The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-07-12
cHtPTERI. (continued.)

CepleQ-
CHt.PTER !. (Continued)
Coin to throw away the race an
wreck your machine, for foolishness? 2"
he inquired. That's just like you,
Ralph Stanton You'll risk blowout
an smash to save five minutes in a
twenty-four hour race. You can drive,
but you won't use common sense"
Something snapped under Stanton's
mask. Raging with silent fury, he
slowed down his car and swung into
the paddock gate as they came oppo-
site it, laundering through to his own
camp.
Fix that tire" he commanded, as
the swarm of mechanics surrounded
them, and descended from his seat to
confront the assistant manager. Have
you got me another mechanlcian,
yet? This one won't do"
f'Why, no." Mr. Green deprecated.
1.-The driver who alternates with you
wants to keep his mechanician; be-
sides, the man isn't exactly ready to
go with you, and he couldn't do both
shifts, anyhow. I've telephoned to
the company to find man and rush
aim here. What" he looked toward
the group around the car, where
F1oyd's bronze head shone in the cleo
trio light as he directed proceedings,
whats the matter with this one?
Scared?"
NO." conceded Stanton, grudgingly
Just. "Insolent and interfering"
well, if that is all
Stanton turned his back upon the
speaker, recklessly and blindly angry,
past all reasoning.
When, the brief operation COM
fpleted, Floyd sprang up beside his
driver for the start, Stanton surveyed
him through his goggles.
eff you are nervous about my driv-
ing and my sense, you had better get
of now" was the grim warning. For
i drive as 1 see fit, and I'm going to
make up these laps"
why are you wasting time here,
them" countered the mechanician,
practically.
The Mercury hurtled viciously down
the line of training camps and burst
out on the track like blazing meteor.
Stanton shifted into high gear on the
curve, and began to drive-as he saw
fit
The close-packed witnesses stood
during most Of the next hour, alter
nately .applauding and shouting dis
may, climbing on seats and benches to
70 hn
curry room on the turns, after the
Alan car tried to steal an inside
sweep, and skidding, missed destruc-
ton through and with Stanton by the
narrow margin of foot.
There was neither opportunity nor
wish for speech between the two who
rode the verge of death on the Mer-
curry. Floyd attended steadily to his
duties; pumping oil, brushing the yel-
low trackdust from the pilots goggles
to clear his vision for each turn,
watching the tires and the other ma
chimes. But he made no protest at the
deadly methods of his companion.
Near the end of the second hour,
the scream of the klaxon sounded it's
It's us-lamps out" called the me
chanician, after comprehensive re-
view of their machine
Stanton shook his head impatiently,
and kept on, deliberately passing the
paddock gate instead of turning in.
las they shot by the grand-stand for
the second time, the klaxon sounded
again, long and imperiously.
Coin to fight the judges" lisped
Floyd, with careful politeness.
The driver did not speak or glance
from the funnel-effect of light and
dark into which they were boring. but
the catch of his breath was not gen
tie. However, he swung into the pad
dock, on the next circuit, and halted
a brief instant to have the lamp re-
lighted. Familiar with his usual
wants, man ran bringing a pitcher
of water to Stanton; who swallowed a
little, then pushed the vessel so rough
iy toward his mechanician that some
OF the liquid splashed over the recipi-
ent and trickled down upon them both.
Here" he offered CURLY.
Thanks" Floyd accepted, and
drank as they bounded forward, toss
Ing the tin pitcher back over his
shoulder, where reporter gathered
1t up and sat upon key of oil to write
pretty account of the volunteer me-
chanician who had made the Mer-
cury's entry possible and of the conse-
Quent regard OF Stanton for him.
Inc next hour passed trif1e more
quietly. Perhaps even Stanton was
suMclently tired by the strain to drive
with some conservatism; perhaps he
acknowledged mentally that no car
Quilt would stand such viciously CRU