Putnam patriot., 1912-01-19

III dSdln, lElS tune llnlplnS Wltn a nat tire. to be fallen on by its mechanics.
 We're leading. but we'll lose by this" said Lestrange, slipping out to
 relax and meditatively contemplating
 the alternate driver, who was standing
 across the camp. "Ffrench, at twelve
 I'll have to come in to rest some, and
 turn my machine over to the other
 man. And I won't have him wrecking
 1t for me. I want you, as owner, to
 give him absolute orders to do no
 speeding; let him hold q fifty-two
 mile an hour average until I take the
 wheel again.
 "Me?"
 q can't do 1t. You, of course"
 "You could" Dick answered. "I've
 been thinking how you and I will run
 that factory together. It's all stun
 about your going away; why should
 you? You and your father take me
 as junior partner, you know I'm not
 big enough for anything else"
 You're mans size" Lestrange as-
 sured, a hand on his shoulder. "Bnt Tt won't do. I'll not forget the offer,
 though, never"
 All on!" dozen voices signaled: men scattered in every direction as
 Lestrange sprang to his place. The hours passed on the wheels Of
 excitement and suspense. When Le-
 strange came in again, only watch
 convinced Dick that it was midnight. "You gave the order?" Lestrange asked.
 "Yes."
 He descended, taking of his mask
 and showing a face white with fla tigue under the streaks of dust and
 grime.
 "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- tices to come over with fresh band age; my arms trifie 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. if you like" And Rupert? Where's he?" Dick wondered, peering into the dark with & vague impression of lurking dangers on every side.
 Hes hurried in out of the night air" reassured familiar accents; a small figure lounged across into the light, making vigorous use of drip ping towel "Tell Darling I feel faint and I'm going over to that grand-stand cafe la car to get some pie. I'll be back in time to read over my last spondence school. Oh, see what's here!"
 A telegraph messenger boy had come up to Dick.
 Richard French" he verified. "Sign. please"
 The message was from New York
 "All coming down. Dick read. "Lim- ousine making delay. Wire me at St. Royal of race Bailey
 Far from pleased, young Ffrench hurriedly wrote the desired answer and gave it to the boy to be sent But he thrust the yellow envelope into his pocket before turning to the tent where Lestrange was drinking cheap black coffee while an impatient young surgeon hovered near.
 The hours rest was characteristical- ly spent Washed, bandaged, and re- freshed, Lestrange dropped on a cot in the back of the tent and pushed a 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 hinted 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 a Californian" Le- strange once said, coming back from a tour of inspection. "She was twenty times as much alive as any Ffrench that ever existed, I've been told. fancy she passed that quality on to me-you know she died when l was born-for I 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, 'it was rather decent worst, I honestly believe. The most outrageous thing I ever did was to lead a set of seniors in hoisting COW into the deans library one night, and so get myself expelled from co--ege. "A cow?" the other echoed.
 "A fat COW, and it mooed," he stuffed the pillow into a more com fortable position. 'Is that our car running in? No, it's just passing. If Frank doesn't wreck my machine, I'll get this race. And then, the same week, my ehum and roommate ran away with a Dorafora girl of some va riety show and married her. I was
 romantic myself at twenty-one, so l 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 1 went home that night, a Broadway melodrama- l lost
 my temper easier then; by the time