The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1912-11-28

| ~ thV A2tA3iy my AuVIo. IL VIII b
better. ! am sure"
Vaguely puzzled and dismsyed
Dick sat looking At her, not DARN,
to question.
Emily kept hcr word during tn,
weeks that followed. Through Dfc]
and Bailey she heard OF factory At
fairs; of the sudden increase Of order,
for the Mercury automobiles, tho ada
cd prestige gained and the publ.
favor bestowed on car But sh.
saw nothing OF the i who was ra
sponsible for all this. Instead she
went out more than ever before
Their social circle was too painful,
exclusive to be large or gay.
| Three times a week II was Mr.
Ffrench's stately custom to VISIT the
factory and inspect It with Bailey.
At other times Bailey came up to the
! house. where affairs were conducted
But In neither place did Mr.. French
! ever come in contact with his man.
| ager, during all the months while WIN
| ter waxed and waned again to spring.
| That's Bailey's doing" chuckled
Dick. when Emily finally wondered
aloud at the circumstance. HE isn't
going to risk losing Lestrange because
our high and mighty uncle falls out
with him. And It would be pretty
likely to happen II they met Le-
strange has temper. you know, even
II II doesn't stick out all over him
like hedgehog; and dozen other
companies would give money to get
him."
Emily nodded gravsly II was a SUM-
ny morning in the first OF March. and
the cousins we're at the end OF the old
park surrounding Ffrenchwood, where
they had strolled before breakfast.
Mr. Bailey likes Mr.. Lestrange."
she commented.
Likes himi He loves him. You
know Lestrange lives with him;
bachelor household, coy as grigs."
Just past here ran the road, beyond
high cedar hedge. While he was
speaking. the irregular explosive re-
ports OF a motor had sounded down
the valley, unmistakable to those ia
miliar with the testing OF the stripped
cars. and rapidly approaching. Now.
as Emily would have answered. the
roar suddenly changed In character.
an appalling series of explosions min
gled with the grind of outraged ma
chinery suddenly braked. and some
one shouted above the din. The next
instant huge mass shot past the 9TH
or ride OF the hedge and there followed
a dull crash.
That's one of our men!" gasped
Dick. and plunged headlong through
the shrubbery
Dazed momentarily, Emily stood.
hen caught up her skirts ard rem aft
Or him She knew well enough what
he testers of the cars risked.
"Dickl" she appealed. "Dicki"
But 1t was not the wreck she antici-
ated that met her eyes as she came
through the hedge. On the opposite
ide Of the road a long low skeleton
ar was standing. one side lurched
runkenly down with two wheels in
he gutter. Still in his seat, the driver
vas leaning over the steering-wheel.
ut OF breath, but laughing a greeting
D the astonished Dick.
break In the steering-gear. he
eclared. by way Of explanation. ct
Did Bailey 1t was weak point; now
erhaps he'll believe me and strength
n It,"
You're not hurt" Dick inferred.
i think she's not-a tire gone.
ind anything wrong. Rupert?"
Two tires off," said the laconio
echanician. Two funerals most
oned That was pretty stop. Oar
ng."
Very" coolly agreed Lestrange,
sing and removing his goggles.
WHAT'S the matter. Ffrench?"
You frightened US out of our five
nse. that's all. Do you usually prac-
Sc for races out here?"
"Us?' repeated Lestrange. and turn
g, saw the girl at the edge of the
M"
Inc swift change in his tone, tho
sc OF Difference with which no barred
S mead and, motor caps not being
ably donned or dotted. so remained
reheaded In the bright sunlight. saw.
ed OF the Continent
1T is too commonplace to saw good
orning," Emily replied. her color ris-
with her smile. Il am very glad
u escaped. But that is common
ace, too. I'm afraid"
Every one Is commonplace before
eakfast," treasured her cous,n
honestly. Lestrange. do you practice
cling here?"
Hardly. I'm trying out the c.r.
cry car has to 60 through Tho.
re II is used Don't you know that
ave recently secured from the local
a permit to run at anv
eed over this road between fon-
LOCK and eight In the morning?
ought all the countryside knew
at" ""e"
But we have regiment of men n
II cars" ~
-estrange passed a caressine glance
er the dingy-gray machine in n.
te OF baroness that suggested in
,orum.
Inis is my car, the one III race
spring and summer. No one
yes 1t but me. Besides. have to
Te some diversion"
lie stepped to the ground with tba
word. and went around to where
pert was on his knees beside thu
chine.
Can you FIX 1t here?" he demanded.
NOT precisely" was the drawled re-