Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-01

6m1sh. No one mines Just Dying
we're sure to do It some day, anyhow
but 10 be Mussed up and patched to-
:gsther again, no! Now" his irrepres-
'sible smile glanced out again. that's
why I feel 80 safe with you; there is
a deadly hnality about your driving
methods
"That 10 about enough" Stanton Sig
,uinsd. "I1l SEQ sc: CO tho train,
then"
They did meet IN the train. and
passed long hours Of travel in work
and discussion. The other passengers
came to take . decided. II furtive In
tersst In the two who sat opposite
each other In absorbed conversation
or argument, making drawings on en-.
vslopes and timetables 10 Illustrate
their points and wen leaving rows Of
figures upon the menu cards in tho
d1ning-car.
Incidentally. both men displayed .
thorough training IN mechanical de-
sign and construction, Stanton's far
the more finished and scientific.
II did not know Floyd marveled,
Ut last
Stanton forestaIled the question By
i~ndidsrently explaining.
N am q mechanical engineer; I
graduated from college at twonty-one;
that was ave years ago. You have
dropped your pencil. What do you say
to staying over half a day at Buffalo
and visiting your factory?'
Fine" approved Floyd. q trife
slowly. "A half day, not more. We
have got to make ready for that Cup
race"
Three weeks Cd. You're getting as
old:womanish as Green"
TOO bad. Still I have to be at the
Mercury plant when you don't. Halt
Q day ought to be enough"
Stanton surveyed him, frritated, yet
without tangible cause for irritation.
There were times when he could have
imagined that F1o-d evaded too close
oompanionship with him, subtly held
him At arms length.
They stayed the hah day at Buftalo.
and vent out to the huge, silent group
Of buildings that had been the Comet
factory.
It gave Stanton q strange sensation
to watch Hoyd's assured familiarity
With this place and atmosphere; to
see him so naturally draw from his
pocket the bunch OF keys to admit
them and unhesitatingly at each to it,
corresponding door o gate. Yet, this
was where he belonesd-only there
should have been busy life instead of
this dead emptiness. Their voices ech-
ed loud through tho desolation, where
the massive, motionless machinery
stood towering above the visitor and
the slight young master Of the domain,
the metalspotted. roughened factory
floors r~everberated under their foot
steps.
As they made the tour from room to
room and building to building. Floyd
grew slowly winter. his explanations
more brief. When they finally arrived
at q glass-set door marked ONCE. he
stopped short and laid his hand upon
the wall Is If to steady himself.
go away. for q moment" he re-
quest. his voice catching. "11l come
after you. I haven't been here since
my father"
Stanton swung on his heel and went
out; out to look At tho mile track,
where Edgar Floyd used to practice
racing with little tes tied In the car
beside him, and whore later the older
Jes played mechanician to his fathers
driving. And standing there under
the dull October sky, Stanton thought
Of many things.
When Floyd came after him, half an
hour later, Stanton turned from his
position against the track railing.
Floyd, what do you figure Is going
to become Of your sister," he abrupt
~ demanded.
Floyd stopped. gazing at the other
with parted lips and startled gray
eyes. A strong wind was blowing OF
Lake Erie, tossing his bronze hair
and wrapping his long coat about him.
my sister," he repeated. "Why?"
"She is a woman, she must have
some life Of her own. You can't keep
her like a nun until she finds herself
grown old without . chance at living"
Floyd continued to gaze at him, say
ing nothing; that half-hour in the Of
ics had left him almost wan In the
gray afternoon light.
you know me, Jes Floyd, II any
one does. You know my vile temper.
my rough tongue. and that I am q
cross-grained brute at best. But !
think there may be enough Of the In
herent gentleman left in me to make
me decent to a woman. If, In time,
things fell out so that I'd asked you for
your sister, would you be willing?
Speak frankly, II you do not think me
At to be trusted with her, say so-it
will not break our friendship"
"You have seen her once" Floyd 70
called, as II to himself. He lisped, his
surest sign of excitement. Stanton
had never heard him use that soft.
slurrfng speech except on tho q c
tracks; heard now in the quiet U
try surroundings, It infected the listen
er with q contagious agitation and
emotion.
Il know. I know" he deprecated.
'But, I might SEQ her more, and see
ing no better men she might couie 10
bear with me. Not that there 10 much
In me worth it-she probably never
would look ut me. What I am asking
you, now, II whether you want me to
keep away from her. Say yes, and
we will shake hands and drop the sub.
ject for ever"