Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1912-09-12
FREDERIC TfiORNHl]RG

nhrbnly, OF because you are willing
to trust my driving?"
Taken by surprise, open astonish-
ment crossed the younger mans face.
but his eyes did not finch from the
ONES behind the goggles. .
II think you're the best driver on
tho track" came the steady answer.
And I'd rather trust myself to your
recklessness than to some one else's
mistakes. II you want to know. I
guess you can steer straight enough
for both Of U.S."
6tanton's hand relaxed it, hold.
60 nx your carburetor. Yes, ! can
steer|straight."
Again the blue-black eyes flashed
sneering defiance toward the grand
stand; for tho moment, Miss Car
isles hope Of witnessing desperate
fsats BY tho Mercury car seemed far
from realisation
But thesMercury had not circIed the
milo oval four times whom the Duplex,
it, choked feed-pipe cleared at last,
burst from the paddock with it, mas
ter driver At the wheel and bent on
tho recovery Of lost time. The Nor
curry was on the back stretch Of
track, running casually near sixty
miles 1t the moment.
Gar comm" Floyd cautioned sud
denly.
Stanton raised his head, alert . frao-
tional second too late, and his closest
rival shot past him, roaring down tho
white path. It was too much; Floyd
and Miss Carlisle sank out Of memory
together. as Stanton reached for
throttle and spark. The Mercury
snarled and leaped like a startled cat
Tho dull period was over.
The Mercury car was slightly the
faster, but the Duplex held the inside
line, and the difference between the
drivers vas not in skill 30 much as In
daredeviltry. Slower machines kept
conservatively out Of the way as the
dangerous rivals fought out their
speed-battle. Three times Stanton
hunted the Duplex around the track,
| gaining on each lap, until the last cir
cult was made with the cars side by
side, a flaming team. The spectators,
scanty at this hour before dawn, rose,
applauding and cheering, as the two
passed again, still clinging together.
But gradually 1t became evident
that Stanton, who held the outside,
was steadily ~crowding the Duplex
toward the paddock fence. Nor could
the Duplex defend itself from the ma
neuver which must ultimately force 1t
to fall behind at one Of the turns or
accept destruction by collision. The
machines were SO close that a swerve
on the part Of either, the blowout Of
a tire or a catch in the ruts cut in
the track at certain points, meant IN
gentle death. Mercilessly, gradually,
Stanton pressed his perilous advan-
tage. And at the crucial moment he
heard a low, exultant laugh.
Cut him closer!" urged his mech
anician's eager. excited accents at his
ear. We'll get him on this turn
he's weakenin'- Cut him closet"
The comrade triumph came to STAN
ton as an unaccustomed cordial. They
were passing the grand-stand, Just
ahead lay the worst curve.
1t was partly reputation which won.
II the Duplex had held firm, the Mer-
curry must in self-preservation have
yielded room. But the driver knew
Stanton, guessed him capable Of
wrecking both by obstinate persist
ence in attack, and dared not meet
the issue. There came the gun-like
reports of a shut-off motor, the Du-
pick slackened its furious pace, and
Stanton hurtled past him on the turn
itself, lurching across the ruts, and
led the way down the track.
The witnesses In stands and pad
dock went frantic. Floyd pumped oil.
Stanton snatched a glance at the min
iature watch strapped on his wrist,
over his glove, and slightly reduced
speed. The maneuver had been sue
c%essful, but the driver knew that 1t
might have called down upon him the
judges just censure and have sent him
from the track, disqualified.
The number of laps steadily grew
on the bulletin register. A faint, dull
light overspread the sky, the fore
runnerof the early summer dawn. At
four o'clock the Mercury unexpected
ly blew out a tire, Keeling across to
the fence line from the shock and the
jar of sharply applied brakes. Stanton
said something, and sent his car limp
ing cautiously around to the camp
where its repairers stood ready.
Floyd slid out Of his hard, narrow
seat rather stif1y. The cold grayness
was bright enough now to show the
streaks OF grimy dust and oil wher-
ever the masks had failed to protect
the mems faces, and the effects Of IA