Putnam patriot., 1912-08-16

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 ly demanded
 Floyd stopped. gazing at the other with parted lips and startled gray eyes. A strong wind was blowing off Lake Erie, tossing his bronze hair and wrapping his long coat about him.
 My sister," he repeated. 'Why?"
 She Is woman, she must have some life of her own. You can't keep her Ike nun until she finds herself grown old without chance at living"
 Floyd contin. ed to gaze at him. say ing nothing: that half-hour In the of flee had left him almost wan in the gray afternoon light
 You know me. Jes Floyd, If any one does. You know my vile temper. my rough tongue. and that I am . cross-grsined 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 tiDe. things fell out so that I'd asked you for your sister, would you be willing! Speak frankly. if you do not think me fit to be trusted with her. say so-it will not break our friendship"
 You have seen her once" Floyd re- called. as If to himself He lisped. his surest sign of excitement. stanton had never heard him use that soft. slurring speech except on the race tracks; heard now In the quiet coun- try surroundings. 1t infected the listen- CT with contagious agitation and emotion.
 "I know, know" he deprecated. But, I might see her more, and see ing no better men she might cone to bear with me. Not that there is much in me worth it-she probably never would look at me What am asking you. now, Is whether you want me to keep away from her. Say yes. and we will shake hands and drop the sub ject for ever"
 Very slowly Floyd held out his slen- der hand.
 "Jessiea has the right to chance" he agreed. Pm not goin' to meddle with things beyond my understandin'. An I'd rather have her your wife than have anything else in the world, Only you've seen her just onee-you can't tell if you want her, yet"
 Stanton shot him one straight, ex-. pressive glance.
 "She is like you" slipped from him involuntarily; then, furious at his be- trayal of sentiment, he dropped the, others hand We had better go. or, we'll miss the train." he bruskly re-, minded.
 "Oh. she is like me-" confirmed Floyd. he turned to look again at the factory. We are pretty close chums. Yes, you an had better be gettin' to the train
 They walked back to the nearest, trolley line, both silent.
 The subject was not touched again. until the following morning. when they left the train in New York
 When shall I see youf" stanton questioned, as they exchanged fare. wells in the noisy depot. "To-mor- rowf'
 "I'm going to be out of town for the, pe1t two weeks. Mr. Green teiis me. '' Floyd replied. They want me at the Mercury factory, and there are some other trips, too, believe. Jessica ia going to be rather deserted; If you happen to look her up, no doubt she would be glad to speak to some one besides her nurse"
 Thank you" accepted Stanton. as carelessly. Take care of yourself"
 He had not reached the exit when Floyd overlook him.
 Here are the entries for the Cup race" he panted, thrusting folded newspaper into Stanton's hand. There are two Atalanta cars to run against us. It's you who need to take care of yourself, until afterward."
 Floyd, waiti What do you mean Do you really think"
 But his mechanician evaded the question.
 Some people are hoodoos," be laughed. Keep away from them please Good-by."
 He had not spoken Valerie Carlisle's name, yet Stanton knew against whom he warned And the melodramatio absurdity of the idea did not prevent