Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-10-30
CHAPTER vi. (contlpucd.)

''H '1N We kSS"e'sSNt
There was q bad turn. His eyes on
the machine In front, Stanton round,
ed the banked curve at a pace which
sent the shrieking crowd Of spectators
recoiling from the d%anger-line and
sprayed yellow soil high into the air.
AS the Mercury lurched into the
straight stretch beyond, as Floyd was
in the act Of turning to examine the
rear tires, there came a sharp explo-
sion and a Keeling stagger Of the car
as a rear casing blew out. wrenched
itself bodily from the wheel and rolled
like a hoop into a field a hundred
yards away.
The machine -tottered to the edge
Of the road, stopping under the power
ful brakes. Floyd sprang out, drag
ging loose one of the extra tires car.
ried, while Stanton reached for the
tool.box. They had no need or time
for conversation, as they worked, peo-
pie from all directions flocking around
in a pushing, eager circle to watch the
proceedings.
The two worked well together,
Floyd's deft swiftness balanced by
Stanton's strength. When the task
was finished, the driver first regained
his place.
Get In" he ordered crisply. Are
you going to take all day, or am ! 60
ing to catch that Atalanta?"
EuouA 1haynd arot ond roxorkol san
ond; an invaluable habit.
III you're goin' to catch anything
but a smash, I'd suggest a 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 a glance askant out Of
the corner Of a stormy blue-black eye.
He was irritated by the lost time, he
felt more i'll than he could have been
brought to admit, and interference
pricked him like a spur.
"Ill give you a lesson in driving"
he cast across his shoulder, and bent
v e the wheel.
~ wac IL d LIS WOI5 81 anu Dtbl
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 n side, preferring the
chance of later regaining the advan-
tage. From every angle and curve the
people fed, at sight of the gray car
followed by its whirlwind of dust and
carrying the huge IS" on its hood.
Twice the Mercury rushed past the
grand-stand, to a tumult of cheers
drowned by the cars Owl oar. The
second time, the two men glimpsed an
rising, ~megaphone in hand, and
guessed that they had made
the fastest circuit Of the day.
And Floyd had received the prom
Ised lesson, for Stanton had safely me-
the turn that before cost them
a tire. at a pace equally fast.
Safely, once; but, not content, he
around the second time driving
10 furiously, with unslackened speed.
Down upon the turn they swept again,
Stanton unerringly repeating his ex-
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
by the bursting Of its mate
rom 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
he soft earth until 1t overturned with
| final crash,
Partly held by his steering-wheel, |
Stanton was flung out on the meadow
grass as the car upset, It's speed then
10 much checked that he escaped
bruised. Floyd, unprotected,
lad been hurled from his seat by the
irst shock and lay half-stunned near
he edge Of the course
From far and near came the peoples
,ries of horror and shouts for aid. But
,efore the first man reached them,
was Nj and at the side Of
lis m~echanilfun.
Floyd" he painted. Floyd"
Floyd was already rising to one
Inee; gasping for breath. soiled with
lust and grass-stains, and with the
Hood yelling from a jagged rent in
lis left arm, but with his attention
,nly fixed IN stanton.
"You're--ali right?" he articulatcd.
Il? Yes. A fool always Ia. YOU"