The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-14

points meant ungentle death. Merci-
lessly. gradually, Stanton pressed his
pc rilous advantage. And at the cru
cial moment he heard a low. exul-
tant laugh.
Cut him closer" urged his me-
chanician's eager, excited accents al
his ear. Wen get him on this turn
he's weakenin'-Cut him close"
The comrade triumph came to
Stanton as an anaccustomed cordial,
They were Passing the grand-stand,
just ahead lay the worst curve.
II was partly reputation which won.
If the Duplex had held Arm, the Mer-
curry must in self preservation have
yielded room But the driver knew
Stanton. guessed him incapable OF
wrecking both by obstinate persis-
tence in attack, and dared not meet
the issue. There came the gun-iike
report OF q shut off motor, the Du-
Stanton hurtled past him on the turn
itself. lurching across the ruts. and
led the way down the track.
The witnesses in stands and paddock
went frantic Floyd pumped oil. stan
ton snatche a glance at the miniature
watch strapped on his wrist. over his
glove, and slightly reduced speed. The
manoeuver had been successful. but
the driver knew that it might have
called down upon 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
forerunner Of the early summer dawn.
AT four O'clock the Mercury unex-
pectedly blew out tire. reeling across
to the fence line from the shock and
the jar OF sharply applied brakes,
Stanton said something. and sent his
car hmping cautiously around To the
camp where Its repairers stood ready.
Floyd slid out of his hard narrow
seat rather stiffly. The cold grayness
was bright enough now to show the
streaks OF grimy dust and oil wherever
the masks had failed to protect the
mems faces. and the effects of IA
tigue and strain Of watching Stan
ton looked for the inevitable pitcher
of water. but found himself confront
ed instead with a grinning, admitting
iy awed messenger boy who held out
cluster OF purple flowers.
What" marveled the Disguised
driver. What idiotic trick
For Mr.. Stanton. sir" deferential-
iy insisted the boy; who would have
addressed the president as DO" and
Sibad at he car.
stanton caught the blossoms rough
Iy. anticipating a practical joke from
some fun-loving fellow competitior,
and saw white card dangling by a
bit of ribbon.
Thank you" he read in careless
penciling. II have no laurel wreaths
here. so send the victor OF the hour
my corsage bouquet"
She 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 ieopardized four lives.
one, his own. With a strong ex-
ciamation Of contempt Stanton moved
TO fling the flowers aside to the path
before the Mercurys wheels. then
Checked himself. remembering ap-
pearances. The orchids curled Imply
around his warm fingers: suddenly
tho magnificent ignorance 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 unreadable 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 duh
obscurity closed over the motor
drome, leaving even the search lighted
path dim. The cars rushed on
steadily.
The night had been singulariy free
from accidents. Only one machine
had been actually wrecked. although
three had been withdrawn disabled
from the contest. The officials in the
judges stand We're congratulating
one another. at the moment when
the second disaster occurred.
The mist had grown thicker. in the
lights n 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 contfok cangfst In a foot
deep rut, and swerved crashing into
the machine next 1t. Twice over It
rolled. splintering sickeningiy. but
fiinging both Of its men clear OF the
wreck. Tho car struck plunged on
around the curve into the mist. ap-
parently unhurt.
Out across the damp dusk pierced
the shrek OF the klaxon. mingled with
the cry of the people and the tinkle
OF tho hospital telephone. Stanton.
swinging wide to avoid the pit.sul
kept on his cousscs' -,
Stop" Floyd shouted imperatfvely
beside him. "Stop. Stanton. stopi-
Stanton sped on. disregarding what
he supposed was a noytce's nervous
sympathy. He could not aid the
stunned men lying on the track. and
one glance had told hi mthat they
could be safely passed: AZ indeed they
had been.
stop" the command rang again;
and. ~ Stanton merely shook his
head with impatient annoyance. tho
mechanician swiftly stopped forward.
Tho motor slackened oddly. Before
tho astounded driver had time TO-
grasp the situation. tho power died
from under his hands and the car
was only carried forward by its own
momentum. Automatically he JAM
med down the brakes and turned In
his seat to confront his companion
In D wrathful Amusement choking
speech. Floyd faced him, even his
lips white beneath his mask. but
with steadfast eyes.
II know" he forestalled the tenn
vHA pot thxa rtur