Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-10-30
CHAPTER WI.
The Girl Like Floyd.

Stanton awOke slowly, with a con-
seriousness of physical ~well-being and
singular restfulness. The shades Of
his room were lowered, but the daz-
cling sunshine streamed in around
edges and through cracks, glittering
over a nearby table covered with yell
low kilograms. cards, newspapers, no.
tel memoranda of telephone calls re-
ceived-all the familiar evidences Of
the morning after a race. And in the
midst of the litter stood an ice-water
pitcher containing a mass of pale.
yellow roses. Stanton frowned and
looked about him for a bell.
Some one rose from a corner and
approached the bed.
Better, sir?" queried a businesslike
voice; a distinctly medical young man
in glasses gazed down at him.
The full situation came clearly to
Stanton.
"All right" he gave brief assurance.
What time Is it,"
The young man consulted a watch.
"Thirtyefght minutes past twelve.
You have slept about eighteen hours.
as I figure 1t. l told Mr.. Floyd that
was all you needed; you we're knocked
out by that attack Of illness, followed
by q days work that was enough to
exhaust a horse. I saw you race, yes
terday."
where Is Floyd?"
HE stayed here until midnight, un-
til you had been sleeping like a baby
for five hours. He was nearly all in,
himself, but he wouldn't leave until
ne was sure you were all right. One
of the incest fellows I w met. He
made me promise to stay with you.
4" with an expansive smile, 81 have
got more time than patients, as yet.
Here, all this junk came for you, on
the table. l have answered seventeen
telephone calls and sent off twelve
posies in the Watering. All right?"
sAll right. and much Obliged" Stan.
tonSafirmed, beguiled into smiling,
while he glanced casually at the table.
There isn't any n l am in a hurry
to see or hear from. I think l will
get up; it's breakfast time"
Il think so. Considering 1t is your
first meal for thirty.six hours, I'll or
der for you. Although l fancy you
could digest a rubber tire; you look
it. oh, Mr.. Floyd left a note"
Stanton rose to his elbow.
where is it," demanded the man
who cared to hear from no one.
It was a short note on the hotel sta
tionery, written in a wide-open, leg
ible2 hand that somehow recalled
Floyd's direct gray eyes.
Dear Stanton: The doctor says you
are only tired; and I have got to be
IN New York by morning. would
notsleave you II I could do as I want
ed / hope you will believe that.
Cordially,
l@ JESSE FLOYD"
The letter might have been written
by d girl, for its reticence and lack OF
the personal element, but Stanton was
wen content. 1t rang right. He felt
vigorously alive and amazingly hun.
cry.
While he was breakfasting, or lunch
ing, and reading the heap Of CORE
spondence-which commenced with a
congratulatory telegram from the Mer-
cury Company and concluded with a
request for his photograph to be used
as a speedometer advertisement,
Stanton decided upon his course. He
would obtain Floyd's address from
Mr., Green, and pay a visit of acknowl.
edgment to his impromptu nurse,
upon reaching New York. That much
was required by ordinary courtesy, at
least.
sGot any enemIes?" inquired the
doctor when taking leave.
"Are you asking for a list OF my
acouaintances" Stanton ironically re.
eponded.
irWell I don't want to play detec-
tive, but that was a funny kind of in
digestion you had, according to Mr..
Floyd's account. Some OF the other
racers might have wanted to keep
you out Of the way"
mo! DO you think you are talking
OF horse-traders? Once for all, there
IL nothing like that done"
which was very true. But after the