The Marshall republican., 1912-08-23

"She is a woman, she must have
some life Of her own. You can't keep
her like q u until she finds herself
grown old without a chance at living"
Floyd continued to gaze at him. say
ing nothing; that half.h in fhe Of.
fee had left him almost wan In the
gray afternoon light
You know me. Jes Floyd, n any
one does. You know my vile temper,
my rough tongue, and that I am a
cross-grained brute at best. But I
think there may be enough Of the in
herent gentleman left in me to make
me decent to a woman II, in time.
things fell out so that I'd asked you for
your sister,. would you be willing?
Speak frankly. ~ you do not think me
at TO be trusted with her. say so-it
will not break our friendship"
You have seen her once" Floyd re-
called, "a n TO himself. He lisped. his
surest sign Of excitement. Stanton
had never heard him use that soft,
slurring speech except on the race
tracks: heard now in the quiet coun-
try surroundings. II infected the listen
sr with a contagious agitation and
emotion.
81 know. I know" he deprecated.
"But, I might zee her more. and see
Ing no better men she might come to
bear with me. Not that there IL much
in me worth it-she probably eve
would look at me. What I am asking
you. now. 10 whether you want me TO
keep away from her. Say yes. and
we will shake hands and drop the sub.
ject for ever"
Very slowly Floyd held out his slen-
der hand.
"Jessica has the right TO a chance"
he agreed. I'm not goin' to NEEDLE
with things beyond my understandin'.
An ia rather have her your wife than
have anything else IN the world. Only
you've seen her Just once--you can't
tell n you want her. yet"
Stanton shot him one straight ex-
pressive glance.
she 10 like you" slipped from him
involuntsriiy: then. furious at his be-
trayai Of sentiment. he dropped the
others hand. We had better 20. or
wsri miss the train" he bruskly TO
minded.
D"oh. she 10 like me-" confirmed
Floyd: no turned to look again at the
factory. I'VE are pretty close chums.
Yes. you an I had better be settin' to
the train"
They walked back to the nearest
tyollsv lima both silent.
The subject was not touched again.
until the following morning. when they
Jeff the train in New York.
when shall I Q your" Stanton
Questioned. NJ they exchanged fare
wells In the noisy depot. -To-mor-
row."
I'm going to BE- out Of town for the
ssxt two weeks. Mr.. Green tells me-
Floyd replied They want me At the
Mercury factory. and there are some
other trips. too. I believe. Jessica II
going to b rather deserted; n you
happen TO look her up. no doubt she
would be glad to speak TO some one
besides her nurse"
THANK YOU" accepted Stanton, a.
sarelessiy. take care Of yourself"
He had not reached the exit when
Floyd overlook him.
Here arr the entries for the Cup
race." he painted, thrusting . folded
newspaper into stanton's hand "Thsrs
Are two Atslanta cars TO "a against
-. It's you who need to take care
Of yourself, until afterward."
"F1oyd. wait! What do You meant
Do you really think"
But his mechanician evaded the
question
Some people are hoodoos,' he
laughed. keep away from them
please. 0ood-by."
He had mot spoken Valerie Cariisle's
name. yet Stanton knew against whom
hs warned. And the melodramatic
Absurdity Of the idea did not prevent