Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1912-08-29
CHAPTER !.
The Man Who Dared.

arm fall and leaned forward, peering
across the blended glare and darkness.
"What?" he shouted, above the pull.
Eating roa OF the eleven racing ma.
chimes lined up before tho judges
stand. "What?"
There was a furry around the CEN
trail car, whose driver leaned from his
seat to stare down at the man who
had slipped from beside him to the
ground. The great crowd congesting
the grand-stand pressed closer to the
barrier, staring also. commenting and
c~onjecturing.
The ~mechanician of the Mercury is
on his carl"
Tainted"
FELL"
The automobiles hadn't started; he
must be sick"
The referee was already pushing his
way back, bringing the report from
the hastily summoned surgeon
Heart disease" he announced right
n left. "Stanton's m~echanician Just
dropped of his seat, dead.
But Stanton himself had already
swung out of his car, with the ener-
getic decision that marked his every
movement
My man is out" he tersely stated
TO the starter. I've got to run over
to my camp and get another. VIII
o hold the start for me?"
The question was rather a demand
than a request. There was scarcely
n among the vast audience who
would not have felt the sparkle gone
from this strong black wine of sport
they had com to sip, if Ralph Stanton
had been withdrawn from the twenty
four-hour contest. He had not only
lame as a skilful and scientific racer:
he had the reputation of being the
most s~pectacularly reckless driver in
America, whose death could be but a
question Of time and whose record of
accidents and victories verged on the
appalling. He knew his value as an
attraction, and the starter knew it,
although preserving impassivity.
Five minutes" the official con-
coded, and drew u his watch.
Already a stream of men were run
ming toward the Mercury camp with
the news. Stanton sprang into his
machine, deftly sent 1t. forward out OF
the line. and shot around into the en-
tranc to the huge oval field edged by
the Beach track; a mile Of white rib
bon bordering a green medallion.
The row Of electric-lighted tents.
each numbered and named for its own
racing car, was in a turmoil of excite
ment. But most agitated was the
group before the tent marked 80.
Mercury"
"Durand's down and out-give me
another man." called Stanton, hating
his noisy. flaming car. Quick, you"
But no one stepped forward from
the cluster Of factory men and me-
chanics. Only the assistant
OF the Mercury company responded
to the demand:
Yes, go; n Of you boys. I'll make
1t right with you. You, Jones'"
I'm married. sir" refused Jones
succinctly.
We'll, o then. Walters. Good
heavens, man! what do you mean?"
49, JULY WaiuSiS udckeQ away,
actually pale.
I'll dig potatoes, first. SIR"
why, you used to racer"
Not with Stanton, sir"
There was a low murmur Of appro-
val among his mates, and a drawing
together for support. Stanton stepped
down from his car, snatching of his
mask to show a dark, strong face
grim with anger and contempt.
You wretched, backboneless COW
ards!" he hurled at them, his blue
black eyes flashing over the group
d you know what / and the com
pany stand to lose If I'm disqualified
for lack Of n Of you jellyfsh to sit
beside me and pump oil? Isn't there
a man in the camp? I'll give fifty dol
lars myself to the one who goes. a
hundred II l win"
I'll promise twice that" eagerly
supplemented Green, the assistant
manager. He had private bets on
Stanton.
Not 4 OF the clustered workmen
Damn you'll" pronounced the driver.
and comprehensively. "ITl re-
peat that offer to the man who will
90 for the first three hours only, and
meanwhile we'll send to New York
find a red-blooded male"
The men looked at one another, but
hook their heads.
moi You won't? You work your
Miserable bodies three months to earn