The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-04-11
They'll withet fast

OF the L., 4ney II WltnSS laSs
enough"
The new tire was on. AS Stanton
turned to his machine, after tearing
the card to unreadable fragments, he
saw Floyd watching him with curious
intentness.
A raw, wet mist had commenced to
roll in from the nearby ocean. The
promise of dawn was recalled, dull
obscur1ty closed over the motordrome,
leaving even the search-iighted path
dim. The cars rushed on steadily.
The night had been singularfy free
from accidents. Only one machine
had been actually wrecked, although
three had been Withdrawn from the
contest. The officials in the judges
stand were congratulating one an
other, at the moment when the second
disaster occurred.
The mist had grown thicker, in the
lights dazzling silver curtain before
mems eyes, and the track had been
worn to deep grooves at the turns.
The Mercury was sweeping past the
grand-stand, when one of the two
slower cars, being overtaken, slipped
it's drivers control, caught in foot
deep rut, and swerved crashing into
the machine next it. Twice over it
rolled, splintering sickeningly, but
f1inging both of it's men clear of the
wreck. The car struck, plunged on
around the curve into the mist, ap-
parently unhurt.
Out across the damp dusk pierced
the shrek Of the klaxon, mingled with
the cry of the people and the tinkle of
the hospital telephone. Stanton.
swinging wide to avoid the pitiful
wreckage, kept on his course.
Stop" Floyd shouted imperatively
beside him. stop, Stanton, stop!"
Stanton sped on, disregarding what
he supposed was a novice's nervous
sympathy. He could not aid the
stunned men lying on the track, and
one glance had told him that they
could be safely passed; as indeed they
had been
Stop" the command rang again;
and as Stanton merely shook his
head with impatient annoyance, the
mechanician swiftly stopped forward.
The motor slackened oddly. Before
the astounded driver had time to grasp
the situation, the power died from
under his hands and the car was only
carried forward by it's own momen-
tum. Automatically he jammed down
the brakes and turned in his seat to
confront his companion in wrathful
amazement choking speech. Floyd
faced him, even his lips white beneath
his mask, but with steadfast eyes.
Il know" he forestalled the tenn
pest. You've got the right to put
me off the carl threw your switch.
I've got nothing to say. But the mist
lifted and l saw what lay ahead"
What lay ahead? The klaxon was
shrieking madly, from all around the
track came the sound of halting cars.
The rising wind pushed along the fog
walls again, and they opened to reveal
the second machine of the late acci-
dent, not twenty-five feet ahead.
tilted, motionless heap. After the
collision it had staggered this far. to
go down with broken rear axle and
two lost rear wheels. Its men were
still in their seats unhurt.
There was an instant Of silence. The
avoided disaster was no excuse for the
mechanician's interference, nor did
Floyd offer it as such, well aware
that his driver was perfectly justified
in any course he chose to take. There
can be but one pilot at any wheel.
"Since l suppose you are not equal
to cranking a ninety Mercury, you
had better fix the spark and gas while
start it," dryly suggested Stanton.
"And-never do that again.
He stepped out and went to the
front of his car, Selling the crank
and starting the big motor with an ex-
ertion Of superb strength which would
indeed have been impossible to the
slender Floyd. When he retook his
seat, the mechanician made his equal
ly laconic apology and acknowledg-
ment of error.
81 never WILL" Floyd gave his word
The wind shook the mist more
strongly, streamers of pink and gold
trembled across the sky. The day had
commenced.
ITO RE CONTINJJEDN