The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-07-19

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
wreckinJ 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.
Stantop snatched glance at the min
iature watch strapped on his wrist.
over his glove, and slightly reduced
speed. The maneuver had been sue
cessful, 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
runner Of the early summer dawn. At
four o'clock the Mercury unexpected
ly blew out 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 it's repairers stood ready.
Floyd slid out of his hard, narrow
seat rather stifhy. 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
| tigue and strain Of watching. Stanton
looked for the inevitable pitcher Of
water, but found himself confronted
instead with grinning, admiringly
awed messenger boy who held out a
cluster Of heavy purple flowers.
"What?" marveled the disguised
driver. What idiotic trick"
For Mr.. Stanton, sir" deferential-
| ly insisted the boy who would have
addressed the president as "bo," and
| gibed at the car.
Stanton caught the blossoms rough
ly, anticipating practical joke from
some fun-loving fellow-competitor, and
saw a white card dangling by a bit
of ribbon.
THANK you," he read in careless
penciling. Il have no laurel wreaths
here, so send the victor OF the hour
my corsage bouquet"
She had had the imprudence, or the
cool disregard Of comment, to use one
Of her own cards. Valerie Anterior
Carlisle, the name was engraved
across the heavy pasteboard.
She had thought that wild duel with
the Duplex was an exhibition given
for her, that at her wanton within he had
| jeopardized four lives, one his own.
With strong exclamation of con-
tempt Stanton moved to fling the flow-
ers aside to the path before the Mer-
cury's wheels, then checked himself,
remembering appearances. The or
chids curled Imply around his warm
fingers; suddenly the magnificent ar
rogance 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. AS Stanton
turned TO his machine, after tearing
the card to unreliable fragments, he
saw Floyd watching him with curious
intentness.
A raw, wet mist had commenced to
roll In from the nearby ocean. The
promise of dawn was recalled, a dull
obscurity 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