The Marshall republican., 1912-07-19

There was a bad turn. His eyes On
the machine in front. Stanton round
ed the banked curve at q pace which
sent tho shrieking crowd Of spectators
recoiling from the d~angerline 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 a sharp explo-
sion and q Keeling stagger OF the
as a rear casing blew out, wrenched
itself bodily from the wheel and rolled
like a hoop into . field q 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 had no need or time
for conversation. as they worked, peo-
pie from all directions docking around
in q pushing. eager circle to watch the
proceedings.
The two worked well together.
Fioyd's def swiftness balanced by
stanton's strength. When the task
was finished, the driver first regained
his place.
Get In" he ordered crisply. Are
you going to take all day. or am l go
ing to catch that Atalantaf"
Floyd obeyed FIRST and retorted SEQ
opd; an invaluable habit.
III you're goin' to catch anything
but a smash, I'd suggest a showdown
for that turn" he countered, In the
blurred accent so softly deceptive.
mo tire built 10 goin' to stick on a
wheel under such roughin'."
Stanton shot a glance askant out OF
tho corner of a stormy b~lue.black eye.
He wal irritated by the lost time. he
felt more Ill than he could have been
brought to admit. and interference
pricked him like a spur.
"Ill give you a lesson In driving"
he cast across his shoulder. and bent
over the wheel.
II was Stanton at bis worst and best
who made the next two circuits OF
. the long course. Other racers. warned
by their ~mechanicians Of the thunder
UOlt USNIluk 0OWh uHVa th&hhs ht.W
!, prudentiy to one side. preferring the
chance Of later regaining the adven
/. tage. From every angle and curve the
people fed, At sight Of the graH cal
followed by its whirlwind OF dust and
carrying the huge "b" On Its hood
Twice the Mercury rushed past thu
g~randstand, to . tumult Of cheers
drowned by the cars own o The
second time, the two men siimpsed Al
oficiai rising. megaphone In hand. and
rightly guessed that they had made
tho fastest circuit. Of the day.
And)F1oyd had received the prom
Used lesson. for, Btanton had safely d.
gotmted the turn that before o . then
tire. at a pace equally fast.
Safely. once: but. not contsnt.Nh'
came around the second time drivfnl
o. f~uriously. with unslackened speed
Down upon the turn they swept again
Stanton u~nerringiy repeating his ex
quisite feat Of skill and twisting thu
Mercury around on tho two insid,
wheels; then the predicted happened
The crack Of an exploding tire cam
while they were on the bend. Instant,
echoed by the bursting Of its mat
from the opposite wheel; the a tori
itself from control under the doubt
, shock and shot on the curse into th'
field beyond. blowing deep burrows II
= the soft earth until II overturned will
Q final crash
/, Partly held by his stsering-whcel
! Stanton was fung but on the meadov
!. grass "a the car upset. tts speed thsl
, 90 much checked that be escapes
scarcely bruised. Floyd. unprotected
4 had been hurled from his ssat By III
: arst shock and lay half-stunnsd nea
r the edge OF the course.
|. From far and nesr came the psopsS'
|. cries Of horror and shouts for aid. Blu
n before the Arst man reached them
Stanton vas up and at the side Q
his mechsnician.
!. "Ployd!" he painted. ~F1oydi"
D. Floyd was already rising to on
: knee: gasping for breath. soilsd wit
dust and ~grassstsins. and with tn
blood yelling from \ jagged rent Il
q his left arm. but with his attention
!. only Axsd on Stanton.
"You're-all 'rightr' he ~articulatst
,. ~ Yes. A fool siwaye Il. YOU
J.. But he could zee for himself tina
the mechanicisn was not seriously In
p jured. without Ftoyd's r~eassurins nod
Call me what you Ike" Stanto'
permitted. between clenched teeth. q
!. hs dragged out his handkerchief
bandase the slender arm.
q The appalled, crowd was upon then
Q With q sputtering roar the Duplex M
/, chine rounded the turn and sped dow
the straight stretch. its mechanical
staring back 0ver his shoulder at Ii
, wreck. But Floyd brushed the girls
curis on his forehead aud staggere
/. erect. helpless laughter shaking hin
n Gall you? think you've got III
4 best disposition an the worst tempe
ever sawi TIE this up an We