Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-08-22


rected his mechanician. This Is the
country and you had your dinner at
noon. But I'll come, anyhow"
At the table in the course of the
meal, small teapot was set before
Stanton.
Chocolate, SIR" he was appraised.
"Why, you had none at luncheonr
The pompadoured waitress giggled.
mo, sir. But the gentleman sent a
boy after some and came down and
saw the cook, and cooks that fond Of
nonsense, and she fifty-four next De-
cember-"
Stanton looked across into Floyd's
mirthful gray eyes.
II hadn't anything better to do"
was the malicious explanation. "And
l was afraid your nerves would go to
pieces If you didn't get your usual
drug and then you'd wreck us to-mor-
row."
He'd coax bird off tree, sir"
Uttered the departing maid.
"Give me your cup and have some"
Stanton briefly commanded.
"Going to throw 1t at me, like you
did that jug of water on the first night
we raced together?" leased his COM
panion, obeying.
Stanton's head lifted slightly, the re-
/ gard in which he enveloped Floyd was
! almost savage in its leap of intense
and tenacious passion. Such a glance
! from man to woman would have been
a declaration, from man to man il was
not thing to be voiced. Floyd him.
self faltered before it, startled into
pallor.
'You can throw 1t at me, if you like,
and square up" was all Stanton said,
and reached for the sugar-bowl with
his customary nonchalance.
Thanks; it's boiling, guess I
won't" Floyd acknowledged. But he
did not look at the other, and his
manner was troubled
The meal was ended and the even
ing had commenced, when a telegram
came in from New York.
"Car marked Ruby Co. consigned to
Mercury Co. Coney Island, left here
last night"
Mr.. Green uttered a howl and felt
for the telephone.
They've shipped the car to Coney
Island instead of to Long Branch" he
ragged. "The tires must be out at the
Beach track, or near it,"
Don't telephone; send some one
out there to get them" advised STAN
ton practically.
'I've got to be here, and can't get
our New York men in time, now"
well, I'll go, then. Coney Island
has got to be raked fine and the tires
brought here as soon as they are
found"
"You? You? Travelling and wear
ing yourself out on the eve Of a Cruel
ling race? No. Go to bed and get your
rest, please, Stanton. I'll send some
one"
Stanton did not go to bed, but he
went into the hotel room across the
hall and played billiards with three
of his fellow-drivers. He was less for
bidding, less caustic of speech than
formerly. Floyd had taught him the
art Of companionship. Before the
game ended, the four players found
themselves very good company and
drank a good night in Apollinaris, to
the landlords Bacchic disgust.
About ten o'clock, Stanton looked
into the apartment where Mr.. Green
sat between the telegraph operator
and the telephone.
where is F1oyd?" he casually
wondered.
Hello, hello-no, hold the wire.
What is it? Floyd? Oh, he's gone to
Coney Island. Hello, yes-wrong
number"
ITO Coney Island! You sent him?"
"He offered to 60" Mr.. Green
jerkily impaired. "Please so to bed,
won't you? Floyd can take care Of
himself, / should think, and he has
had two weeks rest to get ready for
this"
"What do you mean? He has been
working at the factory or with you
ever since we came back from Indian
apolis."
In a nervous evaporation the assist
ant manager whirled his chair around.
"He had two weeks vacation" he
reiterated Grossly. He told me that
he was going off by himself for a quiet |
rest. You don't have to know every
thing, Stanton. l fancy he needed a
rest after what you put him through |
out west, he asked me not to tell you |
about it. Hello-454-"
Stanton paused for moment, dumb, |
then turned on his heel and went out. |
He was so stunned and bitterly an
gered that little red flecks danced be- |
fore his vision. Floyd had lied to him, |
Systematically deceived him; in order |
to escape from his too pressing friend |
ship, no doubt. He remembered that |
the mechanician had always .shrunk |
from his personal advances and only |
yielded to them under compulsion. |
Now he understood the letter which |
he had received the previous night |
from Green, and Mr.. Bailey's confused |
answer to his question about Floyd. |
He had been put off to be amused by |
JeaSica until E1ovd wnc again randy /