Putnam patriot., 1912-07-05

reports of a shut-ofT motor. the Du- plex slaekened it's furious pace, and stanton hurled past him on the turn itself. lurching across the ruts. and loG the way down the track.
 The witnesses in stands aud pad dock went frant.c. Floyd pumped oil. Stanton snatehed glance at tine min iature watch strapped on his wrist. over his glove, and slightly reduced speed. The maneCver had been sue. cessful. but the driver knew that it might have called down upon him the judges just eensure and have sent him from tl.a track, disqualified.
 The number of laps steadily grew on the bulletin register. A faint. dull lgh. overspread the sky. the fore runner of the early summer dawn. At four o'clock the Mercury unexpected ly 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 limp ing cautiously around to the camp where its repairers stood ready.
 Floyd slid out of his hard, narrow seat rather stifly. The cold grayness was bright enough now to show the streaks of grimy dust and oil wher- ever the masks had failed 10 protect the mems faces, and the effects of fa- tigue and strain of watching. Stanton looked for the inevitable pitcher of water, but found himself confronted instead with a grinning, admiringly awed messenger boy who held out a cluster of heavy purple flowers.
 "What?' marveled the disgusted driver. What idiotic trick-s
 For Mir. Stanton, sir" deferential- ly insisted the boy; who would have addressed the president as "bo," and gibed at the czar.
 Stanton caught the blossoms rough ly. anticipating a practical joke from some fun-loving fellow-eompetitor and saw a white card dangling by bit of ribbon.
 Thank you" be read in careless peneiling. 'I have no laurel wreaths here, so send the victor of the hour my eorsage bouquet"
 She had had the imprudence. or the cool disregard of comment. to use one of her own cards. Valerie Atherton 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 whim he had jeopardized four lives, one his own. With a strong exclamation of con tempt Stanton moved to fling the flow CTS aside to the path before the Mer. cury's wheels, then checked himself remembering appearances. The or ehids 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 unreadable fragments, he saw Floyd watching him with curious intentness.
 4 raw. wet mist had commenced to roll iu 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 singulariy 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
 (Tn Re Continued ]