Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-02-01

TO aid comrade, and lastly the deter
| pination and skill which had won the
conquest after all-the whole formed
a feat too spectacular TO escape pub
lie hysteria. II was very doubtful In
deed whether Lestrange liked his idol
king, but there was no escape.
| The two who read were young.
ut was a splendid fight" sighed
Dick. when they dropped the last
page.
Yes" Emily assented. when he
comes back when you see him, give
him my congratulations"
When | see him? Why don't you
tell him yourself?"
Something like a white shadow
wiped the scarlet OF excitement from
her cheeks, as she averted her face
IT shall not see him; l shall not go
TO the factory any more. 1t will be
better, am sure"
Vaguely puzzled and dismayed.
Dick sat looking at her, not daring
to question.
Emily kept her word during the
weeks that followed. Through Dick
and Bailey she heard of factory az
fairs; of the sudden increase Of orders
for the Mercury automobiles, the add
ed prestige gained, and the public
favor bestowed on the car. But she
saw nothing of the man who was re-
went out more than ever before.
Their social circle was too painfully
exclusive to be large or gay.
Three times a week 1t was Mr..
Ffrench's stately custom to visit the
factory and inspect 1t 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 Lee
strange has temper, you know, even
| If it doesn't stick out all over him
like a hedgehog; and dozen other
companies would give money to get
him"
Emily nodded gravely. 1t was a sun
ny morning in the first of March, and
the cousins were at the end Of the old
park surrounding Ffrenchwood, where
they had strolled before breakfast.
''Mr Bailey likes Mr.. Lestrange,"
she commented
Likes him! He loves him. You
know Lestrange lives with him;
bachelor household, coy as grigs"
Just past here ran the road, beyond
! a 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 a huge mass shot past the 9th
err side 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
then caught up her skirts and ran aft
/, oh, hoe
the testers Of the cars risked.
"Dick!" she appealed. 'Dickl"
But It was not the wreck she Gntici-
pated that met her eyes as she came
through the hedge On the opposite
side of the road long low skeleton
car was standing one side lurched
drunkenly down with two wheels in
the gutter. Still in his seat, the driver
was leaning over the steering-wheel,
out of breath, but laughing a greeting
to the astonished Dick.
"a break in the steering-gear," he
declared. by way of explanation. II
told Bailey 1t was weak point; now
perhaps he'll believe me and strength
en- it."
81 think she's not-a tire gone.
Find anything wrong, Rupert?"
1.-TWO tires Off" said the laconic
mechanician 1.-TWO funerals post
poned. That was a pretty stop, OAR
ling"
Very" coolly agreed Lestrange,
rising and removing his goggles.
What's the matter, Ffrench?"
"You frightened us out Of our five
sense, that's all Do you usually prac-
tise for races out here?"
"Us?" repeated Lestrange, and turn
ing, saw the girl at the edge OF the
park miss French, beg your par
dom"
The swift change in his tone. the
ease of Difference with which he barred
his head and, motor caps not being
readily donped or dotted, so remained
bareheaded In the bright sunlight. saw
ored of the Continent.