The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-07-12
CHAPTER |.
The Man Who Dared.

across the blended glare and darkness
What" be shouted, above the pull
satiDg roar OF the eleven racing ma
chimes lined up before the judges
stand WHAT
There was furry around the cen
tral car, whose driver leaned from his
seat to stare down at the man who
had slipped from beside him to the
ground. The great crowd cOngesting
the grand-stand pressed closer to the
barrier, stirring also. commenting and
conjecturing.
The mechanician of the Mercury is
off his car"
PAINTED"
Fell"
THE automobiles hadn't started; be
must be sick.
The referee was already pushing his
way back, bringing the report from
the hastily summoned surgeon,
Heart disease" he announced right
and left STATIONS mechanician just
dropped off his seat. dead.
But Stanton himself had already
swung out of his car. with the ener-
getic decision that marked his every
movement.
My man is out" he tersely stated
TO the starter. I've got to run over
10 my camp and get another. Win
you hold the start for me?"
The question was rather demand
than a request. There was scarcely
one among the vast audience who
would not have felt the sparkle gone
from this strong black wine of sport
they had come to sip, if Ralph Stanton
had been withdrawn from the twenty
four.hour contest. He had not only
fame as skilful and scientific racer:
he had the reputation of being the
most spectacularly reckless driver in
America, whose death could be but a
question of time and whose record Of
accidents and victories verged on the
appalling He knew his value as an
attraction, and the starter knew It..
although preserving impassivity
Five minutes" the official con-
ceded, and drew out his watch
Already a stream of men were run
ming toward the Mercury camp with
the news. Stanton sprang into his
machine, deity sent it forward out OF
the line, and shot around into the en-
trance to the huge oval field edged by
the Beach track; a mile of white rib
bon bordering a green medallion.
The row Of electric-lighted tents.
each numbered and named for Its own
racing car. was in a turmoil Of excite
ment. But most agitated was the
group before the tent marked 80.
Mercury"
"Durand's down and out-give me
another man." called Stanton, battling
his noisy. flaming car. Quick. you"
But no one stepped forward from
the cluster Of factory men and me-
chanics Only the assistant manager
of the Mercury company responded
to the demand:
yes. go; one Of you boys. III make
1t right with you. You. Jones'"
Pm married. SIR" refused Jones
succinctly.
We'll. you then, Walters. Good
heavens, man! what do you mean?"
For the burly Walters backed away,
actually pale.
I'll dig potatoes. first. SIR
why. you used to race"
Not with Stanton. sir"
There was low murmur Of appro-
val among his mates, and a drawing
together for support. Stanton stepped
down from his car, snatching off his
mask 10 show dark. strong face
grim with anger and contempt
You wretched. backboneless COW
black eyes flashing over the group
DO you know what ] and the com
pany stand to lose if I'm disqualified
for lack Of one Of you jellyfsh to sit
beside me and pump oil? Isn't there
a man in the camp? III give fifty dol
lars myself to the one who goes. a
hundred if win"
III promise twice that" eagerly
supplemented Green, the assistant
manager He had private bets on
Stanton.
Not one OF the clustered workmen
moved
Damn you!" pronounced the driver.
bitterly and comprehensively. I'm re-
peat that offer to the man who will
go for the first three hours only, and
meanwhile we'll send to New York
and find a red-blooded male"
The men looked at one another. but
shook their heads.
Mo- You won't? You work your
misera BILE bodies three months TO earn