The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-09-13
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big life Tor me; and / didn't forget II.
/ made the accounts of the accident at
the Cup race as easy for Miss Floyd
as could, when they came out There
was bound to be some sensational.
ISM"
Thank you," Stanton made brief &C.
acknowledgement. There is nothing that
you can do for me-"
The train was kissing at the plat.
form, but the reporter pursued him 3
step farther.
you, you'll look after Miss Floyd,
Mr.. Stanton? That's square?"
The driver turned an amazed resent
full glance upon his questioner, his
hand on the rail. But. hardly aware
why. he answered, however glacially.
Yes, sir"
The reporter beamed at him, radiant.
81 knew It," he called, above the
roar and clang of the starting train.
Il knew 1t was all right"
A dull gray sky arched above a
snow-patched landscape, fiurries of
snow were in the harsh air. Stanton
sat with unseeing eyes directed out
the window, chin in hand, much as he
had found Floyd sitting In the west.
bound train the night they started for
Indianapolis. September sunlight, Oc-
tober crimson and gold, all gone.
A delicate fragrance drifted around
him, there was the frou-frou of soft
garments as some one took the seat
facing him. Stanton looked up, and
saw Valerie Carlisle opposite, her
blond fairness framed in dark vel
vets and furs, her amber eyes regard
ing him from beneath the shadow of
her wide plumed hat.
There is nothing at all singular in
my being here, Mr.. Stanton" she stat
ed, in her cool, indolent voice. BE
cause ascertained by telephone when
you intended to leave the hospital, and
so arranged to meet you on the train.
Tomorrow I start for Europe, to re-
main for long time, and It was nee
essary for me to speak with you first.
I am sorry to see that you have been
frightfully ILL.,"
you are too good" he answered,
ly. CAS- you observe, I was not for
tunate enough to finish myself COM
pletely in the late wreck"
"One sometimes feels like that"
she conceded, passing one small gloved
hand across the soft fur of her muff.
II have wished for the finish, here
lately, for my part. You probably did
not know that l was engaged to marry
Archer Ross, of the Atalanta Automo-
bile Company"
Stanton sat erect. All Floyd's sus.
picions or this girl rusneu DacK TO MS
mind.
YES" she confirmed the thought in
his expression. What you are imagin-
ing Is quite correct. tried very hard
TO induce you to drive for the ATLANTA
Company instead of for the Mercury.
The Atalanta absolutely required
good racing record. But l failed. You
were more than firm in your decision"
So that had been what she wanted
Of him. That had lain behind her
polished surface of gracious admira-
ton and had been the core Of her in
sincerity.
"And when I would not drive for
your company, you tried to prevent
me from driving for my own?" He
wondered incredulously.
She looked at him, and looked away
again.
81 fancy you would scarcely credit
me, Mr.. Stanton, II denied the fact,
now. have been very clumsy; a So
ciety woman is not trained to practical
melodrama. You are unbelievably diff
ficult to lead"
Her flawless self-possession gave an
effect of unreality to the whole affair.
Stanton felt a vertigo of the mind.
you had that purpose in view
when you first spoke to me at the
Beach twenty-four hour racer" he
questioned. you hoped to induce
me to wreck my car by fast driving, in
order to leave the Atalanta a better
lchance of winning?"
ooh, MOI" she deprecated. 81 never
tried to cause your wreck-what can
you think me? No, that was merely
an impulsive experiment; / wanted to
see II you would do as wished. Some
men have done So"
Are you going to telFme that you
drugged me at Lowell, on the eve of
the road racer"
"Drugged you? That Is a harsher
description than I ever gave the incl
dent In my own mind. But l poured
into your coffee what Archer Ross had
given me for that purpose. He said It
would not harm you, only prevent you
from driving next morning; he had
been betting heavily on his car. But
you raced, after all, Ill as you must
have been. never imagined you would
take such risk, or I should have re-
fused the responsibility. disliked the
task, anyhow. To be frank, was hor-
ribly frightened when I saw you on
the course, and when the report of
your accident came in, / felt guilty OF
assassination"
He looked at her, at her ivory-and-
gold beauty. her composed ease. his