The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-07-19

II think you're the best driver on
the 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
guess you can steer straight enough
for both of u.s."
Stanton's hand relaxed its hold.
go fix your carburetor. Yes, ! can
steer-straight."
Again the blue-black eyes flashed
sneering defiance toward the grand
stand: for the moment, Miss Car
isles hope of witnessing desperate
feats by the Mercury car seemed Tar
from realization.
But the Mercury had not circled the
mile oval four times when the Duplex,
it's choked feed-pipe cleared at last,
burst from the paddock with it's mas
ter driver at the wheel and bent on
the recovery of lost time. The Mer-
curry was on the back stretch Of
track, running casually near sixty
miles at the moment.
"Car COMM Floyd cautioned sud-
denly.
Stanton raised his head, alert a frac-
tional second too late. and his closest
rival shot past him, roaring down the
white path. 1t 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 startled cat.
The dull period was over.
The Mercury car was slightly the
faster, but the Duplex held the inside
line, and the difference between the
drivers was not in skill so 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, flaming team. The spectators,
scanty at this hour before dawn, rose,
applauding and cheering, as the two
passed again, still clinging together.
But gradually it 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 it
to fall behind at one of the turns or
accept destruction by collision. The
machines were so close that swerve
On the part of either, the blowout of
a tire or catch in the ruts cut in
the track at certain points, meant un-
gentle death. Mercilessly, gradually.
Stanton pressed his perilous advan-
tage. And at the crucial moment he
heard 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.
If the Duplex had held firm, the Mer-
curry must in self-preservation have
y16luCu IOOm. but JuS ullNSI hACW
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 it's 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
cessful, but the driver knew that it
might have called down upon him the
judges just censure and have sent him
from the track, disqualified.
The number Of laps steadily grew