Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1912-10-03
CHAPTER IV.-(contlnued.)

Stanton, unruff1ed as In the New
York depot, except for his wind-tossed
hair, whose blackness was fecked
with yellow road dust, leaned back
10 reclaim his hat and inquire their
destination. When he returned to the
usual method Of driving with both
hands and facing forward, Miss Car
Isle had altogether recovered her
poise.
Speaking of racing. I have never
thanked you for the other night" she
observed, her low tones inaudible to
those behind them. 81 never expert
snced anything like watching o on
the track-you carried me away be-
yond conventionality. I am afraid. And
10 feel that I had a share in your be-
Wildering feats-"
The ugly mood rose again in STAN
bon.
you need not have felt that re-
possibility" he declared. my feats,
- you are pleased to call them, are
shared by no one. l drive for pur-
poses Of my own"
She understood at once.
"You mean that you did not race
with the Duplex because l wanted to
zee your famous driving?"
He checked the machine to permit
the passage of a trolley-car.
"Ihad my m~echanician beside me and
there were two men in the Duplex"
was his oblique reply. II do not amuse
by brushing neal assassination"
The retort was thoroughly Stanton
esque. Miss Carlisle bent forward to
catch the slipping dust-robe, before
answering him, but gave an exclama-
ton as the motor abruptly fell silent
"Oh, l am so sorry! The robe
caught in the switch and moved It,"
at is nothing" he assured, STOPPING
70 remedy the tangle. and sprang out
10 crank the engine.
He had done this very act for Floyd.
two weeks before; only then the stop
page had been intentional. Stanton
was thinking of that incident, while
be bent to seize the crank, and not
Of what he was doing. But he saw
Valerie Carlisle lean toward the
steering-wheel, her red lips apart and
her eyes glistening, just as he pulled
up the handle.
"Wait!" the girl cried, a second too
late.
There was a sharp explosion of the
motor, the crank tore itself violently
out Of his hand. Only Stanton's
trained swiftness and instant recoil
saved hin from a broken wrist. AS 1t
was, his arm fell momentarily numbed
ut his side.
"You left the spark up" Miss Car
Isle cried again, pale and shaken. 81
tried to fix 1t, but you had cranked.
Have you injured your arm?"
Mr.. Carlisle had risen, several peo-
pie paused on the sidewalk, but Stan
ton stood looking at the girl who
leaned across the folded windshield.
He, automobile expert, racing driver,
had advanced his spark and gone out
to crank his motor? His reason re-
belled. Yet, what other explanation
you have injured your arm? Why
was I 80 stupid as to catch the robe
and stop the e~ngine!"
He recovered himself promptly.
mo, no, it is nothing, Miss Carlisle
am not hurt" he disclaimed.
But nevertheless he started the en-
CINE with his left hand, her narrowed
amber eyes following him.
1t was not far to the Carlisle place
There Stanton declined every invi
tation to remain, or even to enter
firmly resolved to go on to Lowell by
the next train.
I'VE will be there tomorrow, Also
Miss Carlisle informed him, in takin,
leave. 81 am so grieved that you can
not use your arm"
you see l have used 1t to stee.
and shift gears" he reminded.
Eyes, but o will not try to rae,
so hurt?"
That was what troubled her? TIL,
fear that he would not drive and sh
would miss the excitement of seeinj
him on the thin verge of death? He
beauty went out to his eyes like tn
blown flame of a candle.
81 shall race" he declared CURLY.
He had an odd fancy as he wen
down the village street; 1t occurre