Putnam patriot., 1911-12-22

"Neser Mind Me; Let Us Read.r 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 lshed them. Dick had not exagger ated. on the contrary he had not sSid enough. Lestrange and his car were the focus of the hours attention. The airing, the reckless courage that risk I'd life for victory. the generosity which could throw that victory away to aid comrade, and lastly the deter imitation and skill which had won the conquest after all-the whole formed feat too spectacular to escape pub lie hysteria. It was very doubtful in- deed whether Lestrange liked his idol izing, but there was no escape.
 The two who read were young.
 Tt was 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 I see him? Why don't you tell him yourself?"
 Something like a white shadow wiped the scarlet of excitement from her cheeks, as she averted her face
 q shall not see him; shall not go 10 the factory any more. It will be better, I am sure"
 Vaguely puzzled and dismayed, Dick sat looking at her, not daring to question.
 Emily kept her word during the weeks that followed. Through Dick and Bailey she heard of factory af- fairs; of the sudden increase of orders for the Mercury automobiles the add ed prestige gained. and the public favor bestowed on the car. But she saw nothing of the man who was re- sponsible for all this. Instead she went out more than ever before. Their social circle was too painfully exclusive to be large or gay.
 Three times a week it was MT. Ffrench's stately custom to visit the factory and inspect it with Bailey At other times Bailey came up to the house, where affairs were conducted. But in neither place did MT French ever come in contact with his man. ager. during all the months while win ter waxed and waned again to spring.
 That's Bailey's doing" chuckled Dick. when Emily finally wondered aloud at the circumstance. He isn't going to risk losing Lestrange because our high and mighty uncle falls out with him. And it would be pretty likely to happen if they met. Le- strange has a temper you know, even if it doesn't stick out all over him like a hedgehog; and dozen other companies would give money to get him
 Emily nodded gravely It was sun nv morning in the first of March. and the cousins were at the end of the old mark surrounding Ffrenchwood, where thev had strolled before breakfast.
 'Mr Bailey likes MT. Lestrange' she commented.
 Hikes him, He loves him. fou knoy Lestrange lives with him; a bachelor household, cozy as grigs.
 Inst mast here ran the road, beyond high cedar hedge. While he was sneaking. the irregular explosive re- norts of a motor had sounded down the valley. unmistakable to those Ia miliar with the testing of the stripped cars and rapidly approaching. Now as Emily would have answered the roar suddenly changed in character an annalling series of explosions min gled with the grind of outraged ma chiuery suddenly braked. ana some one shouted above the din. The next instant a huge mass shot past tne oen, ar side of the hedge and there followed a dull crash.
 arbat,s one of our men!" gasped nick and plunged headlong through the shrubbery. ..a
 Dagad momentarily. Emily stood then caught up her skirts and ran s. al.. or him She knew well enough what the testers of the cars risked.
 @nickl" she appealed. Dick
 But it was not the wreck she antlcl- hated that met her eyes as she came throngb the hedge. On the opposite side of the road a long low skeleton oar was standing. one side lurcnea drnnkenlv down with two wheels III tbs gutter. still in his seat, the dFiFe, was wa leaning over the steering-WheeL ont of breath, but laughing greeting to the astonished Dick.
 GA break in the steering-gear' ne 1's .oo,ared bv way of explanation eeql'r .a9d RaiIev it was weak point; now nerbaps rea he1l believe me and strength en it. D..t inferred
 T think she's not-a tire s'ne' Find anything wrong. RupertF ,,,o inT aTwo a fires of." said the laconle
 .ahaoic,an TWO funerals post nnnsd ne That was a pretty stop pai- ling" a restrange, as,,S and removing his soss .lwnst,s the matter. F1rench' ma mt of our nve