SERIAL? STORY J le FLYING MERCURY By Eleanor M. Ingram Author of "The Game and the Candle" Illustration By RjlY WALTERS (Copy rltflit, Uiu. by boUie-MerrlU Go.) a 8YN0PSI8. The Btory oprna on Ijong Inland, ncRr New urk city, where Miss Emll Kfrench, a reh-itlve of Hthan Ffrencl manufacturer of the celebrated "Mr cury" autu!iiub!!f;, lns-a her way. Tl car hfta whipped ari'l her cousin, Illr Ffrench. Ih too muddle'! with drink 1 direct It arlKht. They meet another car which 1m run by a professional rac named IpstranKe. The latter fixe i the. i-'frem-li cur and directs Miss I'fren how to pro-efd homeward. Etha Kfrenrh has disinherited hl.i son, wh hits diH.'ilipenred. II Informs Knill plainly that he would like to have he marry I'h lt, who 1: a Kood-riutured bu IrreRponslhle f.-llnw. It appears that partner of J.'lhan ITrenrh wanting an ex pert to rate with the Mep-ury at aut events, has enKa' U I-c.strariirM, and t the h'freix h factory Knilly encounters tl: younK man. They refer ph-anantly 1 their meeting wlieu IHclt comes aloriK an recognizes the youn racer. J tick 111' the way I.estriiiiK'i iK'iores their II meeting whi-n he appeared to a dlHitd vaulagd. I.rslrarme lc;ls Kmlly that h will try to educate her Indifferent cousl aa an HtitonioMIo expert. ldck under takes iila hiiNlness schooling under th tutelage of I.ea'riltien. 1 lck is sheer Rrlt and In making a test race meets wll an accident. fslraiiKo meela l-hnily I tlie moonlit garden of llie Kfrench home Under an Impulse he cannot conlrol h kisses tier and she leavea hltn, confessln In her own heart (hat she relurna hi love. The uncle of l-'mtlv. learning lier attachment to LestranKu, luforma he that the man Is his disbarred son, whom aha haa never aeen before being adopted ty nun. lie claims tnat ins son ran awa with a dissolute actress, refuses to ac knowledKe him, and orders ICmliy to think of llck ua her future husband. CHAPTER VIII. Six o'clock wub the liour set for the start of ttio Ileach nice. And It was Just seventeen minutes mist five when nick Ffrench, hanging In frenzy of anxiety over the paddock fenco circling tlio InKlde of the mllo oval, uttered something resembling howl and rushed to tho gate to signal his recreant driver. From the oopo site Bide of the track I.estrange waved gay return, making his way through the officials and friends who pressed around him to shako hands or slap Ills shoulder caressingly, Jesting and questioning, culling directions and ail vice. A brass bund played noisily In tho grand-stand, where ths crowd heaved and singed; the racing ma chines were roaring In their camps. w nat a the matter? Where were you?" cried Dick, when at last I.e Rtrange crossed the course to the ceil tral Held. "Thii cars are going out now for the preliminary run. Kupert's nearly crazy, snarling at everybody and tho other man hu been getting ready to start Instead of you." "Well, he can got unready," Bmlled I.estrange. "Keep cool, Ffrench; I've got half an hour and I could start now. I'm ready." lie was ready; clad In the close fit ting Khaki costume whoso Immaculate daintiness gave no hint of the cer talnly that before tho first six hours ended It would be a wreck of yellow dust and oil. As he paused In run nlng an appraising glance down the street-lilte row of tents, the w.ilto- elotlied driver of a spotless white car t-hot out on his way to tho track, but halted opposite the latest arrival to Bt retch a cordial hand "I hoped a trolley car had bitten you," hi' shouted. "The rest of U8 would have more show If you got lost on the way, liarllng The boyish driver at tho next tent looked up na they passed, and came grinning over to give his clasp. "(id a move on; what you been do in' all day, dear child? They've been givla your manager sal volatile to hold him still." He nodded at the agi tated Pick In Ironic commiseration. "t;o get out your car, liarllng; I w ant to beat you," chaffed the next In line. MriKo up me l and, here comes a driver,'" sang another, with an en trancing French accent. Laughing, retorting, shaking hand with each comrade rhal, I.estrange went down the row to his own tent. At his approach a swarm of mechanics from the factory stood back from the long, low, gray car, the driver who v. as to relievo him during the night and day ordeal slipped down from the feat and unmasked. "lie's lo re." announced Pick super t'uouslv. "Unpen w here's liupert? l'on't tell me he's gene now I trauge-- Hut Uupert from the tent li ts and cap. ia tl:e sar.loni "It hurls nn was already emerging with l.estrange's gaunt bis .expression a study 11. to think how you must have hurried." he observed. 'Fid ou wa'A bo'.h ways, or only all three? IV.i no Kc, but I'd give a virile nn apple to know where you've lu.n all day." "Would o:i?" cpu-rcl I.estrange I ro i k:s ; y, cY:-; !":: the goggles be fi.ro li!.- ees "U . il, I've spent the Ut two hour j. i n l' o lYii. y li-l.iu.1 beach, about three squares from here, watching the kiddies play In the sand I didn't feel like driving Just then. It was mighty soothing, too." Rupert stared at him, a dry un willing smile Blowly crinkling his dark face. "Maybe, Darling," he drawled, and turned to make his own preparations. Fascinated and useless, Dick looked on at the methodical flurry of the next few moments; until I.estrange was in his seat and Rupert swung In besld him. Then a gesture summoned him to the side of the machine. "I'll run In again before we race, of course," said I.estrange to him, above the deafening noise of the mo tor. "Be around here; I want to Bee you." Rupert leaned out, all good-humor once more as ho pointed to the ma chine. "Got a healthy talk, what?" be ex ulted. The car darted forward. A long round of applause welcomed Lestrange's Bwooplng advent on the track. Handkerchiefs and scarfs were waved; his name passed from mouth to mouth. "Popular, ain't ho?" chuckled a me chanic next to Dick. "They don't for get that Georgia trick, no, Blr." It was not many times that the cars could circle the track. Quarter of bIx blew from whistles and klax ons, signal flags sent the cars to their camps for the last time before the race. "Come here," Lestrange beckoned to Dick, as he brought his machine shuddering to a standstill before the tent. "Here, close we've got a mo ment while they fill tanks." He unhooked his goggles and leaned over as Dick came beside the wheel, the face so revealed bright and quiet In the sunset of glow. "One tiever can tell what may hap pen," he said. "I'd rather tell you now than chnnco your feeling after ward that I didn't treat you quite squarely In keeping still. I hope you won't take it Is my father did; we've been good chums, you and I. I am your cousin, David rfrench. The moment furnished no words. Dick leaned against the car, absolute ly limp. "Of course, I'm not going back to Ffrenchwood. After this race I shall go to the Duplex company; I used to be with them and they've wanted me back. Your company can get along without me, now all Is running well Indeed, Mr. Ffrench has dismissed me." His firm Hp bent a little more firmly. "The work I was doing is in your hands and llalleys; see It through. Unless you too want to break oft with me, we'll have more time to talk over this." 'Break off!" Dick, straightened his chubby figure. "Ttreak off with you, Lea " "Go on. My name Is Lestrange now and always." A shriek from the official klaxon "Water," He Demanded Tersely. summoned the racers, Rupert swung back to his seat. Dick reached up his hand to the other In the first really dignified moment of bis life. 'I'm glad you're my kin, I.estrange,' he said. "I've liked you an how, but I'm glad, Just the Biime. And I don't care what rot they say of you. Take care of yourself." I.estrange bared his hand to return the clasp, his warm smile flashing to his cousin; then tho swirl of prepara tion swept between them and Dick next saw him as part of one of the throbbing, flaming row of machines before the judges' stand. It was not a tramiuillzing experi ence for an amateur to witness the start, when the fourteen powerful cars sprang simultaneously for the first curve, struggling for possession of the narrow track In a w heel to wheel con test where one mlstoueh meant the wreck of many. After that first view, Dick at weakly dow n on an oil barrel and watched the race lu a state of fascinated endurance. The golden and violet sunset melted pearl like Into the black cup of night. The glare of many searchlights made the track a glistening band of white, around which circled the cars, them selves gemmed with white and crim son lamp. The cheers of the peo ple as the lead was taken by one fa- orite or another, the hum of voices. the music and uproar of the machines blended Into a web of sound indescrib able. The spectacle was at once ul tramodern and classic In antiquity of conception. At eight o'clock I.estrange came fly ing In. sent off the track to have a lamp relighted. Water." he demanded tersely, in ihe sixty seconds of the stop, and laughed evenly at Dick's express, ion l.ile l.e took the cu;i jToA "Why didn't you light it out there?" asked the novice, infected by the speed fever around him. "Forgot our matches," Rupert flung over his shoulder, a3 they dashed out again. An oil-smeared mechanic patroniz ingly explained: "You can't have cars manicuring all over the track and people tripping over 'em. You get sent off to light up, and If you don't go they fine you laps made. Machines darted in and out from their camps at Intervals, each waking a frenzy of excitement among Its men. At ten o'clock the Mercury car came In again, this time limping with a flat tire, to be fallen on by its mechanlci "We're leading, but we'll lose by thiB," said Lestrange, slipping out to relax and meditatively contemplating the alternate driver, who was standing across the camp. "Ffrench, at twelve I'll have to come In to rest some, and turn my machine over to the other man. And I won't have him wrecking It for me. I want you, as owner, to give him absolute orders to do no speeding; let him hold a fifty-two mile an hour average until I take the wheel again." "Me?" "I can't do It. You, of course." "You could," Dick answered. "I've been thinking how you and I will run that factory together. It's all stuff about your going away; why should you? You and your father take me as Junior partner, you know I'm not big enough for anything else." "You're man's size," Lestrange as sured, a hand on his shoulder. "But It won't do. I'll not forget the offer, though, never." "All on!" a dozen voices signaled; men scattered In every direction as Lestrange sprang to his place. The hours passed on the wheels of excitement and suspense. When ' Le strango came In again, only a watch convinced Dick that It was midnight. "You gave the order?" Lestrange asked. "Yes." He descended, taking off his mask and showing a face white with fa tigue under the streaks of dust and grime. "I'll be all right In half an hour," he nodded, in answer to Dick's excla mation. "Send one of the boys for coffee, will you, please? Rupert needs some, too. Here, one of you others, ask one of those Idle doctor's appren tices to come over with a fresh band age; my arm's a trifle untidy." In fact, his right sleeve was wet and red, where the strain of driving had reopened the Injury of the day be fore. But he would not allow Dick to speak of it. 'I'm going to spend an hour or two resting. Come in, Ffrench, and we'll chat In the Intervals, If you like." And Rupert? Where's he?" Dick wondered, peering Into the dark with a vague impression of lurking dangers on every side. He's hurried In out of the night air," reassured familiar accents; a small figure lounged across Into the light, making vigorous use of a drip ping towel. "Tell Darling I feel faint and I'm going over to that grand stand cafe a la car to get some pie. I'll be back In time to read over my last lesson from the chauffeur's corre spondence school. Oh, see what' here!" A telegraph messenger boy had come up to Dick. Richard Ffrench?" he verified. 'Sign, please." The message was from New York. "All coming down," Dick read. "Lim ousine making delay. Wire me at St Royal of race. Bailey." Far from pleased, young Ffrench hurriedly wrote the desired answer and gave it to the boy to be sent. Cut he thrust the yellow envelope into his pocket before turning to the tent where Lestrange was drinking cheap black coffee while an Impatient youns surgeon hovered near. The hour's rest was characteristlcal ly spent. Washed, bandaged, and re freshed, Lestrange dropped on a cot In the back of the tent and pushed a roll of motor garments beneath his head for a pillow. There he intermit tently spoke to his companion of w hat ever the moment suggested; listening to every sound of the race and inter spersing acute comment, starting up whenever the voice of his own ma chine hinted that the driver was dis obeying Instructions or the shrill klax on gave warning of trouble. But through Jt all Dick gathered much of the family story. ITO HE CONTIXfED.) But In Her Case Woman's wit readily adapts Itself to all place, and all occasions. A . j...au lecturer was delivering a practical talk on beauty and the beauty cult for the entertainment of the Woman's Professional league of New York at an Interesting session one afternoon. In the course of her lecture the speaker emphasized the point that cer tain measurements were fundamental ly Important I'nhappily. however. the lecturer herself had a form if her unusual bulk could be dignified by such a term that was fashioned on anything but the lines of the Keller mann type. Proceeding with her dissertation on measurements, she held up a very fat. round wrist, and said: "Now. twice around my wrist, once around my throat. Twice around my throat, once around my waist. Twice around mr waist " "Once around Central Park!" ex ploded aa Irrepressible young thing out in the audience, and the storm of laugbter that followed was altogether I iuiuiiusurable. Sunday Magazine. j PARCELS POST IS POPULAR Department Stores and Wholesale Houses Largest Patrons. Portland Millinery in boxes as large as the law allows promises to cap the list of popular eligibles under the new parcel post law, but Milady had better warn Mr. Milliner to be sure tnat ine recepi.iic.iea xur tuc aigretted headgear are sufficiently strong. Otherwise, with all the care and caution that Uncle Sam's mail clerks may take the chapeaux are like ly to issue from their parcel post jour neys bedraggled or smashed. This is the warning that postal offi cials in Portland are sending out after the second day's wrestle with the in novation, when the local office almost became swamped with the rush of bus iness. The fact is that the Portland post office on the second day of parcel post traffic found itself extending its quar ters almost into the streets in order to take care of the business, which, it is conjectured, is only a hint at the busi ness to follow. The dozen sacks of parcels received from out of town points and the 25 sacks which were mailed in Portland fairly flooded the section set apart in the local office and a big overflow encroached on other de partments. The indication is that an additional near-by building will be needed to handle the business inside of a few weeks when the traffic is reg ular and established. Somewhat to stem the rush the authorities have asked that special de livery stamps not be placed on the parcels for a time, or until the service is thoroughly organized to deliver hur riedly. AH special stamps on parcel mail will be ignored for the present. One thing is plainly certain: The big department stores, the mail-order houses and the wholesale houses are going to take liberal advantage of the service. One department store mailed more, than 150 packages. Another sent about 100 and a third mailed more than 50. Most of them were sent to nearby towns. As the government restricts only such articles as always have been un mailable from passing through the parcel post office, almost every legiti mate article of commerce already has been sent. The favorite commodity is millinery and the department stores are the senders. The postoffice attaches fear that the millinery vendors use too iragne a ma terial in packing. All packages are placed in pouches and sealed the same as regular mail. They are loaded onto wagons, sacks upon one another and packages in the sacks underneath, un- ess they are securely packed, are apt to become broken. Such things as millinery and eggs should be well protected, therefore, advise postal clerks. It is a common thing to mail eggs, now that the parcel post nas Deen established. Eggs are not considered freak shipments. In fact, a regular traffic in eggs is expected. Enter prising farmers near Portland are striving already to build up a regular trade with customers in the city, send ing eggs and other farm products through the mail. A new field has been opened to inventors. They are trying now to devise a light, strong box of aluminum or other material, especially for mailing eggs. Ordinary perishable goods such as fruit, vegetables, fish and meat can be sent by parcel post within the zone of origin, or a radius of about 50 miles. A man in Eastern Oregon had five pounds of beefsteak sent from the butcher shop in a nearby village to his home by parcel post. Give Assurance of Peace. Washington, D. C. Senor Pedro Lascurain, Mexican minister of fore ign affairs and personal representative of President Madero, came to Wash ington Friday to tell again to Presi dent Taft and Secretary Knox the story of his government s struggle with rebellions, to reassure them of its ability to protect American lives and property everywhere in that re public, and, incidentally, it was whis pered, to find if there were any truth in recent reports that intervention by the United States was not merely a threat but an alarming possibility. Seven-Story Building Bvrns. Cincinnati The Carlisle building, seven-story stone structure at the southwest corner of Fourth avenue and Walnut streets, was almost destroyed by fire, entailing a loss estimated at $250,000. The building is the center of Cincinnati s commercial district, within several hundred feet of the Gibson House, which was burned sev eral weeks ago. For a while the Sin ter hotel, on the west side of the building, was threatened, but escaped damage when the fire was confined to the Carlisle building. Food Stores Discussed. Philadelphia As a means of reduc ing the cost of living, a system of co operative stores for the sale of pro visions was discussed by the House keepers' League here. Mrs. William B. Derr, who conducted the crusade for cheap eggs, presided. She said she had countless offers from produc ers in all parts of the East to supply provisions at rates that would mean a considerable lessening of prices, "if the business is properly managed." Tacoma's Balance Less. Tacoma, Wash. The City of Ta- coma has on hand to start 1913 more than $1,000,000 less than it possessed at the opening of 1912. according to the report of Controller Meads. The large amounts paid out on the new light and water plants, and the falling off in tax collections of about 6 per cent are principally responsible. i OREGON STATE General News of the Industrial and Educational Development and Progress of Rural Communities, Public Institutions, Etc. fREE BULLETINS BY 0. A. C. FOR USE OF FARMERS A list of 14 bulletins and circulars issued by the Oregon Agricultural col lege which are now available to all who will write to the extension divis ion for them is as follows : BULLETINS. No. 102 Digestibility of Kale, Vetch Hay, Steamed and Unsteamed Silage. Withycombe-Bradley. No. 103 Mortality of Incubator Chicks. Perot. No. Ill Orchard Management. Lewis. No. 112 Soils of Oregon. C. E. Bradley. No. 113 Orchard Irrigation Studies in Rogue River Valley. Lewis, Kraus, Rees. CIRCULARS. No. 12 Three Species of Plant Lice in Oregon. Wilson. No. 13 Orchard Sprays and Spray ing. Cordley-Jackson. No. 18 Swine Husbandry. Withy-combe-Potter. No. 19 Oregon Station Trap Nest, Dryden. No. 20 The Pollination Question, Kraus. Biennial Report Eastern Oregon Sta tion, 1909-10. EXTENSION BULLETIN'S. Series 4, No. 1 Highway Improve ment, Earth Roads and Culverts. Ay res. Series 4, No. 46 Road Materials in the Willamette Valley. Parks. Series 5, No. 2 Economic Geologi cal Resources of Oregon. Parks. OREGON TIMBER ATTRACTS Eastern Capitalist Surveys Yellow Pine of John Day Valley. Prairie City L. B. Unker, of New York, representing a syndicate of cap italists interested in the lumber indus try, visited the John Day Valley this week for the purpose of investigating the extent and quality of the yellow pine forests covering the foothills that skirt the valley for 65 miles. Mr. Unker will investigate all the available yellow pine forests of East ern Oregon during his trip, with re gard to accessibility, cost of logging and manufacturing into lumber and transportation to the Eastern markets It is recognized by lumber experts that the Eastern Oregon pine is avail able, much of it, for manufacture into the best grades of finishing lumber. The supply of this material is be coming scarce in the Middle West and Eastern states, while the demand for it is increasing. CONTRACT WILL BE LET SOON Work on Line South From Portland Will Begin Next Spring. Oregon City Mark Woodruff, an official of the Portland, Eugene & Eastern Railroad, is authority for the statement that work on 'the 40 miles from Portland south will be" commenc ed in the spring. The contract for the 40 miles has not as yet been let, but it is on President Strahorn's desk and will be shortly dealt with. Owing to rumors of difficulties en countered by the right-of-way depart ment of the company, Mr. Woodruff was questioned. He says that the company is not finding any greater difficulties than usual and that there will be comparatively few condemna tion suits brought. The old Willamette Falls carline will soon be a thing of the past. Property along the line has advanced. Ashland Creek W ater O. K. Ashland Word just received from the state board of health is to the effect that samples of water from Ash land creek, submitted recently to that body for analysis, are free from con tamination with typhoid germs. This is welcome news to this community, in view of the doubts which some have entertained as to the purity of the mu nicipal water supply. In the mean time a few wells on private property will be investigated, in furtherance of a determination of the board of health to adopt every necessary precaution. Experiment Farm Urged. McMinnville A movement has been started to have a walnut experiment station here and several joint organiz ing committees have been selected for a meeting to consider what legislation will be necessary. The County court has set aside ten acres of the best land of the county farm for this experi ment station. IThis tract is west of this city and is ideal land for this pur pose. State School Fund Needed. Salem It is probable that the legis lature will be asked to sanction the use of $10,000 from the state school fund to be used for paying the ex penses of carrying the Benson-Hyde cases through the courts. The state land board, through the attorney gen eral, will attempt to get back about 50,000 acres of land said to have been fraudulently eecured in those transac tions. ITEMS OF INTEREST CATS WORRY HOOD RIVER "Woods Are Full of Them" and War Is Declared by Citizens. Hood River "Tomcats are a men ace here," says D. A. Turner, a pio neer citizen, on East State street. "The woods are full of them and doz ens of them may be found in the tall growth of reeds that rear themselves luxuriantly on the banks of the Hood River gorge and along Indian Creek." Mr. Turner has declared war on the felines, which, he says, are destroy ing the chickens of his neighborhood and are even making nightly raids on outside refrigerators and cupboards. Thinking that his chickens were se cure, the windows and doors of the henhouse having been fastened, he went to feed "the fowls one morning and found nine of them killed and a big cat asleep in one corner of the building. The brute had entered from the roof, where a shingle had been blown off. However, its exit was im possible, its stomach having grown several sizes from the chicken feast. The many eats are driving away the silver gray squirrels that live in the oaks here. BRIDGE NEARS COMPLETION Structure at West Salem Gives Dal las New Railroad Facilities. Dallas The new bridge which is being built across the Willamette riv er at West Salem by the Salem, Falls City & Western railroad company is rapidly nearing completion. This road has completed its line from Sa lem to Silverton and, with the com pletion of this bridge, the last link in the chain will be formed and Dallas will have railroad communication in all directions. When plans for this bridge were first talked of by the offi cials of the railroad company, Louis Gerlinger, Jr., then manager of the Salem, Falls City & Western railroad, with offices in Dallas, proposed, mak ing a joint county and railroad bridge out of this bridge, and took up the move with the courts of Marion and Polk counties, but was turned down. It was thought that the county courts of the two counties would grasp the opportunity of getting a new bridge across the river at Salem at a mini mum cost, inasmuch as the present wagon bridge can last but a few years longer. INSURANCE GROWTH IS BIG Oregon Department Reports Gain of $16,000 Over 1911. Salem Receipts for the Depart ment of Insurance for the year ending November 30, 1912, were $110,498.94, as compared to $94, 4G0. 12 for the like preceding period, or an increase of $16,038.82, according to a statement just completed by J. W. Ferguson, state insurance commissioner. - The detailed receipts for 1911-12 are as follows: Company licenses, agents' Increase $2,754.78 3,122.00 850.00 4:tl.oo 8,6676.65 110.00 22.00 72.39 licenses Jl!7,375.70 Fire Insurance companies. . , . 4. 378,(10 Lire Insurance companies 4.970.00 Casualty companies 1.272. '0 Taxes 70.Oli5.98 Filinsr annual statement 1,220.00 Isfluing certificates of author ity 425.50 Miscellaneous receipts 842.76 Roses and Poppies Thrive. Hood River Roses and poppies, even at Christmas time, is the record of the Hood River valley. W. F. Laraway, a merchant of this city, sent a number of roses from his gar den to friends in Iowa. Mr. Laraway's roses grow on his lawn and have no protection. Colonel Tucker, who left the first of the week for San Diego,' Cal., also sent roses to friends for Christmas. Mrs. Tucker says her poppies have been blooming freely. "The other morning, she says, "after the heavy snow had fallen in the upper valley where our home is located, it was a beautiful sight to see the blossoms of the roses lifting themselves from the white blanket." West Announces Appointments. Salem Governor West has an nounced the following appointments to the state textbook commission: Miss Margaret Cosper, Salem; E. E. Bragg, l a Grande; T. M. Baldwin, Prineville; John P. O'Hara, Portland, and W. L. Brewster, Portland. The text book commission was named several months ago, but to keep it from being worried by text book companies, no announce ment was made until now. The com mission meets in June to decide what changes shall be made in the text books in the schools of the state. Malheur Snowfall Below Average. Vale The snowfall on the higher mountains of Malheur and other East ern Oregon' counties is deficient for this period of the winter, according to persons reaching Vale from the more remote parts of the county. Where the first of the year should witness not less than one foot of snow on the high er altitudes, there is not to exceed three or four inches. Without heavy subsequent precipitation during the next three months, there will be a marked lack of water next spring. Two Bridges Swept Awajr. Dufur Two bridges on the line of the Great Southern railway were swept away by high water in Fifteen Mile creek. The recent heavy rains have raised all the streams in this vi cinity higher than any time in,?ars.