The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-05-16


follow in auto Accident by which San
ton is hurt is mysterious Floyd. at funcn
with Stanton. tells o. his boyhood. Stan.
ton again meets Miss Carlisle and they
dine together. Stanton comes 10 uach
sick. but makes race
CHAPTER vi. (Continued.>
There was a bad turn. His eyes on
the machine in front, Stanton round
ed the banked curve at pace Wn1cn
sent the shrieking crowd of spectators
recoiling from the danger-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
ION and reeling stagger of the car
as rear casing blew out, wrenched
itself bodily from the wheel and rolled
like hoop into field a hundred
yards away.
The machine tottered to the edge
of the road, stopping under the power
full 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 focking around
in pushing, eager circle to watch the
proceedings.
The two worked well together
F1oyd'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 l 60
ing to catch that Atalanta?'
Floyd obeyed first and retorted sec
ond; an invaluable habit.
'If 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 stormy blue-black eye.
He was irritated by the lost time, he
felt more ill than he could have been
brought to admit, and interference
pricked him like spur.
''Tll give you a lesson in driving
he cast across his shoulder, and bent
over the wheel.
It was Stanton at his worst and best
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 one side, preferring the
chance of later regaining the adven-
tage From every angle and curve the
people fed, at sight of the gray car
followed by it's whirlwind of dust and
carrying the huge "5" on it's hood
Twice the Mercury rushed past the
grand-stand, to tumult Of cheers
drowned by the cars own roar. The
second time, the two men glimpsed an
official rising, megaphone in hand, and
rightly guessed that they had made
the fastest circuit of the day.
And Floyd had received the prom
ised lesson. for Stanton had safely ne
gotiated the turn that before cost them
a tire, at pace equally fast.
Safely, once; but, not content, he
came around the second time driving
as furiously, with unslackened speed.
Down upon the turn they swept again,
Stanton unerringly repeating his ex-
auisite 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
echoed by the bursting of its mate
from the opposite wheel; the car tore
itself from control under the double
shock and shot off the course into the
field beyond, plowing deep burrows in
the soft earth until 1t overturned with
a final crash.
Partly held by his steering wheel,
Stanton was flung out on the meadow
grass as the car upset, its speed then
so much checked that he escape
scarcely bruised. Floyd, unprotected.
had been hurled from his seat by the
first shock and lay half-stunned near
the edge of the course.
From far and near came the peoples
cries of horror and shouts for aid. But
before the first man reached them.
Stanton was up and at the side of
his mechanician.
Floyd" he painted Floyd"
Floyd was already rising to one
knee; gasping for breath. soiled with
dust and grass-stains. and with the
blood yelling from a jagged rent in
his left arm, but with his attention
only fixed on Stanton.
"You're-all right?" he articulat ed
4? Yes fool always is YOU
But he could see for himself that
the mechanician was not seriously in
jured, without Floyd's reassuring nod
Call me what you like" Stanton
permitted. between clenched teeth. as
he dragged out his handkerchief to
bandage the slender arm.
The appalled, crowd was upon them
With a sputtering roar the Duplex ma
chine rounded the turn and sped down
the straight stretch, its mechanician
staring back over his shoulder at the
wreck. But Floyd brushed the girlfsh
curls off his forehead and staggered
erect, helpless laughter shaking him.
Call you? | think you've got the
best disposition an the worst temper
l ever saw! Tie this up an we'll
right the car. We've got to be movin'
on"
There were plenty of sympathetic
helpers. Incredible to the witnesses,
but as Floyd had foreseen, the Mer-
curry had not materially suffered. The
big car was righted by fifty hands );
Stanton and Floyd-unaided, accord