The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1919-07-25
A Race in the
Night
BY A. W. PEACH
By w. PEACH

weary Ms he hesitatingly outlined ms
request to Steadlnan. You have al
ways seemed more Or less like a big
brother 10 Dorothy, aud I'M you to
keep an eye upon her while an away.
That white-faced Martel has been
hanging around more than Ike. He's
one Of the romantic chaps who rattle
u girls judgment, shall be in Bra
I'll for a month. probably. Just drift
over, and keep ar eye on her. she's a
mere girl in many ways-and she llay
do something rash and she may not"
Steadman readily agreed. though u
bit amused by the turn of affairs. He
had known the d%ark-haired, dark-cyed
Sprite Of a Dorothy Haines since cliild-
hood. and with manhood had come a
liking for her closely akin 10 love but
for him she had never had more than
n brOtherly greeting and %brotherly
manner. Now he was to be her guard
ian.
He expected little trouble, however.
Hartel was In the habit Of running out
to the Halnes estate from the city and
making q daily call. Steadman planned
to drift around also In order to keep
& check on events.
AS he left the big house after his
interview with Mr.. Haines he found
her busIly tinkering with her car. 1t
suddenly dawned upon him that she
was no longer a playmate, a mere
girl, but a woman with much Of a girls
heart.
"Rullo, 2uddy,' she said in the old
way. I'm getting ready for a spin
this afternoon"
She looked ut him %curiOusly as she
said 1t. lie was puzzled by the glance,
but did not stop 20 fathom it. The
idea that she might want him for II
passenger never entered his head.
After a word OF friendly fun he
went on down the walk, without turn
ing. II he had turned he would have
seen the quaint girlish figure In its
working garb turn In his direction and
then, with a shake of the head, bend
over the engine.
That afternoon, returning from a
stroll with his dogs, the sudden guard
ianship that was his was brought home
forclbly to him.
He saw her car, and looking down one
Of his paths running from the road,
caught a glimpse Of her, and zeal her
the short, easy figure of Martel. They
were walking arm in arm, and Martel,
with head inclined, was talking to her
earnestly. A strange uneaslness went
over S%teadman.
de whistled a bit in order to attract
their attention, for he wanted to take
the path himself.
They looked up In q startled man
ner, and Steadman saw Martel's an
noyance and, too, the flush on her
cheeks. What had Martel been saying,
Steadman wondered and u slow ques.
ton formed In his mind. Was Martel
intending to take advantage Of Haines'
absence7
Steadman greeted them, and then
said to her Dot, / am coming over
20 have a game Of rummy with you
tonight. Are you gamer
She laughed at the old challenge
1t was the game they had played FOR
years, and at which she had beaten
him by a narrow margin.
Sure, come along, Buddy. Perhap,
you cah win, this time" she answered
in her quick way, only TO hesitate ant
look worried as II some a~fterthoughr
had come to her mind.
Steadman caught, too, Martel's swift
glance at her, but there did not seen
TO be any particular meaning in tn,
glance.
They passed and went on. Stead
man idled along, thinking little OF tn
conversation and paying more atten
don to the dogs until he reached hi
own house. There up through hi
mind came Halnes' worried warning
"She might do something rash"
Steadman stopped In thought. Coul
they have been planning some schem
which involved a hasty departure, an
perhaps q marriage that could en-
only In regret for her?
Little, happy, gay.hearted kid, sh
doesn't know enough about love O
what II is to fall in love with hin
She's simply having a good time.
With that conclusion he dismissed III
subject from his mind.
About eight o'clock he set out /
walk to the meeting with her. It wa
pleasant evening and he did not hui
~. He found his thoughts turnin
again and again to her. III coul
only teach her to love me-but what
the user / have always been 'Budd.
10 her, and a girl doesn't marry
Buddy" he thought to himself.
His serene world broke into nois
when he crossed the threshold Of II
house and was told by the surprise
maid that Dorothy had gone out
her car, dressed as II for a long trl
She had t%elephoned to the village ga
age to be ready TO oil the car.
Steadman stared into the maids nm
ious eyes aud Jaw there the san
question that was In his own min
he stepped to the telephone and call,
the garage. The answer was brie