The Clovis news., 1913-07-24
cHAprER xI-lcontlnuedl.


The precautlon was justified. On
the most dreaded angle Of the course
came the well-known explosion, I'M
medlately followed by a second from
the opposite wheel. the Mercury top.
pied perilously.
Floyd was leaning over the back, un-
Btrapping the extra tires, before Stan
ton had brought the car to a 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'," isped
Floyd mockingly. But he isn't goin'
to-; we are"
Stanton was on his feet again.
"In 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 heaYlng
sxpanse 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 a shallow running brook shut in
by a strip Of autumn-tinted woodland.
"Car aheadl" Floyd cried suddenly.
as they rushed around a 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, its driver afterward ex-
planned, and was lashing 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
20 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
spllntering planks, as the Mercury's
outside wheels crushed through the
flooring, a shuddering lurch.
pJumpl" Stanton shouted his vain
command to Floyd, as they went down.
The cool water Tapped around his
fingers. trlckled revivingiy across his
lntolerably painful arm, gurgling like
a Joyous voice as 1t passed by him.
Slowly. with infinite effort, Stanton
dragged himself up upon the other
arm. the uninjured right He must
sec. that was the imperious cry OF
brain and heart, to see. II seemed to
him years ago that the Mercury had
gone on the bridge. yet be knew the
time could be but moments. since the
ambulance had not come and he was
sun here.
His vision was clearing. Yes;
there. half 10 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
it,
When be drove back the faintnesa
that blackened the bright noon. stan
ton began to drag his pain-rackeo
body toward what lay beside the Mer
curry. Movement hurt, hurt unbear
ably. yet was a less anguish than
thought For be knew knew tho
iaechanlcian seldom escapes.