Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-10-18
Mzahahns By FREDERIC T11ORNlBURG
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You've struck the perfect course,
Stanton" declared a famous rival,
upon offering his congratulations after
suffering a mastery defeat in a five
mile contest. He did not like the 9TH
er man. but he was obliged to admire
him.
How so?" queried Stanton as sue
cinctly.
Between recklessness and over-cau-
tion."
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
had time to speculate
It was commencing to trouble STAN
ton himself, this growing affection for
his mechanician that threatened to be-
come 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 boy-man.
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
Of 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 mad to climb back on
the road and follow. l expected that,
you were too busy to stop for little
thing like side-wiping fence"
"You seemed to expect it." the 9TH
er corroborated. He looked with in
terested curiosity at his nonchalant
assistant. "If ] am too busy to wor-
ry at such times. Floyd; you are not.
Don't you ever think of what is likely
to happen when we are on the verge
of smash%
Floyd paused. turning his large clear
eyes on the questioner.
There's just. one thing I'm asking
he gravely returned. THAT Is, that
when it comes. 1t will be a good
smash. No one minds Just dying
we're sure to do it some day, anyhow
but to be~mussed up and patched to-
gether again, no! Now,@,s hts irrepres
sible smile glanced out agafhS that's
why | feel so safe with youy,there is
a deadly finality about your driving
methods" a.. ,
THAT is about enough" Stanton sig
nified. "Ill see you on. the train
then"
They did meet on the train, ant
passed long hours of travel I'M worl
and discussion. The other passengers
came to take decided. If furtive in
terest In the two who sat opposite
each other in absorbed conversation
or argument, making drawings on en-
velopes and timetables to illustrate
their points and even leaving rows o
figures upon the menu cards in tn,
dining-car.
incidentally. both men displayed I
thorough training In mechanical de
sign and construction, Stanton's fa
the more finished and scientific.
81 did not know" Floyd marveled
at last
Stanton forestalled the question b,
indifferently explaining.
81 am mechanical engineer;
, graduated from college at twenty lone
! that was FIVE years ago. You hav'
dropped your pencil. What do you sa.
to staying over half day at Buffal,
, and visiting your factory?"
Fine" approved Floyd. a trif,
slowly. "A half day, not more w
, have got to make ready for that Cul
race"
Three weeks off. You're getting a
= old.womanish as Green"
"Too bad Still have to be at tn
Mercury plant when you don't Hal
D day ought to be enough"
. Stanton surveyed him, irritated, ye
l. without tangible cause for Irritation