The Marshall republican., 1912-06-28
cHApTea ~.
The Finish, and After.

AAtOa'<a EftWty Anty III WS0iy
drivers had settled to steady endur.
ance gaits. saving their energy and
their machines for the more spectac-
ular work Of afternoon and evening.
At nine o'clock that night the race
would end.
The Mercury car had registered
ninety miles more than the Duplex,
both Of them being many tent OF miles
in advance OF the other competitors.
At six In the morning Stanton had
gone In for q brief rest. At eight he
was back. and kept the wheel until
n In the afternoon. Victory was In
his hands II nothing happened to his
car; an hour and a half lost In re-
pairs would transfer all his advantage
to the Duplex. He was jealousy
afraid to intrust his machine to his
assistant driver. and consequently
merciless to his mechanician and him.
self. But Floyd made no complaint.
At half.past one. all the cars were
sent TO their camps while an hour
was spent In having the track hur-
riedly mcnded BY gangs Of workmen.
The road-bed In places wal furrowed
like q plowed field by the flying
wheels. Meanwhile the afternoon
crowds flowed in. filing the stands to
s~uffocation. massing on tho prone.
made. banking In a solid row Of pri.
vate automobiles behind the screen.
When at haif.past two the raccrs
were recalled to start anew. Stanton
sharply scrutinised his m~cchaniciAn
before leaving the camp.
I'm going TO keep this car until the
end OF the race" he announced, not
unkindiy. III you don't think you can
stand seven hours Of II. say 20: and
I'll have them nnd some one 70 10
lieve you. They can rush Rupert here
from up the Hudson By four or I'VE
O'Clock. II you get In for II. you'll
finish. II I have TO tis you In your seat.
I'm driving TO win"
The scarlet Of resentment flushed
through F1oyd's srime-stresked pailor.
"You won't have TO tie me-" he
promised. white teeth catching his lip.
-I1l not finch. Go on"
Stanton actually laughed, bending
TO his levers.
II didn't mean to tie you to keep
you from running away. but to kesp
you from fsinting and Milling out" he
explained. But"
The car bounded forward.
Tho track had bean nllcd In with
vet mud from the inneld---on the first
circuit the heavy LoEeile car skidded
and went through the fence At the
north turn. After that, nothing could
have induced Stanton 10 allow his
machine In other hands.
Hour after hour passed. The noisy
music Of the band crashed out mon
otonously: the crowd swayed. mur.
murinG. applauding, sxclaiming. argus
svsd and k~slsidoscopic In color and
molten.
~ sunset. when the Mercury made
. tip into camp for supplies, neither
dit msn left their seats- To beam
ing Mr.. Green came 10 shower cob-
grNtdlAtions upon Stanton. end With
hin ths head u The Mercury CON,
pany, himself . former driver whoss
GRist appreciation had an sxpests
vslvs. Stanton was leaning across the
Whsai. chatting with than. when hi
employer hsptN ths thread a. spesck
f"What 10 the matter with youi
nsehanictan. Stanton r he susrlsl.
Stanton turned. suddsply conscioul
AZ . light weight against his shoulder
With his movement. Floyd also starr
ID erect, their giances crossing.
Nothing" the driver brady IN
swered to the others question. ''Tired
perhaps: be has been working. Al
you were saying"
But the siimpssd picture staye<
with Stanton; the fstigusd young facs
against his arm. the drowsy. heavy
lidded eyes faahing keenly awake
ths involuntary oppression Of angT,
shame 1t the moments wsakness
And he would o q have tied F1oyt
IN his seat, after that. than have addst
the nns insult Of Offering to reliey'
him.
Ready" some one called; tho work
men scattered In every direction, an,
the Mercury was on moe more.
scar COMM" warned the mschanl
clan. ~ they shot from the padded
entrance on TO the track. 'Dupis'
ahead"
Floyd ives himsslf again. watchfull,
hn~sinesslike. nnnchalAntly fearless.
Color and Glow faded from the shy
once more The searchlights Jared On
around the track and transforme1 4
- 4 silver ribbon. running bstweeI
{. A-na-. --A~A 49,