The Marshall republican., 1912-06-21


the Duplex was an exhibition given
for he's. that at her wanton within he had
jeopardixed four lives, one his own.
With a strong exclamation Of con-
tempt Stanton moved to fling the fiow-
ers aside to the path before the Mer.
cury's wheels. then checked himself.
remembering appearances. The or
chids curled Imply around his warm
fngers; suddenly the magnificent ar
roganee Of this girl struck him with
angry humor. and he laughed shortly.
Throw them In the tent. Blake" he
requested. tossing the bouquet to one
OF the men. They'll wither fast
enough"
The new tire was on. A Stanton
turned 70 his machine, after tearing
the card to unreliable fragments. he
saw Floyd watching him with curious
intentness.
A raw, wei mist had commenced to
roll In from the nearby ocean. The
promise of dawn was recalled. a dull
obscurity closed over the motordrome.
leaving eve the search-hghted path
dim. The cars rushed on steadily.
The night had been singularly free
from accidents. Only one machine
had been actually wrecked, although
three had been withdrawn from the
contest. The officials in the judges
stand were congratulating one an.
other, at the moment when the second
disaster occurred.
The mist had grown thicker. In the
lights n dazzling silver curtain before
mems eyes,. and the track had been
worn to deep grooves Mt the turns.
The Mercury was sweeping past tho
grand-stand. when one Of the two
slower cars. being overtaken, slipped
Its drivers control. caught in q foot
deep nut, and swerved crashing into
the machine mex II. Twice over II
rolled. splintering s~ickeninsly. but
finging both Of It's men clear OF tho
wreck. The q struck. plunged On
around the curve into the mist. ap-
parentiy unhurt.
OFT across the damp dusk pierced
the shrek OF the kiaxon. mingled with
the cry Of the people and the tinkie OF
the hospital telephone. Stanton.
swinging wide to avoid the pitful
wreckage. kept on his course.
"stopi" Floyd shouted imperatively
beside hin. Stop. Stanton. stop!"
stenton sped on, d~isregarding what
he supposed was q novice's nervous
sympathy. He could not aid tho
stunned men lying on tho track. and
n glance had told him that they
could be safely passed: as indeed they
had been.
"Stop!" the command rang again:
and as Stanton merely shook his
head with impatient annoyance. tho
mechanician swiftly stopped forward.
Tho motor slackened oddly. Before
the astousded driver had time to grasp
the situation. the power died from
under his hands and the car was only
carried forward by It's own momen-
tum. Automatically he jammed down
tho brakes and turned In his seat TO
confront his companion In a wrathful
~amasement choking speech. Floyd
faced him. even his lips white beneath
bis mask, but with steadfast eyes.
II know" he forestalied the tenn
pest You've got the right to put
me or the carl threw your switch.
I've got nothing 10 say. But the mist
lifted and ] saw what lay ahead"
What lay aheadf Tho kiaxon was
shrieking msdly. from all around the
track came the sound Of hating cars.
The rising wind pushed along the fog
walls again. and they opened TO reveal
the second machins of the late scc1-
dent not twenty-five feet ahead. Z
tilted, m~otioniess heap. After The
collision II had staggered this far. 10
90 down with q broken rear axle and
two lost rear wheels. Its men were
still In their seats unhurt.
There was n instant Of silence. The
avoided disaster was no excuse for the
m~schanician's interference, nor did
Floyd offer II ~ such. wen awars
that his driver was perfectly justified
In any course hs choss 10 take. There
can be but one pilot At any wheel.
"6ince ] suppose you are not equal
to cranking a ninety Mercury. you
had better fx the spark and gas while
start IT," dryly suggested Stanton.
"And-never do that again"
He stepped out and went to the
front Of his car. seising the crank
and starting tho big motor with an ex.
ertion OF superb strength which would
indeed have been impossible to ths
slender Floyd. When he retook his
seat. the m~echanician made his equal
ly laconic apology and acknowledg'
ment Of error.
Il neve wiii." Floyd rave his word
The wind shook the mist more
strongly, streamers Of pink and gold
trembied across the sky. The day had
commenced. Fs
To be continued