The Elbert County tribune., 1912-08-16

nine o'clock train" he added in CON
clusion. Tomorrow morning he'll
spend practicing on the track. and to-
morrow evening at the race starts
And Lestrange starts crippled be-
cause I am clumsy idiot. He laughs
at me, but--he'd do that anyhow"
Yes" agreed Emily HE would do
that anyhow" Her eyes were wide
and terrified. the little hands she
clasped in her lap were quite cold. ~
wish. l wish he had never come to
this place"
"oh. you dof" Dick said oddly.
Maybe he will. too. before he gets
through with us. We're a nasty lot.
we Trenches; a lot of bIue-blooded
snobs without any red blood In u.s.
Are you going to say good-by to me?
I'won't be home until it's over"
She looked at him. across the odor-
Gus dusk slowly silvering as the moon
rose.
You are going to be with him?"
Dick smoothed his leggings before
standing up. surveying his strict mo-
tor costume with, gloomy pride not
to be concealed
Yes; I'm representing our COM
pany. Lestrange might want some
backing If any disputes turned up.
Uncle Ethan nearly had fit when
Bailey told him what was going to
do; he called me Richard for the first
time in my life. guess I'll be some
good yet. II every. one except LIE.
strange did think ! was chump."
Il am very sure you will" she an
swered gently. "Good-by. Dick: you
look very nice"
When he reached the foot of the
steps. her voice recalled him, as she
stood leaning over the rail-
Dick. you could not make him give
1t up. not race this timer"
He stared up at her white figure.
No, | could not. Don't you sup
pose tried?"
81 suppose you did," she admitted.
and went back to her seat.
The June night was very quiet.
Once a sleepy bird stirred In the
honeysuckle vines and chirped
through the dark. Far below the
throb of motor passed down the
fOaNs oJih6 away abdil W itdft
lence. Suddenly Emily French hid
her face on the arm of her chair and
the tears overfiowed
There was no consciousness of time
while that inarticulate passion of
dread spent itself But 1t was nearly
half an hour later when she started
up at the echo of light step on the
gravel path. dashing her handkerchief
across her eyes.
1t was incredible, but 1t was true:
Lestrange himself was standing be-
fore her at the foot of the low stairs.
the moonlight glinting across his un-
covered bronze head and bright, clear
face.
Il beg pardon for trespass. Miss
French" he said. but your cousin
tells me he has been saying a great
deal of nonsense to you about this
race, and that you were so very good
as to feel some concern regarding it.
Really. | had to run up and set that
right; couldn't leave you to be an
noyed by Mr.. Ffrench's nerves Will
you forgive me?"
Like sun through mist his blithe
voice cleaved through her distress.
Before the tranquil sanity of his re-
gard. her painted terrors suddenly
showed as the artificial canvas scenes
of stage. unreal, untrue
ut WAS like you to come" she an
swered, with a shaking sigh that was
half sob. 81 was frightened, yes"
There is no cause. dozen other
men take the same chance as Rupert
and /; the driver who alternates with
me, for instance. This is our life"
Your arm"
rs well enough" He laughed lit
tie. You will see many a bandaged
arm before the twenty-four hours are
up; few of US finish without scratch
or strain or blister This is a mans
game. but it's not half so destructive
as football. You wished me good
luck for the Georgia race; will you
repeat the honor before I go back to
Ffrench?"
Il wish you." she said unsteadily.
every kind Of success. now and al
ways. You saved Dick today-of all
else you have done for him and for
me have not words to speak. But
1t made it harder to bear the thought
of your hurt and risk from the hurt,
when l knew that l had sent Dick
there, who caused it,