Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-12-25
CHAPTER xI-(continued).


The %precaution was justified. On
the most dreaded angle OF the course
came the well-known explosion. i'm
mediately followed by a second from
the opposite wheel. the Mercury top
pied p~erilously.
Floyd was leaning over the back, up
strapping the extra tires, before STAN
ton had brought the car to q standstill-
The two men were out on the ground
together. dragging forth tools. Hinged
about by pushing, exclaiming specta-
tors, they worked with quick precision.
wasting no time in speech Dust
wrapped. two big cars sped by them,
the red one hanging doggedly at b
flank Of the white.
George thinks he's winnin'." lisped
Floyd mocking1y. But he Isn't goin'
to; we are"
Stanton was on his feet again.
I'm with the TOOLS" he directed,
with brevity.
But the blue-black eyes and gray
exchanged one smiling glance before
the Mercury sprang forward.
The race began its third hour. as
Stanton started out to regain his lost
lead. It was noon, a dazzling. breath
less moor of azure and gold. Down
past the grand-stand with its heaving
.sxpanse of color and movement they
swept again, the joyous applause COM
ing to them across the oar aof their
own motor, and on between the walls
of people into the quieter back stretch
in pursuit of their rivals.
There was a bridge, back there,
across a shallow running brook shut in
by a strip OF autumn-tinted woodland.
Gar ahead" Floyd cried suddenly.
as they rushed around a curve and
bore down on decreasing. Look out
Stanton"
In the center of the bridge was a
Keeling, staggering car, coming to a
halt and striving to maintain its equi-
flibrium meanwhile. The chain had
broken loose, its driver afterward ex-
planned, and was flashing the under
mechanism to scrap metal. Seeing too
late to stop his own machine, Stanton
took the only chance Of saving any OF
the four lives and tried to twist past
the other car on the narrow bridge.
Only q master4driver would have at
tempted the feat; Stanton carried 1t
to the verge of success. They were
along side. passing. when the edge OF
the wooden bridge gave way under the
double strain. There was the rip OF
4splintering planks. as the Mercury's
outside wheels crushed through the
flooring, a shuddering lurch.
Jump" Stanton shouted his vain
command to Floyd. as they wentdown.
The cool water Tapped around his
fingers, trickled reviyingly across bis
In~tolerably painfal arm. gurgling like
4 Joyous voice as 1t passed by him.
Slowly, with INFINITE effort. Stanton
dragged himself up upon the other
arm, the uninjuped right. He must
see; that was the fmperious cry Of
brain and heart, to see. 1t seemed to
him years ago that the Mercury had
gone of the bridge, yet he knew the
.ffme could be but moments. since the
ambulance had not come and he was
still here.
His vision was clearing Yes;
shere. half in the dainty brook. half
on the green bank. lay the heap OF
sent and broken metal that bad been
he Mercury racing ar. AEd beside
It.
When he dnove back the ~faintness
kha4 blackened the bright noon, Stan
ton began to drag his p~ain-Tacked
body toward what lay beside the Mer.
curry. Movement hurt, hurt unbear-
ably, yet wal a less anguish than
thought. For he knew. knew the
mechanism seldom escapes.
Floyd lay ear tie machine. I'M
marred to outward view except for a
cut over his temple and astain Of blood
on bis lips. His mask and cap were
gone. hand was flung out. palm up
ward, and the torn sleeve Left bare ne