The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-04-04
CHAPTER 1. (Continued.)

N Coin to throw away the race an
Z 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
1 twenty-four hour race. You can drive,
l but you won't use common sense.
I Something snapped under Stanton's
+ mask. Raging with silent fury, he
: slowed down his car and swung into
/ the paddock gate as they came oppo-
I 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
him here What" he looked toward
the group around the car, where
Floyd's bronze head shone in the elec-
trio light as he directed proceedings,
what's the matter with this one?
Scared?"
NO." conceded Stanton, grudgingly
just 'Insolent and interfering
We'll, if that is all
Stanton turned his back upon the
speaker, recklessly and blindly angry.
past all reasoning.
When, the brief operation com.
pleted. 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
off now" was the grim warning. For
I drive as l see fit. and I'm going to
make up these laps"
why are you wasting time here.
then?" countered the mechanician,
practically.
The Mercury hurtled viciously down
the line of training camps and burst
out on the track like a blazing meteor.
stanton shifted into high gear on the
curve, and began to drive-as he saw.
dit.
The close-packed witnesses stood
during most of the next hour, alter
nately 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-
tion through and with Stanton by the
narrow 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
low trackdust from the pilots goggles
to clear his vision for each turn,
watching the tires and the other ma
chimes. 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.
TITS us-lamps out" called the me
chanician, after a comprehensive re-
view Of their machine.
Stanton shook his head impatiently,
and kept on; deliberately passing the
paddock gate instead of turning in.
AS they shot by the grand-stand for
the second time, the klaxon sounded
again, long and imperiously.
Coin to fight the judges?" lisped
Floyd, with careful politeness.
The driver did not speak or glance
from the funnel-effect of light and
dark into which they were boring, but
the catch of his breath was not gen.
tie. However. he swung into the pad
dock, on the next circuit, and halted
a brief instant to have the lamp re-
lighted. Familiar with his usual
wants, a man ran bringing a pitcher
of water to Stanton; who swallowed
little, then pushed the vessel so rough
ly toward his mechanician that some
of the liquid splashed over the recipi-
ent and trickled down upon them both.
Here" he offered curtly.
Thanks Floyd accepted, and
drank as they bounded forward, toss
ing the tin pitcher back over his
shoulder. where a reporter gathered
II up anu 0ol OpOd q hO6 VI OlI W WElI0
a pretty account of the volunteer me-
chanician who had made the Mer-
cury's entry possible and of the conse-
quent regard of Stanton for him
The next hour passed a trifle more
quietly. Perhaps even Stanton was
sufficiently tired by the strain to drive
with some conservatism; perhaps he
acknowledged mentally that no car
built would stand such viciously CRU
cling work for twenty-four consecutive
hours. But he kept the lead gained.
for all that, and pace like the long
swoop of a swallow.
"Car coming out of the paddock
Hundred and eightieth lap. Car
stopped around the bend" Floyd re-
ported, at intervals Otherwise there
was mute attention to business on the
part of both men.
Signal" Stanton abruptly ordered.
at last, as they rushed across the
stretch Of track between the grand
stand and the training-camps.
Floyd obediently rose in his place.
raising his arms above his head in the
accepted signal to their men to stand
ready for the cars entrance. On the
next circuit Stanton turned into the
paddock a I'd came to a stop before
the MeTcury's tent
Get out" he directed, and himself
left his seat.
The rwo men who alternated We're
waiting to relieve the two who de-
seconded from the machine. The work