The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-10-18
CHAPTER xI-(continued).

The precaution was justified. On
the most dreaded angle of the course
came the well-known explosion, i'm.
mediately followed by second from
the opposite wheel, the Mercury top
pied perilously.
Floyd was leaning over the back, un-
etrapping the extra tires, before Stan
The two men were out on the ground
together, dragging forth tools. Hinged
about by pushing, exclaiming specta-
tors, they worked with quick precision,
wasting no time in speech. Dust
wrapped, two big cars sped by them,
the red one hanging doggedly at the
flank Of the white.
George thinks he's winnin'," nsped
Floyd mockingly. "But he isn't goin'
to; we are
Stanton was on his feet again.
'In with the TOOLS" he directed.
with brevity.
But the blue-black eyes and gray
exchanged one smiling glance before
the Mercury sprang forward.
The race began its third hour. as
Stanton started out to regain his lost
lead. It was noon, dazzling, breath
less noon of azure and gold. Down
past the grand-stand with its heavfng
expanse of color and movement they
swept again, the joyous applause COM
ing to them across the roar of their
own motor, and on between the walls
of people into the quieter back stretch
jim pursuit Of their rivals.
There was bridge, back there,
across shallow running brook shut In
Iby, a strip of autumn-tinted woodland.
"Car ahead!" Floyd cried suddenly,
las they rushed around a curve and
bore down on the crossing. Look out
Stanton"
| In the center of the bridge was a
reeling, staggering car, coming to a
halt and striving to maintain its equi-
Ilibrium meanwhile. The chain had
broken loose, its driver afterward ex.
Iplained, and was flashing the under.
mechanism to scrap metal. Seeing too
late to stop his own machine, Stanton
took the only chance of saving any OF
the four lives and tried to twist past
the other car on the narrow bridge
Only master-driver would have at
tempted the feat; Stanton carried II
Ito the verge of success. They were
along side, passing, when the edge Of
the wooden bridge gave way under the
double strain. There was the rip Of
Isplintering planks, as the Mercury's
Outside wheels crushed through the
flooring. shuddering lurch.
Jump" Stanton shouted his vain
command to Floyd. as they went down
The cool water Tapped around his
fingers, trickled revivingly across his
Hntolerably painful arm, gurgling like
"a Joyous voice as 1t passed by him
Slowly. with Infinite effort, Stanton
dragged himself up upon the other
arm, the uninjured right. He must
see; that was the imperious cry Of
brain and heart, to see. It seemed tt
him years ago that the Mercury had
gone OFF the bridge, yet he knew the
time could be but moments, since the
ambulance had not come and he was
still here
His vision was clearing. Yes;
there. half In the dainty brook, hal
on the green bank, lay the heap o.
bent and broken metal that had beer
the Mercury racing car. And besid.
IT.
When he drove back the faintnesl
that blackened the bright noon, Stan
ton began to drag his pain-racket
body toward what lay beside the Mer
curry. Movement hurt, hurt unbear
ably, yet was less anguish thar
Thought. For he knew, knew thu
mechanician seldom escapes.
Floyd lay near the machine. un
marred to outward view except for
cut over his temple and 4 stain Of bloc,
on his lips. His mask and cap wer,
gone, one hand was hung out, palm ur
ward. and the torn sleeve Left bare Ii