The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-08-23
CHAPTER VIII.
Team-Ma


There's a gentleman downstairs to
isee you, sir" the bell-boy brought in
FORMATION to the latter, one afternoon.
HE won't come up because he says he
can't leave his automobile, but he'd be
glad II you'd come down, sir"
Stanton looked at the card presented.
,and rose with alacrity. sat
His mechanician was in the hall,
tgazing across the wide windows at a
jlow-swung, long-bonneted, dull-gray
anotorcar that stood by the curbstone;
"a car stripped as bare of every super
fluous belongings as pugilist enter
ing the ring. At the hiss of the de-
scending elevator he turned to meet
stanton with his smile of sun-shot
lcordiality. AZ b, sA& 81
Il 81 was afraid to let your machine
lout of my sight" he exclaimed. "She
Us going on to- Indiana, tonight, and
the chief wanted you to see her first
There wasn't time to get you out to the
factory, after fixing her steering bust
mess the way you wanted, so they sent
her down for you to look over The
ichief sent word for you to try her out
anywhere you liked and he would pay
the cost If you got in trouble, but to
jget her shipped west tonight unless
ishe had to go back to the factory, for
there were rumors of a strike among
the train men and we might not be
liable to get her through in time for the
race"
"Who drove her down here?" Stan
ton demanded casting jealous
glance out the window, but accepting
the facts more amiably than could
have been expected.
"The chief, until he left me at the
avenue corner, just now. He said
never mind"
"Oh, go ahead"
"Well, he said he had been a racing
driver himself and knew how you
would feel about having your car
lyanlIed thirty miles across country
roads by another driver; and, er---that
: he guessed that he was the only man
in the shops who'd care to tell you he
had done It,"
I'll get some driving things" sug-
lgested Stanton. and went back to the
elevator.
When he Joined Floyd beside the big
car, he stood for moment busted with
the clasp of his gauntlet, before at
tempting to start.
Miss Floyd told you Of my call, the
iother day?" he queried.
Eyes, of course. / was sorry to be
away; had never thought Of your
hunting me up"
"You did not object to my taking her
out? There was no way OF asking you"
This from the self-willed Stanton!
F1oyd's eyes glinted with an apprecia,
ton at once humorous and touched
object? Why? You could take
care of her." he countered.
Elk, the spark" babe Stanton, and
went front to crank his motor.
We'll not get half block without
drawing every mounted policeman for
ten miles," Floyd called. above the
roar of the exhausts. I'VE ought to
have made ready by putting on few
dozen muflers."
What time must she be shipped?"
I'VE must have her at the Mercury
office by six o'clock, unless you say she
has to go back to the factory"
"It Is after four, now. No time to
try the Long Island course, and there
Is motorcycle race on the Beach
track. Get into your seat; We'll take
Pelham Parkway"
N"Pelham Parkway Whv-o
4 Have you anything better to pro-
poser"
TITS first offense," Floyd resigned
himself. "They can't do worse than
Tine you"
Stanton shrugged his shoulders, and
the car rolled forward.
The Mercury glided through the
teeming. congested streets, and left
faultless record behind her. Not
rtrafho officers slightest signal was dis
regarded, no speed regulations were
materially fractured; Stanton drove
like a iaw-abiding chauffeur from the
suburbs, and until they were in the
park.
Don't see or hear too much, and
don't tell me II you do" advised STAN
ton suddenly, and leaned forward.
The Mercury uttered a vibrant roar
that cleared the Parkway for quarter
of mile ahead, and leaped.
Floyd kept his eyes upon the road in
front, carefully avoiding view of the
hubbub left In their wake. He had
dieting glimpse of one scandalized on
Ger struggling with his rearing horse,
~ they Numbered past, and he enter
kained no doubt of the number in their
rear.
'She steers little stiff," Stanton OBJ
served. twisting between a limousine
and two carriages. But we can fix
that at the track. Whatf"
two motorcycle policemen are Just
behind" communicated Floyd, devour-
ID By. Silent mirth. Had enoughf"
81 haven't seen them yet I cant let
tout the machine here, of course. but
was that dog?"
- .Poodia."