Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-03-28
The G1rY1N@M18M':,,
MhE[RGyTpY ,V.$.2.
BY ELEANOR MI 0@Y@RAE0
% AUTHOR OF THE GAME AND THE CANDLE
AIIl1N1TAZU21S1 ~ RY W4I1'~>)
= /2I1 E,y H2S6S -<AkRTXk %

'Is your chauffeur trustworthy"
"Oh. yes; be has been In my uncle's
employ for three years. But he was
never before out here. in this place"
There was a pause, filled by the
soft monotone Of insults drifting from
the side Of the limousine, for Rupert
talked while he worked and his fel.
low.worksr did not please him.
Wrench. baby hippo! Oh, look be-
hind you where you put it-you need
a memory courIe. You ought to be
passing spools to a lady with q sew.
ing machine. Did you ever see q mo.
tor car before? There. pump her UP.
do" lie rose, drew out his watch and
glanced at 1t. Five minutes; I'll
have to beat that day after tomorrow"
The driver looked over at him and
their eyes laughed together Now, for
the frat time the girl noticed that
across the shoulders Of both mems
Jerseys ran In silver letters the name
of famous foreign automobile.
81 am very grateful, indeed" she
eaid btavely and graciously II wish
| could say more. or say 1t better. The
journey will be short. now"
Brt all her dignity could not check
tho frightened shrinking of her glance.
first toward the interior Of the limou.
sine and then toward the man who
was to enter there with her. And the
drlvsc Of the gray machine saw It.
I'VE have done very little" he re-
turned May put you in your carr"
The chauffeur was gathering his
tools, spsechless,y outraged, and max.
ing ready to start. Seated among tho
rugs and cushions, under the light OF
the luxurious car. the girl deliberately
drew off her glove and held out her
small uncovered hand to the driver Of
to gray machine.
Thank YOU" she said again, meet.
;rg his eyes with her cf~n, whose
darkness contracted oddly with the
blonde curis clustered under her haod.
You are nc. afraid to drive into
the city alone?" IA asked.
"A!cne! Why. my cousin"
Your cousin - going 10 stay with
me-"
She flung back her head: amaze.
ment. question, relief struggled over
her sensitive face, and finally melted
into irrepressible mirth under the fine
amusement Of his regard.
You are clever-and kind, to do
that! No. am not afraid"
He closed the door,
Take your mistress home" he babe
the chauffeur. Crank for him, Ru.
pert"
why, why" stammered the limou-
sine's other passenger. turning as the
motor started.
No one needed him.
"By.by. don't break any records"
Rupert called after the chauffeur.
Hold yourself in. do. If you shed
any more tires. telegraph for me. and
If I'm within days run I'll come put
them on for you and save you time"
Silence closed in again. as the red
tail light vanished around a bend.
The gray cars driver nodded CURLY
to the stupefed youth in the middle Of
the road.
UNLESS you want to stay here all
night, you'd better get in the ma
chine" he suggested. my names
Lestrange-I suppose yours Is
Ffrench?"
Dick Ffrench. But, see here, you
mean well, but I'm going with my
cousin. I'd like a drive with you, but
I'm busy"
You're not fit to 60 with your
cousin"
Not"
Fit" completed Lestrange def.
nitely. Can you hang on somewhere,
Rupert?"
Il can" Rupert assured. with an in.
Election Of his own. Get your friend
aboard"
Lestrange was already IN his seat
waiting
What's that for?" asked the dazed
guest, as, on taking his place, a strap
was slipped around his waist, secur
ing him to the seat.
$50 you won't fall out" soothed the
grinning Rupert. "You amt well, you
know. Not that I'd care II you did
but somebody might blame Darling
The car leaped forward. gathering
, speed to an extent that was a revela
ton In motoring to Ffrench. The
keen air. the giddy rush through the
dark, were a SOLDERING tonic. After 6
while he spoke to the man beside him
nervously embarrassed by a situation
he was beginning to appreciate.
This Is a racing carr"
at WAS"
, isn't 1t now?"
| "lf were going to race 1t day afte
r tomorrow. ! wouldn't be risking
, over a country road tonight. A rae
ing machine Is petted like race hors
, until it Is wanted"
, And theni"
, ut takes its chances. II you are con
r nected with the Trenches who manu-
facture the Mercury car, you shout,
i. know something Of automobile racinI
K. yourself. noticed your limousin
I was OF that make"
1 Yes. that 10 my uncle's company.
did see a race once at Coney Island
:. A car turned over and killed It's drive
\ and made a nasty muss. IL d:dn
9 fancy it,"
A wheel slipped on a stono. givtn
2 the gar a swervinY lurch which wa
a as instantly correctec--with a senon
d lurch--by It's pilot. The effect We
:. not tranQuilising; the shock swept tn
last co,fus!cn from FfrensA's brsdn.
UxIyho~o .ro voa, tnkvMy mAn