The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-21

the admired girl out to dinner for the
| first time.
II missed the train. yesterday" he
remarked. II suppose you had no trou-
BILE getting the car hereT
"None at ALL" Floyd confirmed. 7
fancied you accepted Miss Carlisle's In
vitation to drive"
! 81 did, afterward. It was her car !
cranked with the spark forward"
| Floyd glanced up. ripple OF incredu-
| lous amusement crossing his gray eyes,
but he said nothing.
AT least, set the spark as believ-
ed right" Stanton amplifled. watching
the effect. "and when I cranked, the
moter fred over. The person who sat
next to me said ! left the spark
wrong"
The incredulity died out of Floyd's
gaze, but the wonder increased.
more likely It was changed after
you left 1t, perhaps by mistake" he
suggested.
In flash of recollection Stanton
saw Valerie Carlisle's little gloved
hand dart toward the steeringwheel.
just before he pulled up the crank.
Could she have moved the sector, and
! have corrected her mistake an instant
too late? He remained silent, nor did
Floyd pursue the question.
| When the first course Of the lunch.
con was placed before them, Stanton
aroused himself. Quite Indifferent to
the waters panied disapproval, he
took the carafe of ice-water and him
self filed two glasses.
| "Is this your substitute for cock
tails?" he Queried, and pushed one Of
the goblets over to Floyd.
Startled. Floyd yet understood. smil-
1t has 30 fine q torque--
Yes he assented. and drank the
innocent pledge. Motorists both. there
was no question Of q stronger beverage
Stanton turned to the waiter.
you can 90; I'll ring when we
want you. lid you ever drive an
Atalanta Six-sixty. Floyd?"
/ mo, but I've handled their fours.
I like nix cylinder machine, myself:
1t has 30 Inc q torque-"
The conversation plunged into pro-
fessional technicalities; the sentiment
tai episode wan pushed aside.
People going In and out of the res
taurant stared interestedly at the two
exchanging comments and questions.
Stantnn's dark face was well-known,
and face. not easily forgotten, while
his companions dress identified him as
one OF the racers who held the city's
attention during the motor carnival.
When the dessert was before them.
Stanton suddenly returned to the per-
sonal note.
How did you become a finished
automobile expert By the age OF TWEEN
ty-one!" he questioned bluntly.
y Well. I.sheffete yon are only fiye or
Six years older" Floyd countered, with
q touch Of whimsical sadness "But
II grew up IN m automobile factory.
had no mother. no kinswomen at all.
and my father made me his constant
companion. He taught me everything
he knew. and he-well, he was Edgar
T. Floyd. who owned the Comet auto
mobile plant, and who designed and
built and raced his own cars"
/ Stanton gasped. Whore had his
memory been. not to recall the name Of
Floyd? A. multitude OF confused REQ.
objections rushed across his mind. al
that famous manufacturer and racer
flor sheer love Of tho sport, OF the
superb cars he had built, and Of his
death In railroad wreck. the previous
tyear.
He tied me In his car" continued
Floyd. with shadowy smile, when /
was too young 70 he trusted to hold on,
II you ara going 10 take my mechani.
. clans seat. Jes,' he said to me. you
have got to do my mechanician's work
And BY the time was flfteen, I could,
We uDed to race with the chief CIR tes.
tier. tor combination training. on Z mile
practice track around the factory. j
held the wheel myself At seventy.AvG
| miles an hour, bssore I waa sixteen,
And ~ tOok ne with him. q specta,
| toe. - every ~ race here and oosna
Abroad. OF courUe be was training M
y taks charge Of the manufacturina
business with him. mt for racing ny
self But somehow affairs went wrcne
d when ~ died. eighteen month"; 40,
Y everything collapsed and found moth
iln6 IA Tho. faetesy itsslt y - q
IT, VI ~ ~ say - Mt oekr6e u
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