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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1913)
"9 CP . - L AUTHOR OF THE SYNOPSIS. The atory opens en Long Island, near New York city, when Miss Emily Ffrench, a relative of Ethan Ffrench. Manufacturer of the celebrated "Mer cury" automobile, loses her way. The ear has stopped and her cousin, Dick Ffrench, Is too muddled with drink to direct It aright They meet another car which Is run by a professional racer named Lestrange. The latter fixes up the Ffrench car and directs Mlsa Ffrench how to proceed homeward. Ethan Ffrench has disinherited his son, who has disappeared. He Informs Emily plainly that he would like to have her marry Dick, who Is a good-natured but Irresponsible fellow. It appears that a partner of Ethan Ffrench wanting an ex pert to race with the "Mercury" at auto vents, has engaged Lestrange, and at the Ffrench factory Emily encounters the young man. They refer pleasantly to their meeting when Dick comes along and recognizes the young racer. Dick likes the way Lestrange Ignores their nrst meeting when he appeared to a disad vantage. Lestrange tells Emily that he will try to educate her Indifferent cousin as an automobile expert. Dick under takes his business schooling under the -tutelage of lestrange. Dick Is sheer grit, and In n.aklng a test race meets with An accident Lestrange meets Emily In the moonlit garden of the Ffrench home. Under an Impulse he cannot control he kisses her and she leaves him. confessing In her own heart that she returns his love. The uncle of Emily, learning of her attachment to Iestrange, Informs her that the man If his disbarred son, whom she has never seen before being adopted by him. He claims that his son ran away with a dissolute actress, refuses to ac knowledge him. and orders Emily to think of Dick as her future husband. A tig race la on In the south and Ethan French tnkes Emily to see It The fame of the "Mercury Is Involved In the suc cess of Lestrange and Dick running the race. CHAPTER IX. (Continued). The hours passed. One mora ear went out of the race under the grind ing test; there were the usual Inci dents of blown-out tires and tempo rary withdrawals for repairs. Twice Mr. Ffrench sent his partner and Em ily to the restaurant below, tolerating his seat Perfectly composed, his ex pression perfectly self-contained, he watched bis son. The day grew unbearably hot to ward afternoon, a heat rather of July than June. After a vUlt to bis camp Lestrange reappeared without the suf focating mask and cap, driving bare- beaded, with only the narrow goggles crossing bis face. Tbe change left visible the drawn pallor of exhaus tion under stains of dust and oil, bis rolled-back sleeves dUclosed the crim son badge on his right arm and the fact that his left wrist was tightly wound with linen where swollen and strained muscles rebelled at tbe long trial "He's been driving for nineteen hours," said Dick, climbing up to bis party through tbe excited crowd. "Two hours more to six o'clock. Listen to the mob when be passes!" Tbe Injunction was unnecessary. As the sun slanted low tbe enthusiasm grew to fever. This was a crowd of connoisseurs motorists, chauffeurs, automobile lovers and drivers they knew what was being done before them. Tbe word passed that Le strange was In bis twentieth . hour; people climbed on seats to cbeer him as he passed by. When one of his tires blew out. In the opening of tbe first hour of his driving and the twen ty-fourth of tbe race, the great shout of sympathy and encouragement that went up shook the grand-stand to Its cement foundations. Neither Lestrange nor Rupert left bis seat while that tire was changed "ll we did l ain t sure we'd get back," Rupert explained to Dick, who hovered around them, agitatedly. "If I'd thought Darling's mechanician would get In tor this, I'd have taken In sewing for living. How much longer?" "Half an hour." ' ''Well, watch us finish." A renewed burst of applause greet ed the Mercury car's return to the track. Men were) standing watch In hand to count the last moments, their eyes on tbe bulletin board where the reeled-off miles were being registered Two of the other machines were fight ing desperately for second place, hope less of rivaling Lestrange, and after them sped tbe rest "The finish! some one suddenly called. "The last lap!" Dick was banging over the paddock fence when the car shot by amidst braying, klaxons, motor horns, cheers, and tbe clashing music of the band. Frantic, the people hailed Lestrange as the black and white checked flag dropped before him In proclamation of his victory and the ended race. Rupert raised bis arms above his head In tbe signal of acknowledge ment as they flew across the line and swept on to complete the circle to their camp. LeBtrange slackened speed to take the dangerous, deeply furrowed turn for the last time, his . car poised for the curving flight un r r-i n i GAME AND TflE CAfiDLCj der bis guidance then the watching bundreds saw the drivers hands slip from the steering-wheel as be reached for tbe brake Straight across the track the machine dashed. Instead of following tbe bend, crashed through tbe barrier, and rolled over on Us side In tbe green meadow grass. 'Tbe steering-knuckle!" Bailey groaned, as the place burst Into up roar around them. "The- wheel 1 saw It turn uselessly In his hands!" "They're up!" cried a dozen voices. No, one's up and one's under." "Who's caught. In the wreck Le strange or bis man?" But before tbe people who surged over the track, breaking all restraint. before the electric ambulance, Dick Ffrench reached the marred thing that bad been tbe Mercury car. It was Lestrange who bad - painfully struggled to one knee beside the ma chine, fighting bard for breath to speak. "Take tbe car off Rupert," he pant ed, at Dick's cry of relief on seeing him. "I'm all right take the car off Rupert," The next Instant they were sur rounded, overwhelmed with eager aid The ambulance came up and a sur geon precipitated himself toward Le strange. "Stand back," tbe surgeon com manded generally. "Are you trying to smother him? Stand back." But It was be who halted before a gesture from Lestrange. who leaned on Dick and a comrade from the camp. "Go over there, to Rupert." "You first" "No." There was nothing to do except yield. Shrugging bis shoulders, the surgeon paused the necessary mo ment A moment only; there was a no protests, but be himself never left scattering of the hushed workers, a metallic crash. From the space the car had cov "I Am 8o ered a small figure uncoiled, lizard like, and staggered unsteadily erect. "Where's Darling Lestrange?" was hurled viciously across the silence. "Gee, you're a slow bunch of work ers! Where's Lestrange?" Tbe tumult that broke loose swept all to confusion. And after all It was Lestrange who was put in the sur geon's care, while Rupert rode back to the camp on tbe driver's seat of the ambulance. i "Tell Emily I'll come over to her as soon as I'm fit to look at," was tbe message Lestrange gave Dick. "And when you go back to the factory, have your steering-knuckles strengthened." Dick exceeded bis commission by ' transmitting the speech entire; re peating the first part to Emily with all affectionate solicitude, and flinging tbe second cuttingly at his uncle and Bailey. "Tbe doctors say be ought to be ,1a bed, but be won't go," he concluded "No, you can't see blm until they get through patching blm up at the hos pital tent; tbey put every one out ex cept Rupert He hasn't a scratch, aft er having a ninety Mercury on top of him. You're to come over to our camp. Emily, and wait for Lestrange I suppose everybody bad better come." It was a curious and an elevating thing to see Dickie assume command of his family, but no one demurred An official, recognizing In htm Le strange's manager, cleared a way for tbe party through the noisy press of departing people and automobiles Tbe sunset bad long faded, night had settled over tbe motordrome and tbe electric lamps bad been lit In tbe tents, before there came a stir and murmur In the Mercury camp. "Don't skid, the ground's wet" cau tioned a voice outside the door. "Steady!" Emily started up, Dick sprang to open the canvas, and Lestrange cross ed the threshold. Lestrange, color less, his right arm In a sling, bis left wound with linen from wrist to elbow, and bearing a heavy purple bruise above his temple, but with the bright ness of victory flashing above all weariness like a dancing flame. "Sweetheart!" be laughed. as Emily ran to meet him, heedless of all things except that be stood within touch once more. "My dear, I told them not to frighten you. Why, Emily" For as be put his one available arm about ber, she hid her wet eyes on his shoulder. "I am so happy," she explained breathlessly. "It Is only that" "You should not have been here at all. my dear. But it is good to see you. Who brought youf BalleyT" catching sight of the man beside Dick. "Good. I wanted some one to help me; Rupert and I have got to And a hotel and we're not very active." Emily would have slipped away from the clasp, scarlet with returning recollection, but Lestrange detained ber to meet his shining eyes. "Tbe race Is over," he reminded, for ber ears alone. "I'm going to keep you, If you'll stay." He turned to take a limping step, offering his band cordially ' to the speechless Bailey, and faced for the first time the other man present Happy.' "I think," said Ethan Ffrench. "that there need be no question of hotels We have not undetstood each other, but you have the right to Ffrench wood's hospitality. If you can travel, we will go there." "No." BnBwered David Ffrench, as quietly. "Never. You owe me noth ing, sir. If I have worked in your factory, I took the workman's wages for It; If I have won honors tor your car, 1 also won tbe prize-money given to the driver. I never meant so to establish any claim upon Ffrench wood or you. I believe we stand even Dick has taken my place, happily; Emily and I will go on our own road." They looked at eacb other, the like- ness between them most apparent la the similar determination of mood which wiped laughter and warmth from tbe younger man's face. How ever coldly phrased and dlctatorlally spoken, It was an apology which Mr Ffiendi had offered and which had been declined. But he bad watched Lestrange all day; be did not lift the gauntlet. "You are perfectly free." he con ceded, "which gives you tbe opportun ity of being generous." His son moved, flushing through bis 'pallor. "I wish you would not put It that way. sir." be objected. "There Is no other way. I have been wrong and I have no control over you; will you come hornet" There was no other argument but that that could have succeeded, and tbe three who knew Lestrange knew that could not fall. "You want me because I am a Ffrench," David rebelled in the final protest "You have a substitute." "Perhaps 1 want you otherwise. And. we will not speak In passion; there can be no substitute for you." "Ffrench and Ffrench," murmured Dick coaxlngly. "We can run that factory, Lestrange!" "There's more ' than steering knuckles needing your eye on them And you love tbe place. Mr. David," said Bailey from his corner. From one to the other David's glance went to rest on Emily's deli cate, , earnest - face In Its setting of yellow-bronze curls. Full and straight her dark eyes answered bis, tbe con vent-bred Emily's answer to bis pride and old resentment and new reluc tance to yield his liberty. "After all, you were born Ffrench," she reminded, her soft ac cents just audible. "If that is your work?" Very slowly David turned,,, to his father. "I never learned to do things by halves," be said. "It you want me, sir" And Ethan Ffrench understood, and first offered his band. Rupert was discovered asleep In a camp-chair outside tbe tent a few minutes later, when Dick went In search of him. "The limousine's waiting," his awakener Informed him. "You dont feel bad, do you?" Tbe mechanician rose cautiously. wincing. "Well, If every joint In my chassis wasn't sore, I'd feel better," be ad mitted grimly. "But I'm still running What did you kiss me awake tor, when I need my sleeps?" "Did you suppose we could get Le strange home without you. Jack Ru pert? "I ain't supposing you could. I'm ready." Tbe rest of tbe party were already In the big car. with one exception. "Take a last look, Rupert," bade David, as ne stood in tbe dark pad dock. "We're retired; come help me get used to it." Rupert passed a glance over the de- Berted track. "1 guess my sentiment-tank has glv cn out," be sweetly acknowledged "Tbe Mercury factory sounds pretty good to me. Darling. And 1 gueBs we can make a joy ride out of living, on any track, if we enter for It." "I guess we can." laughed David Ffrench. "Get In opposite Emily. We're going home to try." THE END. WHY THE PRICE WAS HIGH Sir Joshua Reynolds' Notice of Sketch Made It Worth Vastly More, Said Dealer. "What do you ask for this sketch?" said Sir Joshua Reynolds to a picture dealer whose portfolio be was exam ining. "Twenty guineas. Sir Joshua." "Twenty pence, I suppose you mean." "No, sir; I would have taken twenty pence for It this tnornlng. but It you think the drawing worth looking at all tbe world will think It worth Dur ing." A London dealer who had made a few trifling purchases at a second hand furniture shop In the country was leaving It when he caught bis foot In tbe string of a picture and tell Having picked himself up, be examin ed the picture to see If It bad been damaged. It had escaped Injury, and he found, to his surprise, that In thus tripping be bad literally stumbled upon a print of the duchess of Rut land, after Reynolds, by Valentine Green, In Its first state. Tbe dealer bought tbe print for 4 and after ward disposed of It for 1,000. From Jernlgbam's "Bargain Book." What to Do With Bsbles. It the custom of checking babies at the department stores and leaving them there continues to grow. It may be necessary for those establishments to bold auction sales of unclaimed ba bies, as the express companies do ot parcels left on tbelr hands. New York Tribune. Fitted. "Miss Plnkte Pry has such an elas tic step." "Yes, and a disposition to match." "What do you mean?" "She rubbers." FINALLY LISTENED TO REASON Old Gentleman, Explosive at First, Cave In to Young Man Who Asked for What He Wanted. "What do you mean, sir, by presum ing to sue for my daughter's hand In marriage? Do you forget that you are a mere underling in this establish ment?" 'No, sir, I don't forget It for a mo ment." "Then why have you the presump tion to suppose that I would permit my daughter to wreck ber life by be coming your wife?" "You remember that you sent me about a week ago to ask the president of the C. F. & W. railroad company to extend a spur up to our warehouse, do you not?" 'What has that to do with what we have been discussing?" Your partners objected, as you will remember, because they were sure the railroad company would refuse." That has nothing to do ' with my daughter's happiness." 'You told them they were tools, and said It would not cost us anything to ask. I think you said, also, that peo ple who never asked for what they wanted never got It I learned a great lesson right there. When I asked the president of the railroad company for tne spur be flared up and said It was preposterous; but I found out after a little while that he was capable of lis tening to reason. A hundred men are working on the Bpur now." Do you Insinuate that I'm not ca pable of listening to reason?" "No, sir. I think you are. If I hadn't thought so we'd have got mar ried first and asked your blessing aft erward." "Huh! You would, eh? Do you know what I ought to do with you?" You ought to give me some en couragement for the ability I showed in getting that railroad president to do what you wanted done." "Confound your impudence! Did my daughter ask you to see me about this affair? Did she spur you on?" "She didn't seem to think It would be worth while, but her mother said she wished I would ask you, because she thought It would please you to be consulted. She did the spurring." "That's Just like my wife. There's one of the kindest and most thought ful women alive. Say, my boy, prom ise me Just one thing. Let them think I gave my enthusiastic consent with out waiting for you to explain the sit uation." Latest From Paris. It may be true that the American Invasion of Paris is Americanising things there to an alarming extent, but there are places where the Frenchman still doggedly holds his own. One of these is a certain Paris hotel where an American recently or dered a cocktail. There was a delay. . The American grew impatient. He beckoned to tbe bead waiter. "Are they getting that cocktail for me?" asked the American. "Certainly, Monsieur," answered the head waiter. "It will be ready in a minute." There was more delay. The Amer ican began to fume. Again he sum moned the autocrat of the dining room. "How about that cocktail?" he ask ed. "Coming, sir. Just a moment, sir." Still more delay. The American grew profane. For the third time he called the head waiter. "Tell me," he said wltherlngly, "do you know what a cocktail Is?" The head waiter looked deeply of fended. "Of course I do," he answered. "Iff a kind ot bouillon." . I Same Old 8tory. Aviator (to young assistant, who has begun to be frightened) Well, what do you wont now? Assistant (whimpering) I want the earth. Acts Accordingly, "Are you the boy wbo was here a week ago looking for a position?" "Yes, sir." "I thought so. And didn't I tell you then that I wanted an older boy?" "Yes, sir; that's way I'm here now." Tit-Bits. This Is Fact. "What do you do when you for get your lines?" "I must repeat the multiplication tabl- In a mudled voice," suld the emo tional actress. "I hud the house In tears the other night over nine times nine Is elghty-onr." Quite a Number. "I understand when Smith went oui tor the first time in his new machine he struck quite a gait." "I believe he struck a dozen gates before be fin ished the machine." Exchange. Irresistible Attraction. Brlggs "I understand that Bulger tell In love with the girl he married st first sight." Griggs "Yes; when be first saw her she was making a fat dnnosit in the savings bank."