The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1912-08-22
cHAprER VI. fcontInued.)


the machine In front. Stanton round
ed the banked curve at pace whicl
| sent the shrieking crowd OF spectator
recoiling from the danger-line an
sprayed yellow soil high into the all
As the Mercury lurched into tn
straight stretch beyond, as Floyd wa
In the act of turning to examine tn
rear tires, there came sharp explc
sion and a Keeling stagger OF the ca
as rear casing blew out, wrenchet
itself bodily from the wheel and rollet
like hoop into field a hundret
yards away.
| The machine tottered to the edg'
| Of the road, stopping under the power
full brakes. Floyd sprang out, drag
| ging loose one of the extra tires car
ried, while Stanton reached for th<
| tool-box They had no need or time
for conversation, as they worked, PEG
pie from all directions focking aroune
In pushing, eager circle to watch th<
proceedings.
The two worked well together
Floyd's deft swiftness balanced b.
Stanton's strength. When the tasl
was finished, the driver first regainet
his place.
Get In" he ordered crisply. "Ars
you going to take all day, or am go
Ing to catch that Atalanta?"
Floyd obeyed first and retorted sec
ond; an invaluable habit.
tTf vcusrx xpin, ~ cofnb opufhfr, a
but a smash, I'd suggest showdown
for that turn" he countered, In the
blurred accent SO softly deceptive
mo tire built is goin to stick on a
wheel under such roughin'"
Stanton shot glance askant out OF
the corner of stormy blue-black eye,
He was irritated by the lost time, he
felt more Ill than he could have been
brought to admit, and interference
pricked him like spur.
I'll give you a lesson in driving"
he cast across his shoulder, and bent
over the wheel.
1t was Stanton at his worst and best
who made the next two circuits of
the long course. Other racers, warned
by their mechanicians of the thunder
bolt bearing down upon them, drew
prudently to one side, preferring the
chance OF later regaining the advan-
tage. From every angle and curve the
people fled, at sight of the gray car
followed by its whirlwind of dust and
carrying the huge "5" on its hood.
Twice the Mercury rushed past the
grand-stand, to a. tumulxr0 cheers
drowned by the cars own Hroaf. The
second time, the two men glimpsed an
official rising, megaphone in hand. and
rightly guessed that they had made
the fastest circuit Of the day.
And Floyd had received the prom
ised lesson, for Stanton had safely ne
gotiated the turn that before cost them
a tire, at pace equally fast.
Safely, once; but, not content. he
came around the second time driving
as furiously, with unslackened speed
Down upon the turn they swept again.
Stanton unerringly repeating his ex-
quisite feat of skill and twisting the
Mercury around on the two inside
wheels; then the predicted happened
The crack Of an exploding tire came
while they were on the bend. Instantly
echoed by the bursting of its mate
from the opposite wheel; the car tore
itself from control under the double
shock and shot off the course into the
field beyond. blowing deep burrows in
the soft earth until it overturned with
a final crash.
Partly held by his steering-wheeI
Stanton was flung out ON the meadow
grass as the car upset. its speed then
SO much checked that he escaned
scarcely bruised. Floyd, unprotected
had been hurled from his seat by the
first shock and lay half-stunned near
the edge of the course.
From far and near came the neonla,s
cries OF horror and shouts for aid. But
before the first man reached them
Stanton was up and at the side OF
his mechnnician.
Floyd" he painted. Floyd"
Floyd was already rising to one
knee: gasping for breath. solled with
dust and grass-stains. and with the
blood yelling from a jagged rent IN
his left arm but with his attention
only fixed on Stanton.
"You're-all right?" he articulated
TT Yes. A fool always is. You
But he could see for himself tina,
tae mechanician was not seriously in.
iured, without Floyd's reassuring nod
Call me what you like" Stanton
permitted, between clenched teeth. as
he dragged out his handkerchief 10
bandage the slender arm.
The appalled, crowd was upon them
With a sputtering roar the Duplex ma
chine rounded the turn and sped down
the straight stretch. its mechanician
staring back over his shoulder at the
wreck. But Floyd brushed the girlish
curis on his forehead and staggered
erect. helpless laughter shaking him
Call your think you've got the
best disposition an the worst temper
ever sawl Tie this up an wen
right the car. We've got to be moytn'
on"
There were plenty of sympathetic
helpers Incredible to the witnesses
but as Floyd had foreseen, the Mer.
curry had not materially suffered. The
big car was righted by fifty hands.
stanton and -unaided. accord.