The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-07-11
CHAPTER xI-(ContInued).

The precaut1on was JuSt1ned. 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 perilously.
Floyd was leaning over the back, un-
strapping the extra tires, before STAN
ton had brought the car to 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 the
flank of the white.
George thinks he's winnin'," lisped
Floyd mockingly.N But he isn't go1n'
to; we are
Stanton was on his feet again.
'Tn 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 noon of azure and gold. Down
past the grand-stand with its heaving
expanse of color and movement they
swept again, the joyous applause COM
ing to them across the roar of 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 shallow running brook shut in
by a strip of autumn-ttnted woodland.
"Car ahead" Floyd cried suddenly,
as they rushed around curve and
bore down on the crossing. Look out
Stanton"
In the center of the bridge was a
reeling, staggering car, coming to a
halt and striving to maintain its equi-
librium meanwhile. The chain had
broken loose, it's driver afterward ex-
planned, and was 1ashing 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 a master-driver 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
splintering planks, as the Mercury's
outside wheels crushed through the
flooring, a shuddering lurch.
Jump" Stanton, shouted his vain
command to Floyd. as they went down.
The cool water Tapped around his
fingers, trickled revivingly across his
intolerably painful arm, gurgling like
a Joyous voice as it passed by him.
Slowly, with infinite effort, Stanton
dragged himself up upon the other
arm. the uninjured right. He must
see: that was the imperious cry of
brain and heart, to see. 1t seemed to
him years ago that the Mercury had
gone off the bridge, yet he knew the
tins. could be but moments. since the
ambulance had not come and he was
still here. 1'-<
His vision was clearing Yes;
there, half in the dainty brook, half
On the green bank, lay the heap of
bent and broken metal that had been
the Mercury racing car. And beside
tt
When he drove back the faintness
that blackened the bright noon Stan
ton began to drag his pain-racked
body toward what lay beside the Mer-
curry. Movement hurt, hurt unbear-
ably; yet was less anguish than
thought. For he knew. knew the
mechanician seldom escapes.
Floyd lay near the machine, un-
marred to outward view except for
cut over his temple and stain of blood
on his lips. His mask and cap were
gone, one hand was flung out, palm up
ward. and the torn sleeve left bare the
slim arm crossed by the zigzag scar
gained at Lowell He looked very
young and strangely grave, as the sun
light and tree-shadows fiickered back
and forth across his colorless face and
shining bronze waves of hair.
Floyd" Stanton articulated hoarse-
ly. Floyd"
The brook gurgled cheerfully, be-
lated oriole flashed past streak OF
flame. Stanton's head sank back
down against his mechanician's inert
hand. and the world fell out of knowl-
edge.
CHAPTER XII.