Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-03-07

waved his name passed from mouth
TO mouth.
Popular, amt he?" chuckled a me-
chanic next to Dick. They don't for
get that Georgia trick no, sir"
1t was not many times that the
cars could circle the track Quarter
OF six blew from whistles and klax-
ous, signal flags sent the cars to their
camps for the last time before the
race.
Come here" Lestrange beckoned
to Dick, as he brought his machine
shuddering to a standstill before the
tent. Here, close-we've got q mo-
ment while they fill tanks
men scattered in every direction a.
Lestrange sprang to his place.
The hours passed on the wheels OF
excitement and suspense. When Le-
strange came In again. only a watch
convinced Dick that 1t was midnight.
You gave the order" Lestrange
asked.
yes"
He descended, taking OF his mask
| and showing face white with ia
tigue under the streaks of dust and
| CRIME.
"I'll be all right in half an hour"
he nodded, in answer to Dicks excla-
nation. Send one of the boys for
coffee, will you, please? Rupert needs
some, too. Here, one of you others,
ask one of those idle doctors appren-
tees to come over with a fresh band
age; my arms trife untidy."
In fact, his right sleeve was wet
and red, where the strain of driving
had reopened the injury of the day be-
fore. But he would not allow Dick to
speak of it.
I'm going to spend an hour or two
resting. Come in, French, and we'll
chat in the intervals, II you like"
"And Rupert? Where's he?" Dick
wondered, peering into the dark with
vague impression of lurking dangers
on every side.
He's hurried in out of the night
air" treasured familiar accents;
small figure lounged across into the
light making vigorous use Of drip
ping towel. Tell Darling | feel faint
and I'm going over to that grand-stand
cafe la car to get some pie. III be
back In time to read over my last
lesson from the cnauffeur's CORE
spondence school. Oh, see what's
here!"
A telegraph messenger boy had
come up to Dick.
Richard Ffrench?" he verified.
Sign, please"
The message was from New York.
"All coming down." Dick read. Lin
CUISINE making delay. Wire me at st.
Royal Of race. Bailey"
Far from pleased, young French
hurriedly wrote the desired answer
and gave 1t to the boy to be sent But
he thrust the yellow envelope into
hts pocket before turning to the tent
where Lestrange was drinking cheap
black coffee while an impatient young
surgeon lowered near.
The hours rest was characteristical-
ly spent. Washed. bandaged, and re-
freshed, Lestrange dropped on cot
IN the back of the tent and pushed
roll of motor garments beneath his
head for a pillow. There he intermit-
tently spoke to his companion of what
ever the moment suggested; listening
to every sound OF the race and inter
spersing acute comment, starting up
whenever the voice of his own ma
chine limited that the driver was dis
obeying instructions or the shrill klax-
on gave warning OF trouble. But
through it all Dick gathered much Of
the family story.
my mother was Californian" Le-
strange once said, coming back from
a tour of inspection. "She was twenty
times as much alive as any French
that ever existed I've been told.
fancy she passed that quality on to
me-you know she died when l was
born-for | nearly drove the family
mad. They expected the worst Of me,
and I gave the best worst ] had. But"
he turned to Dick the clear candor of
his smile, at was rather a decent
worst, | honestly believe. The most
outrageous thing | ever did was to
into the deans library one night, and
so get myself expelled from college"
"a cow" the other echoed.
"a fat COW, and it mooed," he
stuffed the pillow into more COM
Portable position. as that our car
running in? No. it's just passing. IL
Frank doesn't wreck my machine, I'll
get this race. And then, the same
week, my chum and roommate ran
away with a Dorahora girl of some va
riety show and married her. l was
romantic myself at twenty-one so |
helped him through with it. He was
wealthy and she was pretty; it seemed
to fit. I believe they've stayed mar
ried ever since, by the way. But
somehow the reporters got affairs
mixed and published me as the bride
groom. Have you got cigar?
smoke about three times year, and
this is one Of them. Yes, there was
a fine scene when | went home that
night, Broadway melodrama. ! lost