The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-08-16
CHAPTER v. tcontinued.)

with Canton, tells Of his boyhood.
CHAPTER v. cContinued.)
Stanton gasped. Where had his
memory been, not to recall the name
Of Floyd? A multitude Of confused
recollections rushed across his mind,
of that famous manufacturer and
racer for sheer love of the sport, OF
the superb cars he had built, and OF
his death in a railroad wreck. the
previous year.
"He tied me in his car" continued
Floyd, with shadowy smile, when l
was too young to be trusted to hold
on. If you are going to take my me-
chanician's seat, Jes,' he said to me,
you have got to do my mechanician's
work. And by the time | was fifteen,
1 could. We used to race with the
chief car tester, for combination train
Ing, on a mile practice track around
the factory. l held the wheel myself
at seventy-five miles an hour, before
/ was seventeen And he took me
with him, as a spectator, to every big
race here and some abroad. Of course
he was training me to take charge OF
the manufacturing business with him,
not for racing myself. But, somehow
affairs went wrong. When he died,
eighteen months ago, everything col
lapsed and found nothing left. The
factory itself is tied up in lawsuit;
may get that out of the ruin; build
ings full of silent machinery have no
capital to use, and no heart to SELL"
There was pause.
Il wonder" Stanton unused slowly,
"why you volunteered to act as my
xsechanician that night?"
F9uyda's gray eyes flashed to meet
shis, all his color and animation rush.
ing back.
y Because love the racing, / love
1t" he answered, impulsively frank. Il,
I'VE got my fathers blood in my veins
and the frail physique of useless girl
cant you see how they fight? The
very smell of exhaust gas makes my
heart jump and pulses tingle. Be
sides, l had watched you often, |
couldn't see you put out Of the run
ming. Then, was tired Of" he
checked himself sharply. fought we
not to go back on the course?"
Stanton rose, signaling the waiter.
.You saw me through that difhcul.
Nv" he acknowledged. But, you said
this morning that you had sister;
wonder you stayed with me for the
season"
my sister understands" Floyd ex
Dlafned; he had risen also, and stood
xor a moment beside his chair, his
unseeing gaze bent on the ground
~She knows that l was not brought III
to live woman-fashion. / wish, If eve
you hear anything of me that you d.
not like, that makes you feel different
ly toward me, wish you too Woult
remember that was reared by mai
to live among men and missed all tina
women teach"
Stanton regarded him in an astonish
ment at once indulgent and ironic.
I'm not likely to hear anything o
you that will shock me very badly,
he dryly returned. do you think
am gentle girl, myself, Floyd?"
mot so you could notice it." spran
the prompt opinion; the candid gra
eyes laughed out Of their shor
eclipse.
They went back to the course t.
gether.
The next two hours were spent /
repeatedly circling the ten mile cours
In ten minutes; a reasonable practic
gait, from Stanton's point of view. O
the last trip he and Floyd disagree
over question of mixture, and cam
up to the repair pits quarreling vigo
ously, exciting the interest of all b
holders.
more gas, I'll go take a correspon,
ence course" was Floyd's last rotor
as he slipped out of his seat
tits running like it never did b
fore, and you'll let it alone" Stantc
sent the definite order after him.
The witnesses grinned at one a
other.
Say. Floyd, that's a fine big bru
OF machine you've got there" COZ
plimented the broadly amused Georg
as the young mechanician went
him.
1t sure Is" came the cheerful agre
ment.
Yes. But It's nothing to the bru
Of driver you've got"
Floyd paused to glance back.
LET my driver Alone" he advise
stanton and understand each 9th
IN right"