The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-18
cNAPrER 1. fcontlnued.l

SUf6 En- J.. (Contsnueo.D
Coin to throw away the race an
wreck your machine, for foolishness?"
he inquired. That's just like you.
Ralph Stanton. You'll risk blowout
an smash to save five minutes in
twentyfour hour race. You can drive,
but you won't use common sense"
Something snapped under Stanton's
mask Raging with silent fury, he
slowed down his car and swung into
me paddock gate as they came oppo-
site it. laundering through to his own
camp.
Fix that tire" he commanded, as
the swarm Of mechanics surrounded
them. and descended from his seat to
confront the assistant manager. Have
you got me another mechanician.
yet? This one won't do"
Why, no." Mr.. Green deprecated.
The driver who alternates with you
wants to keep his mechanician; be-
sides, the man isn't exactly ready to
go with you, and he couldn't do both
shifts, anyhow. I've telephoned to
the company to find a man and rush
him here. What" he looked toward
the group around the car, where
Ffoyds bronze head shone in the cleo
tric light as he directed proceedings,
what's the matter with this one?
Scared?"
No." conceded Stanton, grudgingly
just. "Tnsolent and interfering"
Well. if that is all"
Stanton turned his back upon the
speaker, recklessly and blindly angry,
past all reasoning.
When, the brief operation COM
Sleted. Floyd sprang up beside his
driver for the start. Stanton surveyed
him through his goggles.
'If you are nervous about my driv
ing and my sense, you had better get
of now" was the grim warning. For
drive as I see fit, and I'm going to
make up these laps"
why are you wasting time here,
8 them" countered the mechanician,
practically.
4 I The Mercury hurtled viciously down
the line Of training camps and burst
out on the track like blazing meteor.
q Stanton shifted into high gear on the
curve, and began to drive-as he saw
ft.
The cIose-packed witnesses stood
during most of the next hour, alter
nateIy applauding and shouting dis
may, climbing on seats and benches to
see. The other racers gave the Mer-
curry room on the turns, after the
Alan car tried to steal an inside
sweep, and skidding, missed destruc-
hon through and with Stanton by the
harrow margin OF a foot.
There was neither opportunity nor
wish for speech between the two who
rode the verge OF death on the Mer-
curry. Floyd attended steadily to his
duties; pumping oil, brushing the vel
tow trackdust from the pilots goggles
10 clear his, vision for each turn,
Watching the tires and the other ma
chines. But he made no protest at the
deadly methods OF his companion.
Near the end Of the second hour,
the scream of the klaxon sounded it's
significant warning of trouble.
Its us-lamps out" called the me-
Is chanician, after comprehensive re-
H view OF their machine.
VI Stanton shook his head impatiently,
II and kept on; deliberately passing the
paddock gate instead OF turning in.
Ii As they shot by the grand-stand for
II the second time, the klaxon sounded
asain, long and imperiously.
Coin to fight the judges?" isped
Floyd, with careful politeness.
4 The driver did not speak or glance
4 from the funne1-effect of light and
dark into which they were boring, but
n ..1ax. oe hfS- hroafh waa not Con
tie. However. he swung into the pad
dock. on the next circuit, and halted
brief instant to have the lamp re
#lighted. Familiar with his usual
wants. a man ran bringing pitcher
pf water to Stanton; who swallowed
little. then pushed the vessel SO rough
~ toward his mechanician that some
pf the liquid spIashed over the recipi-
ent and trickled down upon them both.
Here he offered CURLY.
Thanks Floyd accepted, and
Drank as they bounded forward, toss
ing the tin pitcher back over his
Shoulder, where reporter gathered
i up and sat upon keg of oil to write
pretty account Of the volunteer me
chanician who had made the Mer-
sury,s entry possible and Of the conse-
kuenk regard of Stanton for him
The next hour passed trifie more
quietly. Perhaps even Stanton was
efficiently tired by the strain to drive
nth some conservatism; perhaps he
acknowledged mentally that no car
hiIt would stand such yiciousIy CRU