The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-08-23
CHAPTER vi. (contInued.)

CHAPTER vi. Continued
There was a bad turn. His eyes on
the machine in front, Stanton round
ed the banked curve at pace which
sent the shrieking crowd of spectators
recoiling from the danger-line and
sprayed yellow soil high into the air.
AS the Mercury lurched into the
straight stretch beyond, as Floyd was
in the act of turning to examine the
rear tires, there came sharp explo-
sion and Keeling stagger Of the car
as rear casing blew out, wrenched
itself bodily from the wheel and rolled
like a hoop into a field hundred
yards away.
The machine tottered to the edge
of the road, stopping under the power
full brakes. Floyd sprang out, drag
ging loose one of the extra tires car
ried, while Stanton reached for the
tool-box They mad no need or time
for conversation, as they worked, peo-
pie from all directions flocking around
in pushing, eager circle to watch the
proceedings.
The two worked well together,
Floyd's def swiftness balanced by
S,anton's strength. When the task
was finished, the driver first regained
his place.
Get in" he ordered crisply. care
you going to take all day, or am / go.
ing to catch that Atalanta?"
Floyd obeyed first and retorted sec
ond; an invaluable habit.
s'If you're goin' to catch anything
but smash, I'd suggest showdown
for that turn" he countered, in the
blurred accent so softly deceptive,
mo tire built is goin' to stick on a
wheel under such roughin'."
Stanton shot glance askant out OF
the corner of stormy blue-black eye.
He was irritated by the lost time, he
felt more i'll than he could have been
brought to admit, and interference
pricked him like spur.
''Ill give you a lesson in driving, y
he cast across his shoulder, and bent
over the wheel.
1t was Stanton at his worst and best
who made the next two circuits OF
the long course. Other racers, warned
by their mechanicians of the thunder.
bolt bearing down upon them, drew
prudently to one side, preferring the
chance of later regaining the advan.
Iage. From every angle and curve the
people fed, at sight of the gray car
followed by it's whirlwind of dust and
fha h1vn &c
Twice the Mercury rushed past the
grand-stand, to tumult of cheers
drowned by the cars own roar The
second time, the two men glimpsed an
official rising, megaphone in hand, and
rightly guessed that they had made
the fastest circuit Of the day.
And Floyd had received the prom.
tsed lesson, for Stanton had safely ne
gotiated the turn that before cost them
. tire, at pace equally fast.
Safely, once; but, not content, he
came around the second time driving
as furiously, with unslackened speed
Down upon the turn they swept again
Stanton unerringly repeating his ex
quisite feat of skill and twisting the
Mercury around on the two inside
wheels; then the predicted happened
The crack of an exploding tire came
while they were on the bend, instantly
echoed by the bursting of its mate
from the opposite wheel; the car tore
itself from control under the double
shock and shot off the course into thu
field beyond, blowing deep burrows ii
the soft earth until it overturned will
final crash.
Partly held by his steering-wheel
Stanton was flung out on the meadow
grass as the car upset, its speed the1
so much checked that he escaped
scarcely bruised. Floyd, unprotected
had been hurled from his seat by tn
first shock and lay half-stunned neal
the edge of the course.
From far and near came the peoples
cries of horror and shouts for aid. Bu
before the first man reached them
Stanton was up and at the side q
his mechanjcian.
Floyd" he painted. Floyd"
Floyd was already rising to on,
knee; gasping for breath, soiled witt
dust and grass-stains. and with th.
blood yelling from jagged rent il
his left arm, but with his attention
only fixed on Stanton.
You'reall right?" he articulated
:! Yes. A fool always is. You-