The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-09

,',' .: W;;: =" -'s
coincided. passing ore small gloved
hand across the soft fur OF her mum.
II have wished for the finish, here
lately. for my part. You probably did
not know that I was engaged TO marry
Archer Ross. OF the ATLANTA Automo-
bile company
Stanton sat erect. All F'loyd's sus-
piclons OF this girl rushed back to his
mind.
Yes she confirmed the thought In
mis- expression. What you are imag
ming is quite correct. tried very
hard TO induce you to drive for the
Atalapta company instead of for the
Mercury. The Atalanta absolutely re-
quired q 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
insincerity.
And when | would not drive for
your company. you tried to prevent me
from driving for my OWN He Won
dered !ncredulously
She looked at him, and looked away
again. --
Il fancy you would scarcely credit
me, Mr. stanton If ! denied the fact,
noM have been very clumsy; a
socfstv woman Is not trained TO prac-
teal melodrama. You are unbeliev-
ably difficult to lead
Her fiawless elf-possession gave an
effect OF unreaiity to the whole affair.
Stanton felt vertigo of the mind.
You had that purpose in view when
you first spoke to me at the beaeh
twenty-four-hour race - he ouss-
toned. You hoped to induce me 10
wreck my car by fast driving, in order
to leave the Ataianta a better chance
Of winning"
"Oh, no." she deprecated. II never
tried to cause your wreck--what can
you think me? No. that was merely
an impulsive experiment: ! wanted to
see 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 "
the road race"
"Druggad youo That is a hsrsher
description than / ever gave the Incl
dent in my own mind. But l poured
into your coffee what Archer Ross had
given me for that purpose. He said II
would not harm you. only preent '
from driving next morning: he hao
been betting heavily on his car. But
you raced after all. i'll as you must
have been 1 never imagined You
would take such q risk. or / should
have refused the responsibility. dis
liked the task. anyhow To be frank,
was horribly frightened when l saw
you on the course. and when the re-
II Ia I fAl
guilty OF ASA ssinat!on.
He looked at her. az her iNory-and-
gold beauty, her composed ease. his
own face coldly emotioniess. 1t d.d
no. mater nothing nattered now.
Buty ct he read that behind that APP
parent case OF hers heaved sea of
stormy thoughts: as always, hef
speech was no guide - her mind.
Il suppose then. that you would
not have been distressed If l had
broken my arm when | cranked your
car after driving you homo from New
York" he commented.
-4fer=eeias= changed for the first time.
her eyes flashed to his.
You angersd me" she retorted.
~Y-oa srn.a.Iy toid naa that you TIA Il
not raced at the Beach, to please me.
nor would you do SO You we're super
c,rious, no man had ever treated me
that way before. For one instant !
did hate and tong 70 hurt your
pushed up the spark as you crarked.
The next moment / would have undone
1t II could
There was a pause, as the train halt
ed at a station. and the usual furry OF
agress and ingress ensued. When the
start was made:
WHY ara you telling me this Z"
Stanton asked. Il am not considered
especially amiabIe and fcrEiving. as a
rule; why chance unnecessary confess
sion?"
mo" her lip bent in faint smile
that WAS not mirthful. But you are
too masculine to retaliate upon a wo-
man. am not much afraid. although
/ find myself forced to depend upon
your indulgence. A net was spread
for the feet Of the wicked by someone
more acute. or less Indifferent. than
the Mercury's driver. You--mechani.
clan set a private detective at the task
Of following and guarding you until
after the Cup race. fearing treachery.
suppose, would be used to prevent
used to prevent your driving. You
are surprised"
He saw the crowded railway station.
on the morning of the return from
Indianapolis, and Floyd NiNlu. ahA-
ious face turned to him in the arti-
ficial light. lie heard the fresh young
voice: IF You went take care of your
self, Stanton
There was no need, Mr. stanton. !
had no idea Of interfering with you
personally. Bur the thing was done,
ana oyeluone. THE man hired TO play
detective'wos not honest, he exceeded
his mission OF protection and Went ON
to Investigation for his own pront. IL
/ ara telling you this. 1t IS because you
would soon hear the story from him,
anyhow. and because I want you to al
lence him. He has offered me his 81
Ienoe for a price. but do not choose
to yield TO biackmail which. once
Z commenced. would never end. / pre-
Ter TO ask shelter OF your chiSairy."
81 will silence him. he gave cold
a ssurance.
YOU ara very good 1t 10 not the
least of my humihations to know thai
you could deal nothing more contsmp-
tnnus than your forbearance. she