Putnam patriot., 1912-07-19
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 prised into eompunction.
 Tt hasn't the Mercury's pull. to be perfectly frank" he answered. Tt is a tride heavy and less lively. But t Is fine machine. and Of course you do nor want 10 race with it.
 "Of course I do not want to race with it." she slowly assented, and averted her face from him. watch ing the streets.
 Stanton. unrufled as in the New York depot, except for his wind-tossed hair, whose blackness was fiecked with yellow road dust. leaned back 10 reclaim his hat and inquire their destination. When Ee returned to the usual method of driving with beth hands and facing forward, Miss Car lisle 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. "I never expert. eneed anything like watching you on the track-you carried me away be. yond eonventionality. am afraid And to feel that l had a share in your be. wildering feats-"
 The ugly mood rose again in Stan. ton.
 "You need not have felt that re- sponsibility," he declared. My feats, as you are pleased to call them, are shared by mo one. I drive for pur- poses of my own"
 She understood at sonee.
 You mean that you did not race with the Duplex because l wanted to see your famous driying?"
 He checked the machine to permit the passage of trolley-car.
 'T had my mechanician beside me and there were two men in the Duplex, , was his obhque reply. ..T do not amuse by brushing near assassination"
 The reton 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, am so sorry The robe caught in the switch and moved it.
 Tt is nothing" he assured, stooping to remedy the tangle, and sprang out to 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 he bent tO seize the crank, and not of what he was doing. But he ssaw Valerie Carlisle Jean toward the steering-wheel, her red lips apart and her eyes glistening, just as he pulled up the handle.
 -Waitis the girl cried, "a second too late.
 There was a sharp explosion of the motor. the eGank tore itself violently out of his hand Only Stanton's trained swiftness and instant recoil saved him from broken wrist. As it was. his arm fel1 momentarily nuuibed at his side.
 You Jeff the spark up" Miss Car hsle cried again, pale and shaken. I tried to fix it, but you had cranked. Have you injured your arm?'
 MT 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 armg Why was I so stupid as to catch the robe and stop the enganei"
 He recovered himself promptly
 ""No. no, at is nenhing, Miss Carlisle. l gam not hurt. !" he disclaimed.
 But nevertheless he started the ren- zine, with his left hand, her narrowed amber eyes following him.
 !Itvwas not far to the Carlisle place. 'Thena Stanton declined every invS- tation to remain. or even to enter. firmly resolved to go en to Lowell by the lne9t train.
 'fNe will be there tomorrow. 'also, Miss Carlisle informed him, in taking leave. 'f5 am so griexed that yssl can not use your arm.
 You ssee I have used it to steer and shift gears" he reminded.
 .'-Ies, but you will not try to race so inirte"
 That was what troubled berg The fear aslat he would not drive and she would miss the excitement of seeing him on the thin verge of death2 Her beauty Vyent out to his eyes Like the blown flame of 6 candle.
 q shall race" be declared eurrsy-
 He had an odd fancy as be went down the village street; if occurred to him that he would like to see Floyd. He was tired tired to nausea of the feminine as represented Dy Valerie Carlisle. He would have liked