Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-07-18


Floyd replied, unsmiling and laconic.
1t was evident he and Miss Carlisle
disliked each other at sight.
She turned from him indifferently.
"Mr. Stanton, l am going to make
you selfish invitation. Our place is
about sevepty-fve miles from New
York; will you not try our new motor
car and give me the honor of being
driven there by you? You could go on
to Lowell with us tomorrow morn
ing, or, if you insisted, finish the jour
ney by train after dinner"
Amazed, Stanton looked at her. Once
again he mentally asked himself what
she could want Of him.
THANK you; l have arranged to
take this train" he declined
Decidedly"
Decidedly, Miss Carlisle"
She bent her head, patting her
small tan shoe on the platform. She
was even more handsome than his
night glimpse Of her had shown, with
an ivory-tinted, cultivated beauty
whose one defect was GOODNESS.
"Of course, l can not urge you," she
slowly rejoined "But stroll back to
the depot with me, pray; / had some
thing to say"
"My train" he began.
as my train also, since you will not
take me in the motor-car. We have
time enough; | inquired Of the con-
ductor, a moment ago."
Floyd bowed and stepped aboard
the train, leaving the two to walk
back together, followed by the maid.
81 wanted to ask you of the race"
Miss Carlisle said, when they were
quite at the end of the long platform.
The speech remained unfinished.
There was a shouted order, the cough
of the locomotive mingled with the
ring and jangle of tightening coup
lings, and the Lowell express pulled
out of the shed. Stanton wheeled with
an ejaculation, but halted without at
tempting useless pursuit.
How very unfortunate!" murmured
Miss Carlisle, putting aside her tan
silk wells. How very stupid of the
conductor"
Stanton turned from the departing
train to the TRANQUILITY regretful girl,
his straight dark brows knitting. For
the instant he could have been Ger.
tain that she had done this intention
ally and by a pre-arranged plan. But
at once reason reclaimed him; he re-
called her breeding, her fathers high
position and wealth, her composed
worldliness, and ridiculed himself.
Since l have made you miss your
train, and missed my own, ! can only
repeat my former suggestion" she
added, as he did not speak. why
should you not come with my father
and me In our car? 1t is only a three
or four hour trip, and you will be so
much nearer Lowell, at least. l am
sorry our chauffeur is Ill, so I am
forced to ask you to drive. or course,
If you fear firing yourself for a race
day after tomorrow"
Stanton started to speak, then alb
ruptly shrugged his shoulders. After
all, why not?
THANK you" he returned. 81
scarcely think a seventy-fve mile
run will incapacitate me-"
"You will Gomez" Her amber eyes
cleaned wildly. "You are too good.
Let us find my father and the car. 1t
is at least a car worthy Of you-a
better than the Mercury, l confess to
thinking"
"a foreign machine?"
"No, an Atalanta Six. Martha, find
papa in the station and ask him to
come out to the car"
They emerged by q side exit into
the noisy, dirty, sunny New York
street.
us it not well designed, we'll
swung?" she challenged "It is fast
on the race track-you know that. Is
it not handsome?"
She spoke eagerly, with more ami.
nation than he had yet seen in her
Stanton ran a careless glance over the
big, tan-colored automobile standing
by the curb.
at is a good car" he agreed con.
servatively; privately he considered
IT both too high and too heavy for rae
ing work.
"Only that? You say only that? But
wait, you have not driven it. When
papa comes we can start"
Mr.. Carlisle was coming; a spare,
nervous gentleman who wore glasses
set on a Roman nose, from which they
slipped monotonously. He and Stan.
ton had once met at the Mercury Of
flee, where one was arranging for a
tire contract, and the other was sign.
ing an agreement to drive for the
season. They recognized each other
now, while Miss Carlisle concisely
outlined the situation.
"a most astonishing affair."" com.
mented her father. Very kind OF
you, Mr. Stanton, indeed. These rail.
road men are careless. Valerie"
Miss Carlisle declined the invitation
TO enter the tonneau.
81 shall ride beside Mr.. Stanton"
she announced. 81 wish to see expert
driving at close range, for once"
"Ah?" queried Stanton; suudceily