The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1912-01-26

IuFc 70 CoH1S IN 10 E6Sl some, ana
turn my machine over to the other
man. And I won't have him wrecking
it for me. want you, as owner, to
give him absolute orders to do no
speeding; let him hold a fifty-two
mile an hour average until take the
wheel again"
"Me?"
81 can't do it. You, of course"
you could" Dick answered. i've
been thinking how you and will run
that factory together. It's all stuff
about your going away; why should
you? You and your father take me
as junior partner, you know I'm not
big enough for anything else"
You're mans size," .Lestrange as
sured, hand on his shoulder. But
lit won't do. I'll not forget the offer,
though, never"
"All on!" a dozen voices signaled:
men scattered in every direction as
I.estrange sprang to his place.
The hours passed on the wheels of
excitement and suspense. When Lee
strange came in again, only a watch
convinced Dick that 1t was midnight.
"You gave the order?" Lestrange
asked.
yes"
He descended, taking off his mask
and showing a face white with IA
tigue under the streaks of dust and
CRIME
I'll be all right in half an hour"
he nodded, in answer to Dicks excla-
nation. "Send one of the boys for
coffee, will you, please? Rupert needs
some, too. Here, one of you others,
ask one of those idle doctors appren-
tees to come over with fresh band
age; my arms a trifle untidy."
In fact, his right sleeve was wet
and red, where the strain of driving
had reopened the injury of the day be-
fore. But he would not allow Dick to
speak of it.
I'm going to spend an hour or two
resting. Come in, French, and We'll
chat in the intervals, If you like"
"And Rupert? Where's he?" Dick
wondered, peering into the dark with
a vague impression of lurking dangers
on every side.
He's hurried in out of the night
| air." treasured familiar accents; a
small figure lounged across into the
| light, making vigorous use of drip
ping towel Tell Darling feel faint
and I'm going over, to that grand-stand
cafe la car to get some pie. I'll be
back in time to read over my last
lesson from the chauffeur's CORE
spondence school. Oh, see what's
| here!"
A telegraph messenger boy had
come up to Dick.
Richard Ffrench?" he verified.
"Sign, please"
The message was from New York.
"All coming down." Dick read. Lin
CUISINE making delay. Wire me at st.
Royal of race. Bailey"
Far from pleased, young French
hurriedly wrote the desired answer
and gave it to the boy to be sent. But
he thrust the yellow envelope into
his pocket before turning to the tent
where Lestrange was drinking cheap
black coffee while an impatient young
surgeon lowered near.
The hours rest was characteristical-
ly spent Washed, bandaged, and re-
freshed, Lestrange dropped on cot
in the back of the tent and pushed a
roll of motor garments beneath his
head for a pillow. There he intermit'
tently spoke to his companion of what.
ever the moment suggested; listening
to every sound. of the race and inter
| spersing acute comment, starting up
whenever the voice of his own ma
chine limited that the driver was dis.
obeying instructions or the shrill klax
on gave warning of trouble. But
through it all Dick gathered much OF
the family story.
"My mother was a Californian" LIE
strange once said, coming back from
a tour of inspection. "She was twenty
times as much alive as any French
that ever existed, I've been told.
fancy she passed that quality on to
me-you know she died when l was
born-for I nearly drove the family
mad. They expected the worst of me
and gave the best worst I had. But,
he turned to Dick the clear candor oil
his smile, sit was rather a decent
worst, 1 honestly believe. The most
outrageous thing I ever did was tc
lead a set of seniors in hosting a COW
into the deans library one night, and
so get myself expelled from college
"a cow" the other echoed.
"a fat COW, and it mooed," he
stuffed the pillow into a more com
Portable position. 'Ts that our cal
running in? No, it's just passing. i
Frank doesn't wreck my machine, III
get this race. And then, the same
week, my chum and roommate raj
away with Doraflora girl of some va
riety show and married her. I wa:
romantic myself at twenty-one, so
helped him through with it. He wa:
J wealthy and she was pretty; it seemed
to fit I believe they've stayed mar
Fied ever since, by the way. Blu
somehow the reporters got affairs
mixed and published me as the bride
groom. Have you got cigar?
smoke about three times year. ant
J this is one of them. Yes. there wa
a fine scene when went home tina
night, Broadway melodrama. los
my temper easier then; by the tim
my father and uncle gave me time t.
speak, was too angry to defend my
. self and set them right, suppose'
they would learn the truth by tn
/ next day, anyhow. And left hom