OF
Those around her. Emily Ffrenchs
childhood had been passed In q Can.
iadian convent and something of Its
mysticism chung about her. AS the
|cheerful change she had wrought
| flashed over the room, Mr.. Ffrench
/ held out his hand in gesture of sum
mons. so that she came across to sit
ION the board arm of lis chair during
1.-The rest of the conference, her soft
/ gaze resting on the third member.
I "My adopted son and nephew hav-
ing no such talents, we must do the
best we can" Mr.. Ffrench stated. with
his most precise GOODNESS. Being
uell-born and well-bred, he has no
taste for mechanics labor or for
! circus performances with automobiles
! in public. Who is your man, Bailey"'
''Lestrange, sir. You must have
heard of him often"
81 never read racing news
81 read our said Bailey darkly.
We've been licked often enough by
him. And he's straight-hes one OF
the few men who'll stop at the grand
stand and lose time reporting smash
IN and sending help around. Every
man On the track likes Darling Les
TRANCE
Likes whom"
Bailey flushed brick-red
~ didn't mean to call him that. He
signs himself D. Lestrange, and some
of them started reading 1t Darnng'
| Joking because he was such favorlte
y anu USCdubc- LuSy lihCo AAiA $~AAS ~
It's just nick-name."-
/ Emily laughed out involuntarily,
surprised.
81 beg pardon" she at once apollo
gzed, ''but it sounds SO frivolous
''If you try this man. you had bet
ter keep that nickname out OF the
factory, Mr.. .Ffrench advised stiffly.
What respect could the workmen feel
for manager with such title? II
possible, you would do well to prevent
them from recognizing him as the
racing driver"
Bailey, who had risen at the chime
of a clock, halted amazed.
Respect for him!" he echoed. mot
recognize him! Why, there isn't
man on the place who wouldn't give
his ears to be seen on the same side
of the street with Lestrange, let alone
to work under him. They do read the
racing news. That part of 1t will be
all right, If can have him."
"If 1t is necessary
! IL think it is, sir"
j .1;obt11, ,,uchino ho nj