Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-05-16
CHAPTER xIt.-(ContlnuedA

There is nothing at all singular in
my being here, Mr.. Stanton" she stat
ed, in her cool, indolent voice. BE
cause l ascertained by telephone when
you intended to leave the hospital, and
so arranged to meet you on the train.
Tomorrow I start for Europe, TO re-
main for a long .ime, and it was nee
essary for me to speak with you first.
l am sorry to see that you have been
frightfully ILL.,"
You are too good" he answered,
the old antagonism stirring him strong
ly. las you observe, was not for
tunate enough to finish myself COM
pletely in the late wreck"
"One sometimes feels like that"
she conceded, passing one small gloved
hand across the soft fur of her muff.
Il have wished for the finish, here
lately, for my part. You probably did
not know that was engaged to marry
Archer Ross, of the Atalanta Automo-
bile Company"
Stanton sat erect. All Floyd's sus-
picions of this girl rushed back to his
mind.
YES" she confirmed the thought in
his expression. What you are imagin-
ing is quite correct. l tried very hard
to induce you to drive for the ATLANTA
Company instead of for the Mercury.
The ATLANTA absolutely required a
good racing record. But failed. You
were more than firm in your decision"
So that had been what she wanted
of him. That had lain behind her
polished surface of gracious admira-
ton and had been the core Of her in
- sincerity
And when | would not drive for
your company, you tried to prevent
me from driving for my own?" He
wondered incredulously.
She looked at him. and looked away
again.
81 fancy you would scarcely credit
me, Mr.. Stanton, if | denied the fact,
now. l have been very clumsy; So
ciety woman is not trained to practical
melodrama. You are unbelievably diff
ficult to lead"
Her f1awless self-possession gave an
effect of unreality to the whole affair.
Stanton felt vertigo of the mind.
you had that purpose in view
when you first spoke to me at the
Beach twenty-four hour racer" he
questioned. you hoped to induce
me to wreck my car by fast driving, in
order to leave the Atalanta a better
chance of winning?"
"Oh, MOI" she deprecated. II never
tried to cause your wreck-what can
you think me? No, that was merely
an impulsive experiment; | wanted to
see If you would do as | wished. Some
men have done So"
Are you going to tell me that you
drugged me at Lowell. on the eve Of
the road racer"
''Drugged you? That is a harsher
description than l ever gave the incl
dent in my own mind. But | poured
into your coffee what Archer Ross had
given me for that purpose. He said 1t
would not harm you, only prevent you
from driving next morning; he had
been betting heavily on his car But
you raced, after all, i'll as you must
have been. | never imagined you would
take such a risk. or | should have re-
fused the responsibility. | disliked the
task, anyhow. To be frank. / was hor-
fibly frightened when | saw you on
the course, and when the report of
your accident came in, felt guilty OF
assassination"
He looked at her, at her ivory-and-
gold beauty, her composed ease, his
own face coldly emotionless. 1t did
mott matter, nothing mattered, now.
But yet he read that behind that APP
parent ease of hers heaved a sea of
tormy thoughts; as always. her speech
was no guide to her mind.
II suppose. then, that you would