Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-07-04

enough"
The new tire was on. A 9taaten
turned to his machine, after tearing
the card to unreliable fragments. hs
saw Floyd watching him with curious
intsntness.
raw. wet mist had commenced to
roll In from the nearby ocean. The
promise Of dawn was recalled, q dull
obsourity closed over the motordrome.
leaving even the search-lighted 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three had been withdrawn from the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 a dazzling silver curtain before
mems eyes, and the track had been
worn to deep grooves at the turns.
The Mercury was sweeping past the
grand-stand, when one OF the two
slower cars, being overtaken, slipped
it's drivers control, caught in a foot
deep rut, and sweryed crashing into
the machine next 1t. Twice over it
rolled, splintering sickeningly, but
flinging both of it's men clear of the
wreck. The car struck, plunged on
around the curve into the mist, APP
parently unhurt.
Out across the damp dusk pierced
the shrek of the klaXon, mingled with
the cry OF the people and the tinkle Of
the hospital telephone. Stanton,
swinging wide to avoid the ntiful
wreckage, kept on his course.
"Stop!" Floyd shouted imperatively
beside him. stop, Stanton, stop!"
Stanton sped on, disregarding what
he supposed was novice's nervous
sympathy. He could not aid the
stunned men lying on the track, and
one 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, the
mechanician swiftly stopped forward.
The motor slackened oddly. Before
the astounded 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 damned down
the brakes and turned in his seat to
confront his companion in a wrathful
amazement choking speech. Floyd
faced him, even his lips white beneath
his mask, but with steadfast eyes.
Il know" he forestalled the tenn
pest. you've got the right to put
I've got nothing to say. But the mist
lifted and l saw what lay ahead"
What lay ahead? The klaxon was
shrieklng madly, 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 machine of the late acct
dent, not twenty-five feet ahead, a
tilted, motionless heap. After the
collision 1t had staggered this far, to
go down with broken rear axle and
two lost rear wheels. It's men were
still in their seats unhurt.
There was an instant Of silence The
avoided disaster was no excuse for the
mechanician's interference, nor did
Floyd offer 1t as such, we'll aware
that his driver was perfectly justified
In any course he chose to take. There
can be but one pilot at any wheel.
Since I suppose you are not equal
to cranking ninety Mercury, you
had better fix 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, seizing the crank
and starting the big motor with an ex-
ertion Of superb strength which would
indeed have been impossible to the
slender Floyd. When he retook his
seat, the mechanician made his equal
ly laconic apology and acknowledge
ment Of error.
II never WILL" Floyd gave his word.
The wind shook the mist more
strongly, streamers of pink and gold
trembled across the sky. The day had
commenced.