The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-10-25
CHAPTER xIl.-(contlnued.)

s'There Is nothing at all singular In
my being here, Mr. Stanton" she stat
Cd, in her cool, indolent voice. BE
cause l ascertained by telephone when
you intended to leave the hospital, and
20 arranged to meet you on the train.
Tomorrow l start for Europe, to re-
main for long time, and it was nee
essary for me to speak with you first.
I am sorry to see that you have been
frightfully ILL.,"
"You are too good" he answered,
the old antagonism stirring him strong
ly. GAS you observe, was not for
tunate enough to finish myself COM
pletely in the date wreck"
zone sometimes feels like that, !"
she conceded, passing one small gloved
hand across the soft fur of her mum.
"I have wished for the finish, here
lately, for my part. You probably did
not know that was engaged to marry
Archer Ross, of the Atalanta Automo-
bile Company"
Stanton sat erect. All Floyd's sus-
picions of this girl rushed back to his
mind.
eyes," she confirmed the thought in
his expression. what you are imagin-
ing is quite correct. l tried very hard
to induce you to drive for the ATLANTA
Company instead of for the Mercury.
The Atalanta absolutely required d
good racing record But failed. You
were more than firm in your. decision"
So that had been what she wanted
OF him. That had lain behind her
polished surface of gracious admira-
ton and had been the core Of her in
sincerity.
"And when l would not drive for
your company, you tried to prevent
me from driving for my own?" He
wondered incredulously.
She looked at him, and looked away
again.
IT fancy you would scarcely credit
me. Mr.. Stanton, If denied the fact,
now. I have been very clumsy; So
ciety woman is not trained to practical
melodrama. You are unbelievably diff
iicult to lead"
Her fiawless self-possession gave an
effect of unreality to the whole affair.
Stanton felt a vertigo of the mind.
you had that purpose in view
when you first spoke to me at the
Beach twenty-four hour racer he
questioned. "You hoped to induce
me to wreck my car by fast driving, in
order to leave the ATLANTA better
chance of winning?"
ooh, mol" she deprecated. Il never
tried to cause your wreck-what can
you think me? No, that was merely
an impulsive experiment: l wanted to
sse II you would do as wished. Some
men have done So"
"Are you going to tell me that you
drugged me at Lowell, on the eve Of
the road racer"
"prugged you? That Is a harshel
description than l ever gave the incl
dent In my own mind. But poured
into your coffee what Archer Ross had
given me for that purpose. He said Il
would not harm you, only prevent yor
from driving next morning; he had
been betting heavily on his car. But
you raced, after all, i'll as you must
have been. / never imagined you would
take such a risk, or should have re
fused the responsibility. l disliked thu
task, anyhow. To be frank, / was hor
rib1y frightened when I saw you OF
the course, and when the report o
your accident came in, felt guilty o
assassination"
He looked at her at her fvorv.anf]
gold beauty, her composed ease, bill
own face coldly emotionless. It di,
not matter, nothing mattered, now
But yet he read that behind that Or
parent ease OF hers heaved sea q
tormy thoughts; as always, her speec
was no guide to her mind.
suppose. then. that you Woul