The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-08-30
CHAPTER TX.
The Chance for JessIca.

The Chance for Jesslca.
When the assistant manager Of the
Mercury Company came through the
train, next morning, and saw the two
who were breakfasting together in the
ldining-car, he stopped in the aisle with
an expression of one brought face to
pace with the disagreeable unexpected.
"Welll" he calculated. "Welli"
Start 1t with an H, II you like"
suggested Stanton, coolly amused.
Mr.. Green's mouth grew thin from
pressure.
If you quarrel with Floyd, shall
mot know where out here l can get
tyou another mechanician in time" he
lgave stiff warning.
"An right" was the answer.
Floyd was engaged in blocking out a
map with toothpicks, and did not look
up; he appeared even more ridiculous
Ily young and gay-spirited than usual,
lin the morning sunlight. But some
thing in the poise of his bright head
lechoed that "all right" Mr.. Green
went on. and interfered no more dur
ling the journey.
The speed carnival held upon the
superb two-mile track was to extend
lover three days. The contests were Of
varied types and classes, but the Mer-
lcury was entered for at least one
Ievent and frequently several, on each
day.
Aren't there any Atalanta cars en-.
tered. at all?" Floyd wondered. on the
Ihrst morning at the track.
None" Stanton assured.
Then I won't need to burn a joss
stick"
What for?"
Luck" said Floyd sweetly; and re-
fused to explain
Their luck held good. They had
neither illness nor serious accident to
mar their series of victories and trials.
For Stanton drove as If by inspira.
ton, and many of the honors of the
carnival remained with him.
You've struck the perfect course,
iStanton," declared a famous rival.
upon offering his congratulations after
suffering mastery defeat in a five
mile contest. He did not like the 9TH
or man, but he was obliged to admire
him.
How SOP" queried Stanton as sue
lcinctly.
Between recklessness and over-cau.
ltion."
1t was quite true. With Floyd be-
side him, Stanton's driving was as
daringly brilliant, but characterized by
some rational consideration of the pos.
sibilities of disaster. Why? No one
ihad time to speculate.
1t was commencing to trouble STAN
ton himself this growing affection for
his mechanician that threatened to be-
tcome an absorbing need. He had
never needed any one, he had been
self-sufficient and self-centered; and
now he felt blank chill at the idea
of losing the society of this BOWMAN.
1t chafed and fretted him with a
sense Of bondage; when he felt the
cords draw most, he turned upon
Floyd and worried him savagely.
Floyd laughed. And Floyd's laughter
would have disarmed Cossack. When
he did not laugh, he flashed back,
spark to powder, so that they quar-
relied on an average four times a day.
And they spent every available mo.
ment together, until their friendship
became patent even to the skeptical
Mr.. Green.
I'VE can plan out some of our fac
tory affairs on the way home, on the
train," Stanton arranged, at the close
OF the last day, when taking temporary
leave of his mechanician at the Mer-
curry camp.
I'm planning fender for each side
lof the Comet racing car, so that when
you feel like knocking in a few
lengths Of the infield fence, as you did
this afternoon, we'll be ready for it,"
Knocked Floyd, his effervescent youth
heady as champagne.
Fence or no fence, we won," STAN
ton retorted indulgently.
"Of course! You kept right on driv-
ing the front Of your car. so the rear
just naturally had to climb back on
the road and follow. expected that;
you were too busy to stop for little
thing like side-wiping a fence"
You seemed to expect It," the 9TH