The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-01-03

when he came back later, to take his
massive stand in the doorway, his
hands in his pockets and bis strong
jaw set.
81 think that things are kind OF
mixed up here, Mr.. French" he stated
grimly. st guess I'm the one to
straighten them out bit: I've loved
Mr.. David from thet time he was kid
and never saw him get square deal
yet. You asked him what he was do
ing here-Pl tell you; he IL Le-
strange"
There is a degree Of amazement
which precludes speech; Mr. French
looked back at his partner, mute.
"He is Lestrange. He never meant
you to know; he'd have left without
your ever knowing, but for Miss En-
lily. I guess l don't need to remind
you of what he's done; II It hadn't
been for him we might have closed
our doors some day. He understands
the business as none of US back pum-
Der, old-fashioned ones do; he took
| hold and shook some life into 1t. We
can make cars, but he can make peo-
pie buy them. Advertising! Why,
| Just that fool picture he drew on the
| back Of a pad, one day, OF row OF
| thermometers up to one hundred
forty, with the sign 'Mercuries are at
the top made more people notice.
Bailey cleared his throat. HE was
always making people notice, and
| laughing while he did it. He's risked
his neck on every course going, to
bring our cars In first. he's lent his
fame as a racing driver to help US
along. And now everything Is fixed
the way we want, he's thrown out.
| What did he DO it for? He thought
he needed to square accounts with
you, for being born, suppose; SO
when he heard how things were going
with us he came to me and offered his
| help. At least, that's what he said.
believe he came because he couldn't
bear to see the old place go under"
There was a skein of blue silk
swinging over the edge Of the table.
Mr.. French picked it up and replaced
it in Emily's work basket before re-
plying.
'If this remarkable story Is true"
| he began, accurately precise in &C
cent
"You don't need me to tell you Il
| is" retorted Bailey. "You know
what my new managers been doing;
why, you disliked him without seeing
him, but you had to admit his good
work And l heard you talking
about his allowance, Mr.. French. He
never touched it, not from the first;
it piled up for six years. Last April,
when we needed cash in a hurry, he
drew 1t out and gave 1t to me to buy
aluminium. When he left here first he
drove taxicab in New York city un-
til he got into racing work and made
Darling Lestrange famous all over the
continent I guess 1t went pretty hard
for while; If he'd been the things
you called him, he'd have gone to the
devil alone in New York. But he
didn't"
An oriole darted in one arcade and
out again with a musical whir OF
wings. The clink Of glass and silver
sounded from the house windows with
a pleasant scheeriness and suggestion
of comfort and plenty.
"He made good" Bailey concluded,
.thoughtfully. "But 1t sounded queer
to me to hear you tell him you didn't
want him around because Mr.. Dick
took his place. l know, and Miss EN-
lily knows, that Dick French was no
use on earth for any place until Mr..
David took him in hand and made him
fit to live. That's all, I guess, that
had to say; I'll get back to work. "
He turned, but paused to glance
around. TITS going to be pretty dull
at the factory for me. And between
us we've sent Lestrange to the track
with nice set of nerves"
His retreating footsteps died away
to leave the noon hush unbroken. AS
before, uncle and niece were left op-
posite each other, the crumpled news
paper where Lestrange's name showed
in heavy type lying on the floor be-
tween them.
The effect of Bailey's final sentence
had been to leave Emily dizzied by
apprehension. But when Mr.. French
rose and passed out, she aroused to
look up at him eagerly.
Uncle" she faltered.
Disregarding or unseeing her out
stretched hand. he went on and left
her there alone. And then Emily dared
rescue the newspaper.
"A substitute" she whispered. "a
substitute" and laid her wet cheek
against the pictured driver.
| No one lunched at the French
home that day, except the servants
Near three o'clock in the afternoon
Mr. French came back to the pavilion
where Emily still sat.
Go change your gown" he com.
manded. in his usual tone. I'VE Will
start now. have sent for Bailey and
ordered Anderson to bring the auto
mobile"
"Start?" she wondered, bewildered
He met her gaze with q stately re-
pellence Of comment