The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-09-13
CHAPTER xI-(ContInued).

The precaution was justified. On
the most dreaded angle Of the course
came the wel-known explosion. i'm
mediately followed by a second from
the opposite wheel, the Mercury top
pied perilously.
Floyd was leaning over the back. I'M
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. But he isn't goin'
to-; we are"
Stanton was on his feet again.
I'm 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. 1t was noon, dazzling, breath.
less noon of azure and gold. Down
past the grandstand 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 bridge, back there.
across a shallow running brook shut in
by strip of autumn-tinted woodland.
Gar ahead" Floyd cried suddenly.
as they rushed around a curve and
bore down on the crossing. Look ont
Stanton"
In the center of the bridge was a
reeling staggering car, coming to a
halt and striving to maintain its equi-
iibrium 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 it
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, 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
lntolerably painful arm. gurgling like
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. 1t seemed to
him years ago that the Mercury had
gone off the bridge. yet he knew the
VINE Coulu pe Uut moHieHtS, since tne
had not come and he was
still here.
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
it
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 a less anguish than |
thought. For he knew. knew the
seldom escapes.