The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-03-12

by all unnoted. The crowd sat with
watch in hand, counting off the min
utes since Nineteen had started
Neutrality-suspicious. - twenty-five
| twenty-three-
"Car comnig!" shouted the announc-
| er.
A tiny blot flashed into view.
Eighteen or Nineteen? All eyes
strained for the figures on the cars
| front as she came forward like a
| meteor. The number began to ap-
pear-the first figure was one, the
second eight or nine-eye could not
tell which. The car dipped down a
| grade and was lost to sight. The
heart of the crowd stood still. She
| flashed up into view again, and there
vas her number before all. Nine
Seen.
| The next instant she roared by
two tense, crouching figures in her
lap-the very soul, the very body of
Speed itself. And the grand stand,
IN it's feet, roared back at her. And
a little girl in a tan coat let her head
| fall forward upon her folded arms.
1t was the next morning. Mr..
! Peck, sitting at his old desk in the
/ office of Peck & Morgan, pushed
away a heap of open letters and took
up again one of the half-dozen New
York papers before him. There was
but one thing in the papers, and that
was the automobile race, and there
was but one thing in the automo-
bile race, and that was the wonder
full running of Nineteen and the Won
derful driving Of Morgan. Mr.. Peck
clenched his jaws very tightly and
scowled very heavily-but his n26uth
twitched and his eyes blinked and he
read every word in each paper.
Shortly after eleven O'Clock the Of
| fee door opened and Morgan walked
in, in automobile coat and begoggled
cap, having just driven out from New
York. He looked thin and pale, and
his eyes were bloodshot from the
strain of yesterday. He stared at Mr..
Peck and at the heap of open letters,
then walked sharply forward.
pardon me, sir, should like to
know what business you have to open
my mail?" he demanded.
Mr.. Peck did not reply at once,
and when he did speak did not an
swer the question. Without looking
up he jerked pudgy thumb toward
the heap of letters that lay on the
desk.
-Thirty-seven orders there" he
said, gruffly.
"They haven't had chance to
come in -there'll be hundred to-
morrow" Morgan could not refrain
from answering. II have twenty with
me-" His face grew sharp again.
"What right, sir, have you in my
mail?" he asked.
Mr.. Peck again serked his thumb
toward the heap of orders.
ssMr. Morgan, don't be so brash-
you need money to push them thru
How much d'you want?"
"None"
Mr.. Peck looked up at the pale
face Of the young man.
"None? None? What do you
mean?" His jaw fell.
"You know Mr.. Tucker has been
wanting to branch out into the auto
mobile business" Morgan quietly ex-
planned. "He's offered me two hum
dred thousand for what I bought OF
you"
Mr.. Peck rose weakly up. you've
|-sold- he gasped.
"My stock" Morgan corrected him,
very calmly.
you've sold it,"
ct have the offer"
Mr.. Peck's right fist came up and
shook TREMENDOUSLY in Morgan's face.
young man, if you sell that stock
away from me, I'll-I'll-well, it's
an easy guess you've still got an eye
on my daughter. You sell that stock
and to that ID Tucker!-and
you'll never say a word to her
again!"
"That brings up another point, I"
Morgan said with the same quietness.
He turned to his own desk, threw it
open and scribbled a note. He then
touched a button and handed the
note to the answering boy, with the
direction:
"In the touring car out in front"
Morgan wheeled about and looked
steadily at Mr.. Peck. Mr.. Peck sank
into his chair and glared back, and
for a minute or more there was 81
lence. Then the door opened.
Mr.. Peck looked around, and Nor
gan rose and took off his cap. There
stood Miss Peck, in an automobile
! coat, her veil drawn above her face,
which was very fresh and very pink.
An impartial judge would have de-
clared that she was very pretty.
"Why, hello!" Mr.. Peck exclaimed.
"I thought you were in New York
| with your aunt"
| "I Just came back. II wanted
to see you," she said, growing lit
tie pinker, and if possible, a little
prettier.
Cant talk to you now; I'm busy.
You'll have to wait outside"
Don't go, please" Morgan said
quickly. "Your father has surmised.
| pardon me for repeating it, that II
am attracted toward you. And he
las said that unless let him have
back his stock, you'll have nevet
VOID to say to me-"
"An mean it," Mr.. Pc:z's 'ate
purpled and his fist slammed upon
| his desk. What tell her to do, my
daughter does. ordered her three
months ago to have nothing to do
With vou-and has sne, eh? I guess