Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-02-28
CHAPTER IV.-(contlnued.)

Stanton, unruffled as in the New
York depot, except for his wind-tossed
hair, whose blackness was fiecked
with yellow road dust, leaned back
to reclaim his hat and inquire their
destination. When he returned to the
usual method Of driving with both
hands and facing forward, Miss Car
isle had altogether recovered her
poise.
Speaking Of racing, have never
thanked you for the other night" she
observed, her low tones inaudible to
those behind them. 81 never expert
enced anything like watching you on
the track-you carried me away be-
yond conventionality, am afraid. And
to feel that l had share in your be-
vildering feats-"
The ugly mood rose again in Stan
ton.
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 pur-
poses of my own
She understood at once
You mean that you did not race
with the Duplex because l wanted to
see your famous driving?"
He checked the machine to permit
the passage of trolley-car.
II had my mechanician beside me and
there were two men in the Duplex"
was his oblique reply. II do not amuse
by brushing near assassination"
The retort was thoroughly Stanton
esque. Miss Carlisle bent forward to
catch the slipping dust-robe. before
answering him, but gave an exclama-
ton 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, STOPPING
to remedy the tangle. and sprang out
to crank the engine.
He had done this very act for Floyd,
two weeks before; only then the stop
page had been intentional. Stanton
was thinking Of that incident, 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.
"Wait!" the girl cried, second too
late.
There was sharp explosion of the
motor, the crank tore itself violently
out Of his hand Only Stanton's
trained swiftness and instant recoil
saved him from broken wrist As it
was, his arm fell momentarily numbed
at his side.
you left the spark up" Miss Car
Isle cried again, pale and shaken 81
tried to fix it. but you had cranked
Have you injured your ARM"
Mr.. Carlisle had risen, several peo-
pie paused on the sidewalk, but Stan
ton 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 re-
belled. Yet, what other explanation?
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 Carlisle.
am not hurt" he disclaimed.
But nevertheless he started the en-
CINE with his left hand, her narrowed
amber eyes following him.
1t was not far to the Carlisle place.
There Stanton declined every invi.
tation to remain, or even to enter.
firmly resolved to go on to Lowell by
the next train.
I'VE will be there tomorrow, also"
Miss Carlisle informed him, in taking
leave. Il am so grieved that you can
not use your arm"
"You see have used 1t to steer
and shift gears" he reminded.
Eyes. but you will not try to race
30 hurt?"
That was what troubled her? The
lear that he would not drive and she
would miss the excitement of seeing
him on the thin verge of death? Her
beauty went out to his eyes like the
blown flame of a candle.
81 shall race" he declared CURLY.
He had an odd fancy as he went
down the village street; it occurred
to him that he would like to see
Floyd. He was tired. tired to nausea
If the feminine as represented by
Valerie Carlisle. He would have liked
hunt up his mechanician and hear
i'm talk frank sense, man.fashion.
But of course he did nothing of the