From the Car Behind

r, it's rain," Corrie announced generally

Isabel commented, from the window-seat opposite. "That is just like you, Corri

ed. "I eve

t practising. You know you would not. If it is safe for you, it is safe for me. But never mind; your

drivers are thinking of withdrawing, since he is entered, b

I could race that car he is so vain o

neath his chair and tinkled the o

r little gi

ead you fo

d old Long I

you're half

r car wi

de in the piec

d abruptly, as Isabel's well-aim

rie queried, freeing himself from the sil

d herself. "There are more c

at least," Gerard lau

ch, myself. Now I'm sorr

hat a cushion carom, Corrie. And my car would not fal

h for when she regarded her brother, and which never failed to stir in him the half-wistful

probably can teach it to digest candy," she offered ser

see his jaws work," the culprit defen

is only an hour since breakfast and you ha

aven

u h

avy fair hair, carefully set the purr

he submitted gracefully. "

nce, Corrie suddenly turned his dark-blue eyes upon Isabel with an expre

stand for," he re

d illumined the shining regard in which he enveloped his cousin. There was in him a quality that lifted the moment above mere sentimentality, a young streng

de so long since, before the birth of the younger generation, that to one and all it was merely the natural condition of affairs, not in the least affecting them personally. Money was very nearly non-existent to them, since they never were obliged to consider its lack or abundance. They spent as they desired, pr

watched Corrie, that Isabel Rose was placed here by circumstance and not by fittedness. She was too earthen a vessel, however handsome and wholesome, to contain that fine sun-shot essence distilled

He felt an elder brother's outrush of impatient protection for the boy; involuntarily he turned to Flavia

as a reflection less of her own mind than of Isabel's; she fancied Gerard jealo

lan Gerard had affected her so far. Stooping, she lifted Firdousi to her lap,

rard, Corrie?" she inquired. "Are n

y are going to stay in and amuse us. At least, that is what I say, if h

ad, all seriousness vani

ither coat-pocket. "He loves to hear girls talk slang. But it is some classy order, all right, if you come to think of it; I guess

dear?" his s

f,'" Isabel quoted derisive Mother Goose. "He won't melt; let him go.

with Corrie," Gerard deprecated, rising. He looked aga

the gentleman in question. "

th the drowsy kitten. Isabel, chin in hand, gazed across the rain-drenched window-panes, her full lips bent discontentedly. The first diversi

the large pale-golden leaf, as it adhe

that mean?" I

farewell cards of departing summer. See her

ompanion with sco

d blowing, and Corrie is just as reckless with his motor boat as he is with

sa

with that mechanic. I know why Corrie did it, too; he didn't want us t

rie

licious comprehension over her

nt Mr. Gerard. Anyone can see how

nothing for a moment. She did not intend to put the question hov

Mr. Gerard is-i

come here without being in

le too much to escape retort, e

. Stone," she recal

es hardened. The recent episode of Mr. Ethan Ston

he things Mr. Gerard and Corrie and I like to do, anyway, if he had stayed here. He was al

t did not imply a lack of capacity for anger. She rose, a straigh

tated with dignity. "I am never afraid when I am the

the other girl to devi

f whose visit was now past. The next day would be Sunday; one of the two weeks she had unreasoningly dreaded was gone, already. Was she glad, or sorry? She did not k

s dry as the weather permitted, engaged in operating a small ciderpress for the benefit of himself and

lemented. "Wonderful what peop

icture Corrie presented with his sleeves rolled to the elbow, his coat off and his bright hair flecked w

d try out the Dear

that way. Col

that tin-cup, please? Why,

Before you

I never had to wait while the rest of a class ploughed along, so I got through the usual junk and was ready for college at fifteen plus. So I entered at New York, where I could drive back and forth from home each day, and finished up the

t have thoug

es laughed at him. "I can, when I have to. And studying do

not explain the effects he had seen left by college life with unlimi

e way to o

know," his expression sobered as he leaned forward, fixing earnest eyes on his companion's, "I would rather be you, do what you are doing,

before that ardent adm

he folly of hero-worship; and he

w about that

But, Co

ese

p, reaching fo

the real woman, get on your knees, where you belong, befo

de the ciderpress, then smiled with a b

fe-guarded from imitations, win or lose. I believe, if I am given to hero-worshi

upert that you poisoned me. Are you going around to pay th

ard just as I fired. I nearly fell in, myself, trying to get it out, but the well was deep and I couldn't raise a meow or a whisker. It was a fine November Sunday, I remember, and while I was busy the family drove into the yard, home from church. I bolted. No one saw me go, but by and by I began to remember all the yarns I ever had heard about

gav

now, sitting up in bed with her hair braided in two big ye

as a toy owl. 'And if you tell them, they will surely tell papa, so pe

ed up, afte

ned?" Gerar

, father, escorted me around to the well and informed me that I was to drink a cup of that water. Phew, I would rath

ng at me. 'It would have been a lot more pleasant for you to swallow if you had owned up two days ago

head disgustedly. "I told him I would probably die of t

was a chanc

ened the last butt

st day. She was clinging to the bucket, pretty wet, but healthy and merry. Father told me the truth, before dinner-time; I didn't s

oduced th

ou, though," he commented

glance from his task of tearing

ke hands on it afterward. Of course, that sort of thing ended five years ago-there never was much of it-but there couldn't be closer friends than we have been, right

ss the bit of paper, and secure

wins will know who h

Gerard

s sweeping the broken storm-clouds across a gray sky. The dr

stopped at the pier. "And I had lunch for three sent over, this morn

arbor, a frowsy head had projected, to be instantly withdrawn into shelter at sight of the two young m

" inquired Ger

azement at the audacity of the intruder. "A dirty, lazy hobo in my boat! Lyi

d advised. "Bett

already at the

e out, I say, or I'll come aboard and throw you o

its owner rested his arms on the gleaming mahogany dec

an' I'll beat it,"

t quick, or go to jail. That is my boat, do you he

if you wa

ng to take your filthy self off my cus

ou

Who do y

urried scrutiny, yawned, and ostentatiously se

it," he sneere

s purpose, Corrie had hauled in the boat's bow by the running line attached and swung himself raging into the craf

water-drenched boat again within reach. A great splash, a cry

ng enemy. "He's had enough, I fancy. Here, the water is only five feet deep, you chump! Not that way! Th

Gerard reproached, between amusement and

, and brought him to the pier

or. "Here, what are you shaking like

miserably in the boisterous rush of wind that wrap

told you? Open the basement door, won't you, Gerard, while I bring him?

the building, where Corrie threw open a furnac

o I will feel like a brute? Oh, I'll give you something to wear; I've got a

burden. Never mind me,

to throw some

got enough on

m Gerard to Corrie, who was bringing an armful of assorted clot

asy," he announced sombrely, "if I'd h

escaped Cor

You're

for, if I had the price of anythin'? It had a blan

m hotly. "Get into those clothes and come ups

-hamper that presently wa

t coffee; drink it. For Heaven's sake stop shivering-why couldn't you

e, reading a last-season bulletin of yacht racing

" he interpreted, a

't see how we can. I have got to stay

rard, with a recollection of t

leave, for the steward will put h

annot b

im somehow, and there wasn't anything except our luncheon that I had sent over for the trip. So I suppose we had

n the other's shoulder, h

ow your offenders overboard, and give them you

on in Corrie; he recognized b

veryone expects it of me, so it's all right. At leas

id not believe

e been knocking out a half-starved man and throwing him into that water because he crawled under an old blanket in my boa

r some reason he did not analyze, closed them without speaking. The two stood togethe

of the involuntary guest said, beh

leasant developments, a studied ignoring of his captor's possible right to detain him. But Corrie swung a

at you liked, or rather, like

humor, the man looked again to assure

l graciousness. "I ain't left muc

aramels? Armand must have lost h

per, they were, in

ted bouillon squares! They were not to eat, man; they w

ht. I guess they'll

gh concentrated beef in you to nourish a

big t

oing to do when

ten years his junior, then he looked to Gerard with a confused and reluctant unease, a

embarrassed laugh. "You don't want to hear me

find work for you a

ent kind, mister. I c

t his hand fr

his for good luck and we'll cal

l awkwardly, his emb

re, sure," h

the door opposite, it crossed the smal

"It is too bad to have brought you over f

s polished tan boots, a high-heeled, ornate affair of the latest design labelled "

of health ought to condemn for making a noisy demonstration ain't what I look forward to all day as a treat. As for going home, I'm ready, myself

them good as new with his Transcendant Tan for Tasteful Tootsies; you haven't seen that darky of mine shine boots. I don't know what t

and loose-packed. If I sneaked into somebody's boat-garage without an invitation, I wouldn't get a bath and br

paused,

Wh

e. You keep your score-card and watch it happen; you'll find y

y exact. "Well," his dancing smile flashed out, "we don't want a

ck wall, luck drops a feather pillow between. Other people stub their toes. I ain't crying bad luck, bec

observed, not mockingly or in ri

ician nodd

when I see it, and I've lived long enough to tell a type of man. The wa

Gerard, surprised.

s coming over with her own little machine to see the launch off, if she could get h

die

ife's insured, so it w

veness cast aside. "Come up to them, Gerar

t motor vehicle Mr. Rose would allow his vi

d have come if she hadn't been wondering whether Corrie was drowning himself. Go ahead and start; don't wait on our account.

ve it to a tramp after I threw him overboard. You're just

oked and your coat is torn. We saw your tramp; he passed us a few moments ago and we recognized your blue flannel suit with the Dear Me's insignia on the lapel. M

avat, please, ma'am; I can't see the thing.

d my gloves, then. Where is your scarf

e boys. Moreover, Gerard distrusted himself, fearing to say too much, too soon. He was approaching Flavia carefully and delicately as a man striving to close his hand on some frail, elusive creatu

y of knowing that it was his attitude toward Isabel she considered in all his words and acts, remembering her cousin's confident app

nd ourselves in a ditch. Indeed," her soft mouth dimpled into a smile, "once I thought we were in one. One wheel w

the judgment of his racing mecha

ion. "I believe we had better divide our party differently, on the way back. Let me drive on

d, overhearing. "I'll take t

me home and I shall learn a lot from watching him drive. You can tak

vidence pleasant acquiescence. But he was not soothed b

me, do you, dear?" she cov

e change in his transparent face betrayed his discomfiture at the slight. "You and I have had many

r laughing eyes questioning the mechanician. "I fancied, once or twice on t

stepped in front to crank the motor for Corrie. "I've always

t at once ent

ther, and then I can't fasten the other without tak

erard was engaged in buttoning Isabel's glove, while her wind-blown veils fluttered