Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-01-01

not have been distressed II had
broken my arm when I cranked your
car after driving you home from New
York." he commented.
Her color changed for the first time,
her eyes flashed to his.
You angered me-" she retorted.
You brutally told me that you had
not raced at the Beach, to please me,
nor would you do SC. You were super
cilious, no man had ever treated me
that way before. For one instant | did
hate and long to hurt you; I pushed
up the spark as you cranked. The
next moment I would have undone 1t
II l could"
There was a pause, as the train halt
ed at q station, and the usual furry of
egress and ingress ensued. When the
start was made:
why are you telling me this ?"
Stanton asked. II am not considered
especially amiable and ~forgiving, as a
rule; why chance unnecessary con
fession?"
NO" her lip be.t in a faint smile
that vas not mirthful. "But you are
too masculine to retaliate upon a
woman. am not much afraid, al
though ! find myself forced to depend
upon your indulgence. A net was
spread for the feet of the wicked by
some n more acute, or less indiffer-
ent, than the Mercury's driver. Your
-mechanician set a private detective
at the task Of following and guarding
you until after the Cup race; fearing
t%reachery, I suppose, would be used to
prevent your driving. You are sur
prised?"
He saw the crowded railway station,
on the morning of the return from In.
dianapolis, and Foyd's vivid, anxious
face turned to him in the artificial
light. He heard the fresh young
voice: III you won't take care OF
yourself, Stanton"
There was no need, Mr.. Stanton. I
had no idea Of interfering with you
personally. But the thing was done,
and overdone. The man hired to play
detective was not honest; he exceed
ed his mission of protection and went
on to investigation for his own profit.
If I am telling you this, 1t is because
you would soon hear the story from
him, anyhow, and because l want you
to silence him. He has offered me his
silence for a price, but l do not
choose to yield to a blackmail which,
once commenced, would never end. l
prefer to ask shelter of your %chivalry."
Il will silence him." he gave cold as
surance.
you are very good. 1t is not the
least Of my humiliations to know that
you could deal me nothing more con
temptuous than your forbearance."
| She hesitated. There is one thing
more; l would like to ask whether
your recent accident was In any way
caused by the late arrival of the tires
for your machine"
you did that?"
Eyes. l did that. I had the express
car m~isdirected before It left my IA
theirs factory In Chicago. knew
your car could not ace on bare rims"
Stanton turned to the window. So
she was responsible for the last harsh
ness he had shown Floyd; since their
misunderstanding could never have
arisen II the mschanician had not
been absent on the trip to Coney Is
land. His sudden nausea Of loathiny
for her made calm reply difficult.
1.-THE lost tires had nothing to do
with the accident" he explained care
fully. "Tf you have quite finished,
Miss Carlisle, l will change to another
seat"
1T is I who am going. I am glad
that the wreck and alteration in you
are not my fault. 1t may interest you
to learn that Archer Ross broke his
engagement to me last week, to marry
a chorus girl"
He looked at her, then.
"Yes," she agreed. Dramatic pun
ishment. is 1t not? You can regale
Miss Floyd with the tale. You are on
your way to her, Of course"
Miss Carlisle!"
She rose, drawing around her the
heavy folds of velvet. He saw now
the faint lines about her delicate
mouth and the new hardness of her
tawny eyes. She had suffered, was
suffering also.
Congratulate her from me, Mr..