The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-28

Y
L.
the corner of his eye, and speculated
as he drove.
do you think this is SAFE" Mr.
Carlisle found an opportunity to
urge.
Stanton called back, twisting the
car around load OF hay.
They reached their destination in
two hours and ten minutes. When
they entered the village limits and
the speed fell to fifteen miles an
hour, Mr. Carlisle slowly revived,
and regained breath and glasses
His daughter released her grasp OF
the seat. raised a shaking hand to
touch wells and bonnet, then passed
handkerchief across her dry lips
and looked up at the man beside her
How do you like the carr" she
asked
Stanton surveyed her. almost sur
prlsed into conjunction.
1T hasn't the Mercury's pull. to
be perfectly frank" he answered.
1T is a trifie heavy and less lively
But it is a fine machine. and OF
course you do not want to race with
it,"
''Of course, | do not want to race
with it, she slowly assented, and
averted her face from him, watching
the streets.
Stanton. unruffied as in the New
York depot. except for his wind
tossed hair. whose blackness was
| fiecked with yellow road dust. lean.
| ed back to reclaim his hat and in
quire their destination. When he
returned to the usual method of
driving with both hands and facing
forward, Miss Carlisle had altogether
recovered her poise.
Speaking of racing, ! have never
thanked you for the other night
she observed, her low tones inaudi-
BILE to those behind them. Il never
experienced anything like watching
you on the track-you carried me
away beyond eonventionality, / am
Iafraid. And to fell that had share
in your bewildering feats--"
The ugly mood rose again in
Stanton.
You need not have felt that re-
sponsibility, he declared. My
feats. as you are pleased to call them,
are shared by no one. drive for
purposes OF my own"
She understood at once.
You mean that you did not race
with the Duplex because | wanted to
see your famous driving"
He checked the machine to permit
the passage OF trolley-car.
Il had my mechanician beside me
and there were two men in the Du-
plex," was his oblique reply. Il do
not amuse by brushing near assas-
sination."
The retort was thoroughly Stan
tonesque. Miss Carlisle bent for
ward TO catch the slipping dust-robe.
before answering him. but gave an
exclamation as the motor abruptly
fell silent.
"Oh, l am so sorry, The robe
caught in the switch and moved It.
1T is nothing he assured. stop
ping to remedy the tangle. mad
sprang out to crank the engine.
He had done this very act for
Floyd. two weeks before; only then
the stoppage had been Intentional.
Stanton was thinking of that Incl
dent, while he bent to seize the
crank. and not OF what he was doing.
But he saw Valerie Carlisle lean
toward the steering-wheel. her red
lips apart and her eyes glistening.
just as he pulled up the handle
watt the girl cried. second
too late.
There was sharp explosion Of
the motor. the crank tore itself
violently out of his hands Only
Stanton's trained awiftness and In
slant recoil saved him from a broken
wrist. As II was. his arm fell mo-
mentarily numbed at his side
You left the spark up" Miss Car
Isle cried again. pale and shaken.
Il tried to fix 1t, but You had crank
ed. Have you Injured your ARM"
Mr.. Carlisle had risen. several peo-
pie paused on tho sidewalk. but
Stanton 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
rebelled. Yet, what other explana-
ton?
You have injured your arm?
Why was ! so stupid as to catch the
robe and stop the engine."
He recovered himself promptly.
mo. no. it Is nothing, Miss Car
Isle. / am not hurt" he disclaimed.
Bnt nevertheless he started the
engine with his left hand. her mar
rowed amber eyes following him.
II was not far to the Carlisle
place. There Stanton declined every
invitation to remain, or even to en-
ter. firmly resolved to go on to Lowell
by the next tarin.~
We. will be there tomorrow,
alao,r Miss Carlisle informed him, In
A1king leAxss II am 20 grt6yed that
ron ~ not - your arm. \ IN
- O..