Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-11-29
, FREDERIC THOpNBUI2G


wasn't goin' to die, too, saw Jes
was able to earn his livin' while Jes-
sica was liable to starve. I had 1t In
my blood to love that work. suppose:
l told you once that the very smell of
exhaust gas drove me out Of myself
with speed-fever. Every racer knows
1t, you know 1t. that feelin'. So got
place in the Mercury factory: an
that way met you. don't know how
to make you understand"
He interrupted her ruthlessly, al
most roughly. as he might once have
spoken to Floyd; not looking up.
What Of all that? You are you.
now. You've let me think you dead
! for two months you left me in hell"
mo. mol" she denied in swift de-
tense. mot that. never guessed that
you could believe me dead; thought
you must know me-Jessica."
How should l know? You never
came near me. The Floyd l knew
would have come" the bitterness of
those desolate nights and days choked
speech.
There was pause, filled with some
strange significance beyond his faith
oming.
II couldn't come" she deprecated.
her low voice broken. You're maxim
this hard. When I was picked up
stunned, an taken to the hospital, aft
er We went off the bridge, they found
wasn't Jes. They talked of me-the
newspapers printed stories about STAN
toms mechanician-they said, they
said you knew l was a woman when
we went West"
The movement that brought Stanton
to his feet was galvanic. He under
stood, finally. in one binding flash of
full comprehension; understood the
doctor the nurse. his fellow-drivers
embarrassed reticence. and Miss Car
Isle. Understood, too, that here had
been suffering acute as his own. And
In the mans hot outrush Of protection
Jes and Jessica were fused into one.
They'll talk to me-" he grimly as
sured. I'm not shut in hospital,
now. Why didn't you send them to
me? You knew I'd come to you"
His sentence broke, as his eyes
caught and held hers; Floyd's eyes,
straight and true in spite of the girls
scarlet shame burning in either check.
II knew, yes, you are that kind. But
how could l tell you would want to
come? How can tell 1t now? You'd
see me through safely, anyhow. I'm
rememberin' that you dismissed Floyd
for one falsehood. an I've tricked you
for weeks"
He drew a step nearer her; the
pulse which had commenced to beat
through him the day they started for
Indianapolis and which had ceased two
months ago, suddenly woke anew with
a long steady stroke. The old rich
sense Of life ran warm along his veins
What Of you?" he put the question.
Brute enough I've been to Floyd. Per
haps he had too much Of me for you
to want more?"
She gasped before the challenge,
then abruptly .flared out, powder to
spark. defiance to mastery. as so often
on track or course.
You're mockin' me, Ralph Stanton!
An ] won't bear 1t. I've told you too
often that cared, trustin' you'd never
know the rest. l ought to have kept
away from you, an | couldn't do 1t.
never meant you to know was any
one but Jes Floyd, meant to be your
partner an mechanician all my life.
lhated bein' girl. But you came here
an found Jessica when wasn't ex-
pectin' you. When you asked me If
you might marry my sister. there at
the Comet factory, you almost killed
me. For then did want to be girl.
your girl. Yes, I'm sayin' 1t. an !
won't marry you, won't gave Jes-
sica chance. an you didn't love her.
you loved Jes. couldn't be happy
any more, either way. I'm tired of
wishin' the Mercury had fallen on me
l-you'd better go: I'm never goin' to
see you again.
you're going to see me-" corrected
Stanton, slowly definite, forever.
You're going to marry me today"
She lifted her face to him as he
stood over her, the girls piteous
beauty Of 1t. the boy-comrade's direct
candor. the mechanician's unmurmur-
ing obedience, and he saw her trem.
bling whose courage matched his OWL
Don't make me unless you want
me. truly" she whispered. Were
playin' square. now"
I His reply was inarticulate. the ex
preston which leaped into his eyes
was that with which he once had
looked at Floyd across the cups OF
chocolate. Only now it cam, with the
fierce movement that crushed her sup
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