The Marshall republican., 1912-07-12

suggested.
In q fash Of recollection Stanton
saw Valerie Carlisle's little eloved
hand dart toward the steering wheel,
just before he pulled up the crank.
Could she have moved the sector, and
have corrected her mistake an instant
too late? He remained silent, nor did
Floyd pursue the question.
When the first course Of the lunch
con was placed before them, Stanton
aroused himself. Quite Indifferent to
the walters panied disapproval, he
took the carafe Of ice-wster and. him
self filled two glasses.
us this your substitute for cock.
tails?" he oueried, and pushed m Of
the goblets over to Floyd.
Startled. Floyd yet understood,
smiling as he looked across.
YES" he assented, and drank the
innocent pledge. Motorists both,
there was no question Of a stronger
beverage.
Stanton turned to the waiter.
"You can go; I'll ring when we want
you. Did you ever drive an ATLANTA
s~ix-sixty. Floydf"
mo, but I've handled their fourp. I
like . six cylinder machine. myself; It
has 30 fine q torque--"
The conversation plunged into pro-
fessionai te~chnicaiities; the senti-
mental episode was pushed aside.
People going in and out Of the res.
taurant stared interestedIy at the two
exchanging comments and questions.
stanton's dark face was welLkncwn,
and a face not easily forgotten. while
his companion's dress sufficiently
identified him as one Of the racers
who held the city's attention during
the motor carnival.
When the dessert was before them,
Stanton suddenly returned to the per.
sonal note.
How did you become n finished
automobile expert by the age OF TWEEN.
ty-onef" he questioned bluntiy.
We'll, ! believe you are only Ave
or six years older" Floyd countcred,
with a touch OF whimsical sadness.
Butt grew up In an automobile fac
tory. ! had M mother. no kinswomsn
At all. and my father made me his
constant companion. He taught me
everything he knew, and newell. he
was Edgar r. Floyd. who owned tho
Comet automobile plant. and who de-
signed and built and raced his own
cars
Stanton gasped. Where had his
memory been. not TO recall the namo
Of Floydf A multitude Of confused
re~coIiections rushed across his mind.
Of chat famous manufacturer and
racer for{ sheer, love Of the sport. Of
tho superb sass he had built. and Of
his death In . railroad wreck. the
previous pear.
lie tied me in his car" continued
Floyd, with q shadowy smile. when !
vas too youngAto'b be trusted TO hold
on. II you areNsoing TO take my me-
chanician's seat, Jes,' he said ITO me.
you have got TO do my mechanician's
work. And by the time ! was fifteen,
I could. We used to race with the
chief car tester. for combination train
ing. on q mile practice track around
the factory. I held the wheel myself
ut sevcnty.nvs miles IN hour. before
was seventeen. And he took me
with him. as n spectator. to every big
race here and some abroad. OF course
he was training me TO take charge OF
the manufacturing business with him.
not for racing myself. But. somehow
affairs went wrong. When he died.
eighteen months ago. everything col.
iapssd and I found nothing left. The
factory itself 10 tied up IN . lawsuit: !
may get that out OF the ruin; build.
ines full Of silent machinery ! have no
capital 70 use, and no heart 70 sell"
There was . pause.
Fl wonder" Stanton unused slowly,
why you volunteered 10 act ~ my
mechanIcian that nightf"
F1oyd's gray eyes flashed to meet
his. all his color and animation rush
ing back.
"Bscauss ! love the racing. 7 low
H." be answered. impulsively frank. II,
I've got my fathers blood In my veins
and the fraii physique Of a useless girl
cant you see how they hight? Tb<
very smell Of exhaust gas makes my
heart jump and pulses tingle. Be
sides. I had watched you often.
couldn't see you put out OF the nun
ming. Then. ! was tired off, b
checked himself sharply. fought w
not to 30 back on the ~oourse!" q.
Stanton rose. signaling the walter.
"You saw me through that dificul
IT," he acknowledged. But, you said
this morning that you had a sisters;
wonder you stayed with me for tn
season." 4
my sister understands" Floyd ~
planned; he had risen also. and stoot
for a moment beside his chair, hfl
unseeing gaze bent on the ground
-She knows that l was not brought al
to live wom~an.fashion. I wish. II eve
you hear anything OF me that you d.
moi like. that makea q feel different