Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-09


coffee. will you. please? Rupert needs
some, too. Here, ono Of you others,
ask one Of those idle doctors appren-
tees to come over with q fresh band
age my arms trife untidy."
In fact, his right sleeve was wet
and REQ, where the strain of driving
had reopened the injury Of the day be-
fore. But he would not allow Dick to
speak of II.
I'm going to spend an hour or two
resting. Come IN, French. and we'll
chat IN the intervals. II you like"
and Rupert? where's he?" Dick
wondered, peering into the dark with
vague impression Of lurking dangers
on every side.
Hes hurried in cut Of the night
| air" treasured familiar accente;
small figure lounged across into tho
light, making vigorous use of drip
ping towel Tell Darling | feel faint
ard IN going over to that grandstand
cafe a Ia car to get some pie. III be
back in time to read over my last
lesson from the ehauffeur's CORE
spondeuce school. Oh, see what's
here!"
A telegraph messenger boy had
come up to Dick
Richard Ffrench?" he verified.
"Sign, please"
The message was from New York.
"Al coming down." Dick read. Lin.
CUISINE making delay. Wire me at st.
Royal of race. Bailey"
Far from pleased, young Ffrencn
hurriedly wrote the desired answer
and gave it to the boy TO be sent. But
he thrust the yellow envelope into
his pocket before turning to the tent
where Lestrange was drinking cheap
| black coffee while an impatient young
/ surgeon lowered near.
The hours rest was characteristical
| ~ spent. Washed, bandaged, and re-
/ freshed Lestrange dropped on a cot
! III the back of the tent and pushed n
roll of motor garments beneath his
head for pillow There he intermit-
tently spoke TO his companion of what
ever the moment suggested; listening
20 every sound Of the race and inter
spersing acute comment, starting up
whenever the voice of his own ma
chine limited that the driver was dis
oheyng Instructions or the shrill klax-
on gave warning Of trouble. But
through it all Dick gathered much OF
the family story.
MY mother was Californian" Le-
strange once said, coming back from
q tour Of inspection. "She was twenty
times as much alive as any French
that ever existed. I've been told. |
fancy size passed that quality on to
me-you know she died when l was
born-for I nearly drove the family
mad. They expected the worst of me,
and gave the best worst had. But,
he turned to Dick the clear candor OF
his smile, at was rather a decent
worst, | honestly believe. The most
outrageous thing l ever did was to
lead q set Of seniors in hosting a COW
into the deans library one night and
so get myself expelled from college.
"a COW - the other echoed.
y "a fat COW, and it mooed." he
stuffed the pillow into a more com
Portable position. as that our car
running in? No, it's just passing. II
Frank doesn't wreck my machine. II
( get this race. And then, the same
week.. ny chum and roommate ran
| away with a DCrafora girl of some va
riety show and married her I was
romantic myself ut twenty-one so
helped him through with It, He was
wealthy and she was pretty; it seemed
to fit. believe they've stayed mar
. ried ever since, by the way. Bu
somehow the reporters got affairs
mixed and published me az the bride
, groom. Have YOU got cigar?
smoke about three times n year, anl
this is one Of them. Yes, there was
q fine scene when / went homo tha
night, Il Broadway melodrama. | los
. my temper easier then; by the tim'
, my father and uncle gave me dine t.
speak, was too angry to defend my
, self and set them right. I suppose
1 they would learn the truth by tint
, next day, anyhow. And ! left hoI'
for good in dinner coat and raglan
n with something under ten dollars il
, odd change. What's that
That" was the harsh alarm OF III
, official klaxon. coupled with the or,
I of countless voices. The ambulance
gong changed rs Lestranse sprang Il
. his feet and reached the door
(Which carr" he called.
! Rupert answered first:
7 "Eot ours. Number Fights burn I'M
J. up after smaah on the far turn
Jacks car" identified Lestrapge
and stood for an instant Co fla
Frank; I'll take the machine agar
2 myself. It's one O'clock and I've so
. to win this race"
q Several mon ran across to the trac
t In compliance Lestrange turned I
!, mako ready, but paused beside N
= awed Dick TO look over the infolG Il
d ward the flaming blo,ch against tn
I dark sky.
. He was IN to change a tire te
g minutes ago observed Rupert, besid
d therl. "'Tell Lestrange Pm doin' tim
= catchin' him 10 yeVed to me, Here
2 hoping his broncho machine pitche
q him clear from the fireworks"
o When the Mercury car swung in.
e moment later, Lcstrange fingered *
@ last word TO Dick