Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-10-30
CHAPTER v. (continued.)

Stanton gasped. Where had hi:
memory been. not to recall the name
of Floyd? A multitude Of confused
recoHections rushed across his mind
of that famous manufacturer and
racer for sheer love Of the sport, Of
the superb cars he had built, and OF
his death in a railroad wreck. the
previous year.
He tied me in his car" continued
Floyd. with a shadowy smile. when !
was too young to be trusted to hold
on If you are going to take my me
chanician's seat. Jes,' he said to me.
-ypa have got to do my mechanician's
work And by the time l was fifteen.
4 could. We used to rae with the
chief car tester, for combination train
ing, on a mile practice track around
phe factory. held the wheel myself
ut seventy.five miles an hour. before
L was seventeen. And be took me
with him, as a spectator, to every big
ace here and some abroad. or course
ne 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
aapsed and l found nothing left. The
factory itself is tied up in a lawsuit;
may get that out of the ruin; build
Ings full Of silent machinery l have no
capital to use, and no heart to SELL"
There was a pause.
y wonder" Stanton unused slowly,
why you volunteered to act as my
mechanician that night"
Foyd's gray eyes flashed to meet
his, all his color and animation rush
ing back.
Because I love the racing, / love
81" he answered, impulsively frank. Il,
Eve got my fathers blood In my veins
and the frail physique Of a useless girl
cant you see how they fight? The
very smell of exhaust gas makes my
heart jsmp ana pulses tingie. Be
Eides- | had watched you often, !
couldn't e you put out of the run
ming. Then, I was tired Of" he
checked himself sharply. Ought we
GOT to go back on the course?"
Stanton rose, signaling the waiter.
"'You saw me through that difficult
ay." he acknowledged. But. you said
this morning that you had a sister; /
wso6er you stayed with m for the
scasva."
My sister understands" Floyd ex-
plained; he had risen also, and stood
fur u moment beside his chair, his
y.nseeing gaze bent on the ground.
She knows that I was not brought up
w live woman-fashion. / wish, II ever
sDu hear anything OF me that you do
rro1 Like, that makes you feel different
~ toward me, / wish you too would
seJrssniber that I was reared by a man
20 live among men and missed all that
women teach"
Stanton regarded him In an astonish-
rnent at once indulgent and ironic.
I'm not likely to hear anything Of
.Sou that will shock me very badly"
he dryly returned. do you think I
am a gentle girl, myself, Floyd"
Mot so you could notice it," sprang
she prompt opinion; the candid gray
eyes laughed out Of their short
eclipse.
Ttscy went back to the course to-
Tue next two hours were spent in
repeatedly circling the ten mile course
Zen minutes; a reasonable practice
gait, from Stanton's point Of view On
Vie last trip he and Floyd disagreed
over u question of mixture, and came
rip 70 the repair pits quarreling vigor-
exciting the interest of all be-
holder.
III ! don't know when a motor needs
more gas, I'll go take a correspond
cuoc course" was Floyd's last retort,
MS he slipped out of his seat.
ITS running like 1t never did be-
fore, and you'll let 1t alone" Stanton
Tho definite order after him.
The witnesses grinned at n an
other
Say, Floyd, that's a fine big brute
" a machine you've got there" com;
.psimentcd the broadly amused George. |
The young m~eclianician went by
him
1T sure u.s." came the cheerful agree
YES. But it's nothing to the brute
Of a driver you've got"
Floyd paused,t to glance back. l
Let my driver alone" he advised.
STANTON and | understand each other
Eli right"