Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-09-13
CHAPTER v. (contInued.)

CHAPTER v. (contlnued.)
Stanton gasped. Where had his
memory been, not to recall the name
Of Floyd? A multitude Of confused
recollections rushed across his mind.
Of that famous manufacturer and
racer for sheer love of the sport, Of
the superb cars he had built, and Of
his death in a railroad wreck. the
previous year.
He tied me in his car" continued
Floyd. with shadowy smile. when ]
was too young to be trusted to hold
on. If you are going to take my me-
chanician's seat, Jes,' he said to me.
you have got to do my mechanician's
work And by the time was fifteen.
l could. We used to race with the
chief car tester. for combination train.
ing, on a mile practice track around
the factory. l held the wheel myself
at seventy-flve miles an hour. before
! was seventeen. And he took me
with him, as a spectator, to every big
race here and some abroad. OF course
he was training me to take charge of
the manufacturing business with him.
not for racing myself. But. somehow
affairs went wrong. When he died.
eighteen months ago, everything col.
lapsed and found nothing left. The
factory itself is tied up in lawsuit;
may get that out Of the ruin; build
ings full Of silent machinery have no
tfaI fn ~ fn
There was pause.
Il WONDER" Stanton mused slowly.
why you volunteered to act as my
mechanician that night?"
Floyd's gray eyes flashed to meet
his, all his color and animation rush
ing back.
Because I love the racing, love
It," he answered. impulsively frank. a.
I've got my fathers blood in my veins
and the frail physique Of useless girl
can't you see how they fight? The
very smell Of exhaust gas makes my
heart jump and pulses tingle. Be
sides, had watched you often. ]
couldn't see you put out OF the run.
ming. Then, was tired Of" he
checked himself sharply. Ought we
not to go back on the course?"
Stanton rose, signaling the waiter.
you saw me, through that difficult
ty," he acknowledged. But. you said
this morning that you had sister; !
wonder you stayed with me for the
season."
MY sister understands" Floyd ex-
planned; he had risen also, and stood
for a moment beside his chair, his
unseeing gaze bent on the ground.
"She knows that l. was not brought up
to live woman-fashion. wish, II ever
you hear anything Of me that you do
not like, that makes you feel different.
ly toward me, wish you too would
remember that was reared by man
to live among men and missed all that
women teach"
Stanton regarded him in an astonish-
ment at once indulgent and ironic.
I'm not likely to hear anything Of
you that will shock me very badly"
he dryly returned. do you think !
am gentle girl. myself, Floyd"
"Not 80 you could notice It," sprang
the prompt opinion; the candid gray
eyes laughed out Of their short
eclipse
They went back to the course to-
gether.
The next two hours were spent in
repeatedly circling the ten mile course
in ten minutes; reasonable practice
gait, from Stanton's point Of view. On
the last trip he and Floyd disagreed
over question Of mixture, and came
up to the repair pits quarreling vigor.
ously, exciting the interest of all be.
holders.
"If don't know when a motor needs
more gas, I'll go take a correspond,
enoe course" was Floyd's last retort,
as he slipped out Of his seat.
Its running like 1t never did be-
fore, and you'll let 1t Alone" Stanton
sent the definite order after him.
The witnesses grinned at one an.
other.
'"say. Floyd, that's fine big brute
Of a machine you've got there" com
plimented the broadly amused George
as the young mechanician went by
him.
TT sure is." came the cheerful agree
ment.