Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-20
CHAPTER III.

ulap work Of afternoon and evening.
AZ nine O'Clock that hight the race
would ed.
The Mercury car had registered
ninety niles moro than the Duplex.
both Of them beingimany tens Of miles
in advance Of the, other competitors.
At stx In The morning Stanton had
gone IN for Q br1&f 1aDt At eight he
was hack. and kept the wheel until
ono n the afternoon. Victory was In
his hands Il noth11gt happened to his
car; IN hour and . halt lost In re-
pairs would tIoaseW an his advantage
to the Duplex He was jealousy
afraid 20 inkrust his machine to his
assistant drfvsr. and consequently
merc1jass TO his mschautc1an and him
salf. But Floyd made no complaint.
At ha1f-pasti one. all the cars were
sent - tnsir, camps while an hour
was spent IN having the track hur-
risdly mendsd bysgangs Of workmen.
Tho road-bel IN places was furrowed
Ike . plewed Asld By the flying
Wheels. Nsanwhns the afternoon
crowds flowed in. hlling the stands to
suaoestaon. Assstne on tho prone
made. banking IN . solid row Of pri-
vate automobiles behind the screen.
Whsn at halfpast two the racers
wsre recalled to start anew. Stanton
sharply scrut1ni1ed his mochanician
before having the camp.
I'm soing 70 keep this car until the
end Of the I1ce." b announced, not
unkindly. II you don't think you can
stand sevsn hours Of It. say 30: and
III have them nnd some one to re-
lieve you. They can rush Rupert here
from Up The Hudson By four or Eve
O'Clock. Il you ct in for It. you'll
finish, II have to tie you in your seat.
I'm driving to win"
The scarlet Of resentment flushed
through Floyd'ssgrimest reaked psllor.
"You won't have to do me-" he
promised, whftsstestA catching his lip.
"IT not finch. g. on"
Stanton actually laughed, bending
to his levsss.
II didn't mean TO tie you to keep
you from running away. but to keep
You from fainting and falling out" he
explained. But"
The car bounded forward.
The track had been filled in with
wet mud from the inhsld-on the first
circuit the heavy Loxelle car skidded
and went through tho fence at tho
north turn. After that. nothing could
have induced Stanton to allow his
machine in other hands.
Hour after hour passed. The noisy
music Of the band crashed out mon
otonously; the crowd swsyed, muir
muring. applauding, exclaiming. argus
eyed and kaleidoscope In color and
motion.
At sunset, when tho Mercury made
a trip into camp for supplies. neither
of it's men left their seats. The beam
ing Mr.. Green came to shower eon-
CALCULATIONS upon Stanton, and with
him the head Of the Mercury Com
pany. himself . former driver whose
quiet appreciation had an experts
value. Stanton was leaning across the
wheel, chatting with them, when his
What 10 the matter with your
mechanician, stanton?" he queried.
Stanton turned, suddenly conscious
OF light weight against his shoulder.
With his movement, Floyd also start
ed erect, their glances crossing.
Nothing" the driver briefly an.
swered to the others question. "Tired,
perhaps; he has been working. A
you were saying
with Stanton; the fatigued young face
against his arm. the drowsy, heavy
lidded eyes flashing keenly awake.
the involuntary expression Of angry
shame at the moments weakness.
And he would sooner have tied Floyd
in his seat, after that, than have added
the hne insult Of offering to relieve
him.
Ready" some one called; tho work
men scattered In every direction, and
tho Mercury was OF once more.
Gar comm" warned the mechani.
clan, % they shot from the paddock
entrance on to the track. Duplex
ahead"
Floyd was himself again, watchfully
businesslike. nonchalantly fearless.
Color and glow faded from the sky;'
once more the search-lights Jared out
around the track and transformed It
TO . silver ribbon. running between
walls Of ebony darkness except where
tho lamp-eemmed stands arose. Al
ready newspapers were being cried
announcing stanton's coming victory.
Driving evenly, steadily, refusing
all challenges to speed duels and at
tempting mono Of his deadly tactics Of
the night before. Stanton piloted his
car TO the inevitable result. At nine
O'Clock the Dag dropped. and amid a
hubbub Of enthusiasm the Mercury
crossed the line, winner.
Later, when the triumphant tumult
IN tho Mercury camp had somewhat
subsided. Stanton walked over to
whore Floyd was leaning against q
column Of unused tires.
You've had twenty.four hours Of
me-" he said abruptly. "How did /:
strike your"
Floyd raised his candid gray eyes
to the others face. and in spite Of ex.
haustion smiled with glinting frank
ness and humor.
III you want me to tel! you" he
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