The Marshall republican., 1912-08-16

w "
Floyd Turned Toward the wIndsw
and % Remained.
er corroborated. He looked with In
terestcd curiosity ut his nonchalant
nssistsnt. IF ! am too busy "a wor-
ry at such times, Floyd; you are not.
Don't you ever think Of what 10 likely
to happen when We are on the verge
Of q smashf"
Floyd paused. turning his large clear
eyes on tho questioner.
There's Just n thing I'm asking"
he gravely returned. THAT 10. that
when II comes. Il will be q good
smash. No q minds just dying
we're sure to DO Il some day, anyhow
but TO be unused up and patched to-
gether again, NOT Now" his irrepres-
sible smile glanced out again. that's
why I feel 90 safe with you; there 10
q deadly finaiity about your driving .
methods"
That u about enough Stanton sis.
nifed. I'll . you on tho train.
then"
They did meet on the train. and
passed long hours Of travel In work
and discussion. The other passengers
came TO take q decided. n furtive In
terest In tho two who sat opposite
each other In absorbed conversation
or argument making drawings on On.
vsiopss and timetables 70 illustrate
their points and ever leaving rows of
figures upon the menu cards IN the
diping-car.
Incidentally. both men displayed .
thorough training in mechanical de-
sign and construction. stanton's far
the more finished and scientific.
II did not knov-- Floyd marveled.
At last.
Stanton fcrsstsiisd the question b.,
indinsrentiy explaining.
II am Q mechanical engineer; I
graduated from college at t~wenty-ons;
that was ave years ago. You have
dropped your pencil. What DO you say
TO staying y . half a day at Buffalo
and visiting your factoryr
Fine" approved Floyd. n triie
slowly. "A half day. not moro. We
have got TO mako ready for that Cup
race"
"Thres weeks Oh. You're getting as
oid-womanish a. Green"
TOO bad. Still I have TO be At the
Mercury plant whom you don't Halt
Q day ought 20 be enough"
Stanton surveyed him. irritatsd, yet
without tangible cause for irritation
There were timss when he could have
imagined that Floyd evedcd too Close
companionship win him. subtiy held
J him At arms length
|. They stayed the half day at Buffalo
and went out TO tho huge. silent grouy
of buildings that had been the Comet
! factory.
n gave Stanton q strange sensatior
70 watch royd's assured familiarit,
with this place and atmosphere; Il
sec him 20 naturally draw from hii
: pocket the bunch OF keys to admi
. them and unhesitatingiy At each TO II
; corresponding door or gate. Yet. thi,
was where he beionged--only ther,
should have been busy life instead o
this dead emptiness. Their voices ech
, cd loud through tho desoIation, wher'
tho massive. motionless machiner,
stood towering above the visitor AM
the slight young master of the domain
: the metal-spotted. Poughened factor,
floors reverberated under their foot
. steps.
a As they made the tour from I
' room and building to building. F1oy'
grew slowly whittier. his explanation
4 moro brief, When they finally arrive
at . giass-set door marked ONCE, b
stopped short and laid his hand upo
the wall a. n to steady himself.
go away. for q moment" he r,
quest. his voice catching. "Tn com
after you. I haven't been here sine
my father
Stanton swung on his heel and WEI
out; out to look q the mile tract
whore Edgar Floyd used to practic
racing with little Jes lied In the q
beside him. and whore later the olds
les played mechanician 70 HE father
driving. And standing there undo
the dull octobsr sky. Stanton thougi
Of many thingsL
When Floyd came aftar him. bali {
hour Iatsr. Gtaneoa tprne1 nom D
position asaineA the track railing.
"r1oyd. what ~ ron dgurs b gclI
70 becoms * yous slsesrt- - abrsS
" ao6uaeude1-F
Uoy1 stoDpsA 0alng q ~ 9th
wtth parte1 UpS an1 e<artlsd grt
eyoa. = stroae VIVA w. hlowing Z
LAhe Dris. toesing ~ bsouss hs
end w<epplng his kong ~ about %
~ ~ continuod