The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-04-25
CHAPTER RIv. (continued.)


train.
CHAPTER ~. (continued.)
Neither are you," he countered.
Nor it wouldn't be of any Importance
If we were, but we are not. I'm not
asking you why you are working with
your hands instead of your head, and
suppose you are not asking me. Who
cares?"
mo one," dryly agreed Stanton.
"But I can tell you that am doing
this to make money, and make 1t
quick, and I would much prefer break
ing my neck to living in the ruck OF
poverty. They are calling our train;
you had better come"
I'm supposed to keep in touch
with Mr. Green" Floyd observed,
gathering up his magazine with cheer
full nonchalance. "He is worrying
about me most of the time, for fear
I'll lose my nerve and desert"
Which was not precisely what was
worrying the assistant manager of the
Mercury company, and perhaps Stan
ton of the rough temper knew it.
81 fancy your nerve will hold out,
II your patience does," was his reply
Patience is supposed to be wom-
ans art" doubted Floyd. "But I'll
try to acquire 1t"
Stanton laughed briefly.
81 wouldn't give much for your
oho Of in hof
ever find a woman who will ride with
me as you do, will-marry her"
"Oh, no, you will not" contradicted
the other, searching his pockets for
a missing glove. "You will marry. a
Fluffy Ruf1es who will faint If you
exceed the eight-mile-an-hour speed
limit. And then you will quit racing
and be spoiled for the Mercury Com
pany, and all its rival manufacturers
will chant for joy: "A young man mar
ried is a young many marred.'
1t was so long since any one had
cared to talk nonsense to Stanton,
not to mention airily teasing him, that
ishment. And then a tingling, hui
man warmth and sense of comrade-
ship succeeded. It was. as If he had
been living in lonely, silent room,
when Unexpectedly some one opened
the door and entered.
I'm too busy" he retorted only, but
his tone conveyed no rebuke.
They walked on down the room and
out into the train shed. They were
] almost at the train itself, when Floyd
stopped.
Some one is calling you." he signi-
fed.
Stanton turned, and found a pant
ing, black-gowned young woman be.
hind him.
My mistress bade me ask you to
wait, sir" she apologized.
Your mistress?"
She stepped aside, and he saw tall,
fair-haired girl, gowned with finished
richness in motor costume of pale.
tan silk. who advanced with ieisurely
grace toward them.
Miss Carlisle, SIR" supplemented
the maid
There is no need for you to co.
Stanton checked, as Floyd moved to
continue on his way. Stay here"
He was obeyed without comment
The maid respectfully withdrew few
PAGES, when her mistress came up
What a place to meet a man OF
gasolene!" greeted Valerie Carlisle
in her low, assured tones. "Or are you
also in distress. Mr.. Stanton, and
forced to prosaic train travel?" =
Her manner was that of one meet
ing an ordinary acquaintance, she hele
out her hand, in its miniature tar
gauntlet, with perfect ease. No one
could have guessed how unconven
: tional and slight had been their intro
duction.
81 am going to Massachusetts" Stan
ton answered as composedly.
ITO Massachusetts? But so ar,
we, At least, We had everything ar
ranged to motor out to our country
place, until twenty minutes ago oul
chauffeur was taken violently Ill
Now suppose we must go by train
she broke the sentence, her larg,
brown eyes sweeping Floyd with a de
liberate question and scrutiny.
Miss Carlisle. Mr.. Floyd, whom 70,
saw beside be for many hours at tn.
Beach motordrome," Stanton made tn.
presentation.
Her face cleared swiftly, he coul,
have said it was relief which sho
across her expression.
Your meehanician? Is it possible
You also are going to Lowell, MI
F1oyd?"
Yes, since my next work is there,
Floyd replied, unsmiling and laconic
1t was evident he and Miss Carlisl
disliked each other at sight.
She turned from him indifferently
'Mr Stanton, l am going to max
you selfish invitation. Our place i
about seventy-five miles from New
York; will you not try our new motto
car and give me the honor of beini
driven there by you? You could go OF
to Lowell with us tomorrow morn
ing, or, if you insisted, finish the jou1
ney by train after dinner"
Amazed, Stanton looked at her. Ono
again he mentally asked himself wha
she could want of him.
Thank you; l have arranged t
take this train," he declined.
''Decidedly?" y
Decidedly, Miss Carlisle"
She bent her head, patti : he
small tan shoe on the platform. Sh
was even more handsome than hi
night glimpse of her had shown. wit
an ivory-tinted, cultivated beaut
whose one defect was coldness.
''Of course, can not urge you," sh