"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."