The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1912-11-14
CHAPTER u.

A consultation between the TWO part
ners who composed the Mercury Au-
tomobile company, Of whom the lesser
was speaking with ! certain anecdotai
weight.
and he said he was losing TOO
much time on the turns; 70 the next
round he took the bend at ~ miles
an hour. He went over, OF course
The third car we've lost this year; I'm
glad the seasons closed"
Emily French gave an exclamation,
her velvet eyes widening behind their
black lashes.
"But the driverI Was the poor
driver hurt, Mr.. Bailey?"
"He wasn't killed, Miss Emily" an
swered Bailey, with tings OF pensive
regret. He was large, ruddy, white
haired man. with the slow and care
full habit of speech sometimes found
In those who live much with massive
machinery. mo, he wasn't killed; he's
In the hospital. But he wrecked as
good car as ever was built. through
sheer foolishness. 1t costs money"
Mr.. French responded to the indi-
rect appeal with more than usual irri-
tation, his level gray eyebrows con-
tracing.
I'VE ought to have better drivers.
Why do you not get better men, Bal
ley7 You wanted to go into this rae
ing business; you said the cars need
ed advertising. My brother always at
tended to that side of the factory af-
fairs while he lived, with you as his
manager. Now 1t Ia altogether In your
hands. Why do you not find 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 a part
ner. 1t isn't the same Job. But 9
flrst-class driver isn't easy to get, Mr.
French. There's Delmar killed. ant
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 like"
well, get him. Pay him enough.
Bailey hunched himself togethe
together and crossed his legs.
yes, sir. He's beaten our cars
and others-every race lately, wit
poorer machines. just by sheer prett
driving. He drives fast, yet he don
knock out his car. But there's lc
after him--there's Just one way W
could get him, and get him for keeps.
"And that?"
Hes ambitious. He wants to &c
into something more solid than RAJ
ing. II we offered to make him mai
ager, he'd come and put some ne
|. ideas. maybe. into the factory, an
! race our cars wherever we chose
. enter them. know him pretty well
The proposition was advanced tent
7 lively. with the hesitation OF one We
turing In unknown places. But EthH
French said nothing. his gray ey,
fixed on the hearth.
'He understands motor constru
ton and designing. and he's been Wi
big foreign firms" Bailey resume
I after waiting. He'd be useful arouns
q ! can't be everywhere. What he'd ,
4 for US In racing would help who
$ lot. It's very well to make a fl
: standard car. but 1t needs advertiser
o to keep people remembering. Al
i men like to say my machine Ia 4
/ same as Lestrange won the cup ra
= with They like It."
!. II don't know" said Mr.. Ffren
= slowly, that 1t Ia dignifed for /
! manager Of the Mercury factory
y be a racing driver"
1.-THE Christine cars are driven
the son OF the man who makes then
was the response. Some drive tn,
own"
= THE son OF the man who nah
. them" repeated the other He turn
his face still more to the quiveri
10 fire. his always severe expressi
- hardening strangely and bitterly. ct
~ SON"
The girl rose to draw the crims
y curtains before the windows and
80 push an electric switch, filling
- room with q subdued glow In place
= the late afternoon grayness. Her d
"a cate face. as she regarded her un,
ie revealed most strongly its characte
tic over-earnestness and q senslt
reflection OF the moods of tn
around her. Emily Ffrench's CHI
'e- hood had been passed In a Canad
on convent. and something OF its my
le- cism chung about her. As the CHI,
te full change she had wrought nasl
OF over the room. Mr.. French held
xt his hand In gesture OF summons,
Us that she came across to sit ON
ON broad arm of his chair during the
re- Of the conference. her soft gaze r
les Ing on the third member.
raj My adopted son and nephew |
ing no such talents. we must do
best we can" Mr.. French stated, '
his most precise coldness. "B.
OF well born and well bred. he has
OF taste for mechanics labor or for
m Gus performances with automobile
1T public Who is your man, Bailey
De "Lestrange. sir. You must I
re- heard OF him often"
I'LL. Il never read racing news"
II read ours" said Bailey da,
: We've been licked often enough
ga Aim. And he's straight--hes on
as the few men who'll stop at the gr
ec- stand and lose time reporting SIN
an up and sending help around. e
ne, man on the track likes Darling
l. -