Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-07-04
CHAPTER II.
The Risk and the Lady.

Two hours later, Stanton emerged
from his camp and strolled toward
the paddock exit. 1t was after two
o'clock in the morning; the dark arch
of star-set sky overhead, the black
emptiness of the central field except
for the line of tents, contrasted oddly
with the glistening white track where
the meteor-bright cars circled tireless-
ly to the accompanying monotone OF
many voices, varied by the occasional
wall of the official klaxon. One ma
chine was out of the race, after going
through the fence; a heap OF disor-
dered metal which men were striving
frantically to restore to activity, while
in the illuminated hospital tent its
driver and mechanism were undergo
ing a kindred process OF rehabilita-
ton. Other cars went in and out
from their camps, for oil, for gaso-
lene, for tires and minor repairs-for
all the countless wants OF racing
machine Stanton looked for the Mer-
curry, then, satisfied, crossed the track
and entered the space before the
grand-stand.
Along the edge Of the cement prom
enade We're parked a row OF automo-
biles whose owners preferred to wit
ness the race from their own cars
rather than from the tiers of seats be-
hind. Past them Stanton turned,
avoiding the fire of attention and curl
osity he would draw by crossing the
lighted space where recognition must
follow. He was going to the restau-
rant in the interior of the stand.
But as he passed big white tour
ing car at the end Of the row, wom-
an leaned from the shadow Of the top.
81 beg your pardon" she sum-
moned, her tone composed and rather
imperious.
The apology yelled a command.
Stanton halted.
Madam" he responded, astonished
and scarcely pleased.
She deliberately stepped down be-
side him, accompanied by the crisp
sound of shaken silk and a drift of
faint, rich fragrance. She wore a
dark motor-veil, and in the mingling
of dense shadows and glazing lights 1t
was not possible to distinguish more
than her general effect of youth and
well-poised grace.
II fancied by your costume that you
were one of the racers" she explained.
"And as / only arrived an hour ago,
l wished to beg some information"
81 am one Of the men driving" he
corroborated.
She turned to glance at the cars
rushing by, struggling for the lead.
Thank you. Can you tell me
whether Ralph Stanton is now driving
the Mercury"
NO." he answered, interested for
the first time. "But he will take the
wheel again in half an hour"
"Ah? l have heard so much Of his
spectacular feats, l." she gave care
less, ripping laugh, 81 confess
should like to see some of them"
Yes? Well, half the people here
come to see whether some Of the men
won't take a chance once too often.
They say there is a pleasant thrill in
watching some one else get killed"
Hardly that" she demurred. Still,
If one comes to an automobile race,
one wants to see something more ex-
citing than drive in the park; some
thing more exciting than-that." She
waved a fragile hand toward the
track, struggling her shoulders with
an airy amusement and scorn.
Stanton surveyed the scene, the
darkness hiding his expression.
"The Mercury is marking time with
substitute driver, the Duplex is of
with a choked feed-pipe, and the Stern
went through the fence" he summed
up. "The others are driving to win
by endurance, playing for accidents to
the faster cars. 10 is a dull period
just now. Yet every car there is go
ing fast enough to face destruction II
anything goes wrong"
She turned to him again, and he
knew her gaze swept him interroga
lively, searchingly. But his close
fitting linen costume offered no means
of identification, since he purposely
kept from the light the silver letters
running across his jersey.
"My father is president of a tire
company" she idly remarked. ellis
tires are being used on some of the
cars, the Mercury for one, | believe
and he wanted to watch their testing
under use. So, after a dinner engage
ment we could not escape, we mo-
tored down here from the city. You
see l have not viewed much of the
race. I admit this does not look very
perilous and / am bit disappointed
l." again her short crystal laugh, 81
shall hope better things Of the famous
Stanton: I want to admire him very