Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 158, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1912 — The FLYING MERCURY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The FLYING MERCURY

by Eleanor M.Ingram

Author* of “The Game end die Candle" tnostostteo* ay /Ijfy WALTERS

~W»«W —IUI0»» SYNOPSIS. The story opens on Long Island, near New York city, where Miss Emily Ffrench, a relative of Ethan Ffrench, manufacturer of the celebrated “Mercury” automobile, loses her way. The car 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 Miss 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 many Dick, who Is a good-natured but Irresponsible fellow. It appears that—a partner of Ethan Ffrench wanting an expert to mce with the “Mercury” at auto events, has engaged Lestrange, and at the Ffrench factory Emily encounters the young man. They refer pleasantly to their meeting when Dick comes along and recognises the yodng racer. Dick likes the way Lestrange Ignores their first meeting when he appeared to a disadvantage. Lestrange tells Emily that he will try to educate her Indifferent cousin as an automobile expert. Dick undertakes his business schooling under the tutelage Of Lestrange. Dick is sheer grit, and in making a test race meets with an accident. Lestrange meets Emily in the moonlit garden of the Ffrench home, tinder an impulse he cannot control he kisses her and she leaves him, confessing In her own heart that Bhe returns his love. The uncle of Emily, learning of her attachment to Lestrange, Informs her that the man is 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 acknowledge him, and orders Emily to think of Dick as her future husband. A big race Is on In the south and Ethan Ffrench takes Emily to see it.

CHAPTER Vlll.—(Continued). “My mother was a Californian,” Lestrange once said, coming back from a tour of inspection. “She was twenty times as much alive as any Ffrench that ever existed, I’ve been told. I fancy she pessed that quality on to me—you know she died when I was bora —for I nearly drove the family mad. They expected the worst of me, and I gave the best worst I had. But,” lie turned to Dick the clear candor of his smile, “it was rather a decent worst, I honestly believe. The most outrageous thing I ever did was to lead a sat of seniors in hoisting A cow into the dean’s library one night, and so get myself expelled from college." “A cow?” the other echoed. “A fat cow, and it mooed,” he stuffed the pillow into a more comfortable position. “Is that our car running in? No, it’s just passing. If Frank doesn't wreck my machine, I’ll get this race. And then, the same yreek,-my chum and roommate ran away with a Doraflora girl of some variety show and married her. I was romantic myself at twenty-one, so I helped him through with it. He was wealthy and she was pretty; 1\ seemed to fit. I believe they’ve stayed married ever since, by'the way. But somehow the reporters got affairs mixed and published me as the bridegroom. Have you got a cigar? 1 smoke about three times a year, and this is one of them. Yes, there was a fine scene when I went home that night, a Broadway melodrama. I lost my temper easier then; by the time my father and uncle gave me time to speak, I was too angry to defend myself and set them right. I supposed they would learn the truth by the next day, anyhow. And I left home for good in A dinner coat and raglan with something under ten dollars in odd change. What’s that!" “That,” was the harsh alarm of the official klaxon, coupled with the cry of countless voices. The ambulance gong clanged as Lestrange sprang to his feet and reached the door. “Which car?” he called, s V Rupert answered firsts —— “Not ours. Number eight's burning up after a smash on the far turn.” “Jack’s car,” Identified Lestrange, ■ad stood for an Instant “Go flag Frank; fit take the machine again myself. It’s one o’clock, and I’ve got to win this race.” Several men ran across to the track to compliance. Lestrange turned to make ready, but paused beside the awed Dick to look over the infield. "He was in to change a tire ten minutes ago," observed Rupert beside them. “ ’Tell Lestrange I’m doin’ time catchin’ him,’ he yelled to me. Here’s hoping Ms broncho machine pitched him clear from the fireworks." When the Mercury car swung in. a moment later, Lestrange lingered for a last word to Dick. | “I’m engaged to Emily," he said, gravely. “I don’t know what she will hear of me; If anything happens, I’ve told you the truth. I’m old enough to r ase it now. And 1 tried to square ■ CHAPTER IX. :'V'T -.-. J ,W* ■ %n the delicate, fresh June dawn, the .Ffrench limousine crept into the p-p-f, taclosure.

•'We'r® bare," Mid Baiter, to fete traveling companion*. “Ton can't park the oar in front by the fence; Mr. David might see yon and kUI himself by a mlsturn. Come op to the grandmt* 1 ' . .'.'--agi,--. — -* 1 Mr. Ffrench got out In silence and aestated Emily to deoend; a pale and wide-eyed Emily behind her veil *The boys were calling extras,” she suggested faintly. "They said three accidents on the track.” Bailey turned to a bine and gold official passing. “Number seven all right?” he asked. ' “On the track, Lestrange driving,” was the prompt response. “Leading by thirty-two miles.” A little of Emily's color rushed back. Satisfied, Bailey lead their way to the tiers of seats, almost empty at this hour. Pearly, unsubstantial in the young light, lay the huge oval meadow and the track edging It "I've sent over for Mr.. Dick,” Bailey informed the other two. "He’s been here, and he can tell what’s doing; Four cars are out of the race. There’s Mr. David coming!” A gray machine "shot around the west curve, hurtled roaring down the straight stretch past the stand and crossed before them, the mechanician rising in his seat to catch the pendant linen streamers and wipe the dust from the driver’s goggles in preparation for the “death turn” ahead. There was a series of rapid explosions as the .driver shut off his motor, the machine swerved almoßt facing the infield fence and slid around the bend with a skidding lurch that.threw a cloud of soil high in the air. Emily cried out. 'Mr. Ffrench half rose In bis place. - •‘What’s the matter?” dryly queried Bailey. “He’s been doing that all night; and a pretty turn he makes, too. He’s been doing It for about five years, In fact, earning his living, onlj we didn’t see him. Here goes another.” Mr. Ffrench put on his pince-nez, preserving the dignity of outward composure. Emily saw and heard nothing; she was following Lestrange around the far sides of the course, around until again he flashed past her, repeating his former feat with appalling exactitude. It was hardly more than five minutes before Dick came hurrying toward them; cross, tired, dust-streaked and gasolene-scented. “I don’t see why you wanted to come.” he began before he reached

them. “I’m busy enough now. We’re leading; if Lestrange holds out we’ll win. But he’s driving alone; Frank went out an hour ago, on the second relief, when he went through the paddock fence and broke his leg. It didn’t hurt the machine a bit, except tires, but it lost us twenty-six laps. And it leaves Lestrange with thirteen steady hours at the wheel. He says he can do it” “He’s fit?” Bailey questioned. Dick turned a peevish regard upon him. “I don’t know what you call fit He says he is. His hands are blistered already, his right arm has been bandaged twice where be hurt it pulling me away from the gear-cutter yesterday, and he’s had three hours’ rest out of the last eleven. See that heap of junk over there; that’s where the Alan car burned up last uight and sent its driver and mechanician to .the hospital. I suppose if Lestrange isn’t fit and makes a mlscue we’ll see something like that happen to him and Rupert.” “No!” Emily cried piteously. Remorse clutched Dick. “Don’t go off ; Lestrange swears he feels fine and gibes at me for worrying. Don’t look like that." -y ■' “Richard, you will go dflwn and order our car withdrawn from the race,” Mr. Ffrench stated, with his most absolute finality. “This has continued long enough. If we had not been arrested in New York for exceeding the speed limit. I should have been here to end this scene at midnight.” Stunned, hi* nephew stared at him. .“Withdraw!“ “Precisely. And desire David to come here-” “I won’t." said Dick flatly. “If you want to rub it into 'Lestrange that way, send Bailey. And I say it’s a confounded shame.” “Richard!” His round face* ablaze, Hick thrust his hands in his, pockets, facing his uncle stubbornly. “ARM- his splendid fight, to stop him now? Do you know how they take being put out, those fellows? Why. when the Italian car went off the track far good, last night, with its chain tangled up with everything underneath, it# driver sat down and cried. And ytra’d come down on Lestrange

when he’s winning— I wont to ft, I won’t! Send Bailey; I oan’t tall him.” "If you want to discredit the ear and Its driver, Mr. Ffrincfe. you can do it without me," slowly added Bailey. “But it won’t be any use to send for Mr. David, because be wont come.** t~ — The autocrat of his little world looked from one rebel to the other, confounded with the unprecedented. "If I wish to withdraw him, It Is to place him out of danger,” he retorted with asperity. "Ndt because I wish to mortify him, naturally. Is that clear? Does he want to pass the next thirteen hours under this ordeal?” *TH tell you what he wants,” answered Dick. “He wants to be let alone. It seems to me he’s earned that” Ethan Ffrench opened his lips and closed them again without speech. It had not been his life’s habit to let people alone and the art was acquired with difficulty. _ _ "I admit I do not comprehend the feelings you describe,” he conceded, at last. “But there Is one person who has the right to decide whether David shall continue this risk of his life. Emily,' do you wish the car withdrawn ?” There was a gasp from the other two men. "I?" the young girl exclaimed, amazed. "I can call him here —safe —" Her voice died out as Leetrange’s car roared past, overtaking two rivals on the turn and sliding between them with an audacity that provoked rounds of applause from the spectators. To call him in from that, to have, him safe with her—the mere thought was a de-

irghrihat caught her breath. Yet, sne knew Lestrange. The three men watched her in keen suspense. The Mercury car had passed twice again before she raised her head, and in that space of a hundred seconds Emily reached the final unselfishness. “What David wants ” she said. “Uncle, what David wants.” “You’re a brick!” cried Dick, in a passion of relief. “Emily, you’re a brick!” She looked at him with eyes he never forgot. “If anything happens to him, I hope I die too,” she answered, and drew the silk veil across her face. “Go back, Mr. Dick, you’re no good here,” advised Bailey, in the pause. “I guess Miss Emily Is right, Mr. Ffrench; we’ve got nothing to do but look on, for David Ffrench was wiped out to make Darling Lestrange.” Having left the decision to Emily, it was in character that her uncle offered no remonstrance when she disappointed his wish. When Lestrange came into his camp for oil. and gasolene, near eight o’clock, Dick seized the brief halt, the first in three hours.

“Emily’s up in the stand,” he announced. “Send her a word, old man; and don’t get reckless in front of her.” “Emily?" echoed Lestrange, too weary for astonishment. “Give me a pencil. No, I can’t take off my ganntlet; it’s glued fast. I’ll manage. Rupert, go take an hour’s rest and send me the other, mechanician.” “I can’t get off my car; it’s glued fast,” Rupert confided, leaning over the back of the machine to appropriate a sandwich from the basket a man was carrying to the neighboring camp. “Go on with your correspondence, dearest.” So resting the card Dick supplied on the steering wheel, Lestrange wrote a difficult two lines. He was out again on the track when Dick brought the message to Emily. “I just told him you were here, cousin,” he whispered in her ear, and dropped the card in her lap. “I’ll enjoy this more than ever, with you here,” she read. “It’s the right place for my girl. I’ll give you the cup for our first dinner table, tonight. “DAVID." Emily lifted her face. The tragedy of the scene was gone, Lestrange’s eyes laughed at her out of a mist. The sky was blue, the sunshine golden; the merry crowds commencing to poux in Woke carnival in her heart. “He said to tell you the machine was running magnificently,” supplemented Dick, “and not to insult his veteran reputation by getting nervous. He’s coming by—look.” , He was coming by; and, although unable to look toward the grand-stand he raised his hand in salute as b« passed, to the one he knew was watching. Emily flushed rosily, hex dark eyes warm and shining. “I can wait,” she sighed, gratefully. “DlckieT I can wait until ~it ends now.” Dick went back. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

"Here Goes Another."