Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-05
FREDERIC TnO0BlDG

you can DO Tor me.
The train was Kissing at the plat
form, but the reporter pursued him .
step farther.
'You, you'll look after Miss Floyd.
Mr.. Stanton? That's square?"
The driver turned an amazed resent
full glance upon his questioner. his
hand on the rail. But. hardly aware
why, he answered, however glacially.
Eyes, sir"
The reporter beamed at him, radiant.
II know It," he called, above the
roar and clang Of the starting train.
Il knew 1t was all right"
A dull gray sky arched above .
snow.patched landscape, hurries Of
snow were in tho harsh air. Stanton
sat with unseeing eyes directed out
the window, chin in hand, much as he
had found Floyd sitting In the west
bound train the night they started for
Indianapolis. September sunlight, DC.
tober crimson and gold, all gone.
A delicate fragrance drifted around
him, there was the frou-frou of soft
garments as some one took the seat
facing him. Stanton looked up. and
saw Valerie Carlisle opposite, her
blond fairness framed in dark vel
vets and furs, her amber eyes regard
ing him from beneath the shadow Of
her wide plumed hat.
There Is nothing at all singular in
my being here. Mr.. Stanton" she stat
ed. in her cool, indolent voice. BE
cause I ascertained by telephone when
you intended to leave the hospital. and
80 arranged to meet you on the train.
Tomorrow start for Europe, to re-
main for a long time. and 1t was nee
essary for me to speak with you first.
am sorry to see that you have been
frightfully ILL.,"
"You arc too good" he answered.
the old antagonism stirring him strong
~. "As you observe. was not for
tunate enough to finish myself COM
pletely in the late wreck"
"One sometimes feels like that"
she conceded, passing one small gloved
hand across tho soft fur Of her mufl.
II have wished for the finish, here
lately. for my part. You probably did
not know that was engaged to marry
Archer Ross, Of the Atalanta Automo-
bile Company" w
Stanton sat erect. All Floyd's sus.
picions Of this GIRL rushed back to his
mind.
EYES," she confirmed the thought IN
his expression. What you are imagin-
ing 10 quite correct. tried very hard
to induce you to drive for the Atalanta.
Company instead OF for the Mercury.
The ATLANTA absolutely required q
good racing record. But failed. You
were more than firm in your decision"
So that had been what she wanted
of him. That had lain behind her
polished surface Of gracious admira-
ton and had been the core Of her IN
sincerity. h.
"And when I would not drive for
your company, you tried to prevent
me from driving for my own?" He
wondered incredulously.
She looked at him, and looked away
again.
II fancy you would scarcely credit
me, Mr.. Stanton, II denied the fact,
now. I have been very clumsy; . so
ciety woman is not trained to practical
melodrama. You are unbelievably DIFF
ficult to lead"
Her dawless self-possession gave an
effect Of unreality to the whole affair.
Stanton felt vertigo Of the mind.
"You had that purpose in view
when you first spoke to me at the
Beach twenty-four hour racer" he
questioned. "You hoped to induce
me to wreck my car by fast driving. in
order to leave tho ATLANTA a better
chance Of winning?"
ooh. mol" she deprecated. II never
tried to cause your wreck-what can
you think me? No. that was merely
an impulsive experiment; wanted to
see II you would do az wished. Some
men have done So"
"Are you going to tell me that you
drugged me at Lowell, on the eve OF
the road racer
"Drugged you! That is . harsher
description than ever gave the Incl.
dent in my own mind. But poured
into your coffee what Archer Ross had
given me for that purpose. He said It
would not harm you, only prevent you
from driving next morning; he had
been betting heavily on his car. But
you raced. after all Ill as you must