SSE^SEaSEKSSfifiSSSSHHSSHSiMSlBBI ieic. ■ 3RNHJ—I Of »»'>»»■■ "■! ■ II n ■■»■ vuiu.cc. Kummonioc. vnnrisn i. The Man Who Dared. The o9nal starter tot tto raised sr.i fan and leased forward, peering nooue the blended glare and dart sees WUir be shouted, above tbs yd s-s-tag roar of tbo stoves r sc lag bv i. ms land up before tbe Judges' •usd. -What?" There waa a Barry around tbe ces tr» car, wboee driver leaned from bis sea: to s'are down at tbe staa who L 1 slipped from beside him te tbe ground. Tbe groat crowd congesting tt* grand-stand pressed closer to tbo bs' ter. staring also, commenting and co* jr taring. tbo morhaslrton at tbs Mercury to oT bis ear!* • *• I'slated—“ lea—" -TW sutomobOoa hadnt started; bo tausl be Mck." - • * Tbe referee waa already pushing his • ay beck, bringing the report tram tbe hastily summoned surgeon "Mean disease” be announced right and l« ft Slaton's lerdisaMto Just dropped ol bis seat. dead. ‘^’”T Be s sb'o* Mmself bed ■ already •sang oat of Ha car. «Mb the ener gr • decision (bat ms:bad big ovary a ■ cement. sun Is oat.” be tersely stated i be scarier. "I've got to run ever • ut ramp and get another. Win yoc bold tbe start far mo?” Tbo question waa rather a demand -aa a leanest. There was scarcely one sfuocg tbe vast sndleaoe who would not base felt tbetopaSMt gons fr.ua this strong bla.k wine of sport t t ry bad route So aip. if Ralph Stanton lad bees withdrawn front tbdtwenty f- ur hour roe test. He bad sot-only fame as a skilful and actootlBc rbcer; be bad the reputation of Icing tbs moo* spectacwtorty rrcfttsm driver la America, •boss death could be but a question of time and whose record of accidents and victories verged oa tbs availing. H# knew his value as an at faction, sad tbs sinner knew R. although preserving impassivity. ~Klvv minutes,” tbe eScial cos ceded. and drew out bis watch. Already a stream of men were run ning toward tbo Mercwry camp with Use nows. Stanton sprang into bis a^chiae. deftly aeat it forward out of the lias, and aba* around into tbe en frame to tbo huge oval Betd edged by Beach track; a mile of white rib U>a bordering a greea medallion. The row of electric-lighted tents. «.(b numbered aad named for Its own rising car. man la a turmoil of excite ment. Bat moat agitated was tbs • oup before tbo teat marked 1. Mercwry.” I*1 rand a down and oat—give mu *:.«.fc«r man." railed St an toe. baiting k»» txday. Hawing car. Quick, you—’ l'-"’ no one stepped forward from Lx --tr of factory mm and me ena—rg Oaly the seals taut manager ?' tW Mefeary company responded : h> the drttiand: Yea. go; one of you toys. Ill make ■ it right wltb yoa. Yoa. Jones." “I'm married, air." refused Joaee - suo tatly " ■HdL you then. Walters. Good Lv-amws. man' what do you iseaa?" f'w ock sprang forward toward tbe first turn, wheel to wheel la fitetb-edged contest And Stanton for got bis mechanician. The Mercury led the first circuit, as asual. It was very tut. and Its pilot took tbe chances mom prudent drivers avoided. Still, tbs lead wee lees then tbs car's own length, two of It* closest rivals hanging at Its flanks, when they passed the tumultuous grand-stand. Jut ahead lay * again the • ."death carve." Them was a swift movement beside Staatos, the pendent linen streamers floating from hla cap were ~ K&r ta each *sfde an’ofts trying To ' PM,* ‘%h£^3fir voice pierced the bearing. “No rooin Bert the fence." StantOn granted. The boy knew how to rise In a speeding machine, then, and how to take Are of his driver, he noted. Nevertheless, he meant to take that fence side. And he did. As the other drivers shut off power to take ther'dangerous bend more slowly, Stanton shot for j ward at unchanged speed, cut in ahead j and swept .first around the torn, tak j ing the inside curve. The spectators ! rose with a universal cry of constants 1 tion; the Mercnry swerved, almost , lacing the infield fence, skidding ap pailingly and lurching drunkenly on . two wheels, then righted itself under the steering-wheel in the master's hands. And rushed on, leading by a hundred feet. The people cheered frantically, the band crashed into • raucous music. ; Stanton's mechanician got up to lean | over the back of the flying car and ' feel the rear casings, j “You’re tryin’ to tires,” he imparted, bis accents close to the driver's ear. , That waa the first time that Stanton noticed that Floyd lisped and blurred his final “g” in moments of excite ment. It might have sounded effemi nate, If the voice had not been with out a tremor. Aa it was— At the end of the first hoar, the bulletin boards showed the Mercury five laps shead of its nearest rival. And then Floyd spoke again to his driver. “What?" Stanton questioned, above the noise of the motor. “We’ve got to run in; I’m afraid of the tear inside shoe, it won't stand auotber skid like the last.” i Stanton’s mouth shut In a hard I line. "I will not,” be stated. “Get back in your plaoe. You can’t telL” *T cam” Stanton deigned no reply, sliding pest one of the slower cars on the back stretch. To go in meant to lose the whole time gained. As they took the back turn, Floyd again leaned flver. "Goin’ to throw away the race an’ wreck your machine, for foolishness he Inquired. "That’s Just like you, Ralph Stanton. You'll risk & blow-out an’ a smash to save five minutes In a • t^renty-four 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 the paddock gate as they came oppo site it, thundering through to his own oaasp. "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 wanta 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 Floyd's bronze head shone In the elec tric light as he directed proceedings, "what's the matter with this one? Scared?” "No,” conceded Stanton, grudgingly just. “Insolent 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 pleted. Floyd sprang up beside hia driver for the start, Stanton surveyed him through his goggles. "If you are nervous about my driv ing and my sense, you had tetter get off now," was the grim warning. “For I drive as I 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 ou the track like a biasing meteor. Stanton shifted Into high gear on the curve, and began to drive—aa be saw fit. | The close-packed witnesses stood ; during most of the next hour, alters nately applauding and shouting dis may, climbing on seats and benches to see The other racers gave the Mer cury room on the turns, after the Alan, car tried to steal an inside eweep, and skidding, missed destruc tion through and with Stanton by the narrow margin of a foot. There Was nelthci opportunity nor wish for speech between the two who rode the verge of death on the Mer cury. Floyd attended steadily to his duties; pumping oil, brushing the yel low trackduit from the pilot's goggles to clear his viaion for each turn, watching the tires and the other ma chines. But be made no protest at the deadly methods- of his companion. | Near the end of the second hour, the tcream-of the klaxon sounded its significant warning of trouble. ! “It’s 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 cf turning in. As they shot by the grand-stand for the second time, the klaxon sounded again, long and Imperiously. “Goin’ to fight the judges?" lisped Flcyd, with careful politeness. The driver did not'apeak or glance froip the funnel-effect of .light and dark into which they wera boring, but —the tMkSf Ms 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 w ants, a man Tan bringing n pitcher eV water to Stanton; who a wall o'Wed n little, then pushed the vessel so rough ly tewarjl bis mechanician that aome of the Uquid-Sptesbed ever the recipi ent and trieUed down, upon them both. “Here.* he offered curtly. • “Thanks," Floyd» accepted, and drank as they bounded forward, toas ting the tin pitcher back over hla ntoulder, where A reporter gathered , It up and AUt upeo a keg of oil to write a pretty account‘of the volunteer me* ebaaidan -whe-had made the Men •.eury*a entry possible nd of the conse* . guest regard of Stanton for him. The next hour passed a trifle more •gMotly. even Stanton wan =■ WII»tM «m*ug m* Halted an Inatant to Hava Hla Lampe Relighted. VUu some conssTVatismT peraapr ne acknowledged mentally that no car built would stand such viciously gra ding work for twenty-four consecutive hours. But he kept the lead gained, for all that, and a 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, aB 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 car’s entrance. On the next circuit Stanton turned into the paddock and came to a stop before the Mercury’s tent. Let out, he directed, and himself left his seat. The two men who alternated were ■waiting to relieve the two who de scended from the machine. The work men swarmed around to fill tanks and give swift inspection, and the fretting car sped back to the track. Left opposite each other in the flick ering glare of the swinging electric lamps, driver and mechanician stood for a moment, weary, car-stiff, and still tense. Stanton unclasped his mask with a Jerk, took n step toward the tent, then turned toward hiB as sistant. "The three hours are up,” h* ob served roughly. “I suppose you leave me.” "Why do you suppose that? Are you through with me?" Floyd asked, with studied quietnesa “I made the offer to any man who would go for the first three hours. The time is up; you’re free So get your money from Mr. Green, and leave." Floyd took off his own mask and bared his white, steadfast face and tired eyes to the other's gase. "I entered for the race, or for as much of it as you want me,” be cor rected. “Until you qu't. or find a sub stitute you like better. I'm with you.” They looked at each other. "Go rest, then. There is coffee in side,” hade Stanton, and swung on his heel. At the entrance to his tent he was met by the exultant assistant mana ger. "I’ve got you a mechanician, Stan ton!” he exclaimed jubilantly. "I tel ephoned our fix to headquarters, and Jack Rupert la coming down—the chief teeter at the factory, you know, who used to race with the chief him self. He *phoned that he wouldn’t see the Mercury thrown out but to tell you he was going to cancel his life insurance policy first so be would not be accused of suicide for the benefit of his heirs. Funny chap! He’ll be hers before you go on the track again.” "What.for?" demanded Stanton. "If ( kill my mechanician, I kill my car and myself—I don’t need two men. and I’ve got one." "But I thought you said—" began the amased Mr. Green. “I was wrong. ’Phone Rupert that I’ll keep Floyd. Now, I’d like to get some rest.” The assistant manager stepped aside from the entrance, confounded. CHAPTER II. The Risk and the Lady. Two hours later, Stanton emerged from bis camp and strolled toward the paddock exit. It was after two o'clock in the morning: the dark arch of star-set sky overhead, the black emptiness of the central field except for the line of tents, contrasted oddly wiih the glistening white track where the meteor-bright cars circled tireless ly to the accompanying monotone at many voices, varied by the occasional wail of the official klaxon. One ma chine was out of the race, after going through the fence; a heap of disor dered metal which men were striving frantically to restore to activity, while in the illuminated hospital tent its driver and mechanism were undergo ing a kindred process of rehabilita tion. Other cars went in and out from their camps, for oil. for gaso lene, for tires and minor repairs—for all the countless wants of a racing machine. Stanton looked for the Mer cury, then, satisfied, erased the track and entered the space before the grand-stand. Along the edge of the cement prom enade were parked a row of automo biles whose owners preferred to wit ness the race from their own cars rather than from the tiers of seats be hind. Past them Stanton turned, avoiding the fire of attention and curi osity he would draw by crossing the I lighted space where recognition must follow. He was going to the restau rant in the interior of the stand. But aa he passed,* big white tour ing car at the end ef the row. a wont- I an leaned from the shadow of the tog. “I beg your pardon." she sum moned. her tram composed and rather imperious. • ' i The apology veiled n command. Stanton halted. “Ithdamr he iwsponded. astonished PARK 'f' r * • .1 lillllD TIME HHtRAWTEED T[l 1U ! A TloUier Praises the Boy Scout Idea. \ \ - ' In the May Woman's Home Com ! pui.ipn, a mother gives her personal [experiences with her troublesome boy lei .weive or fourteen years of age | a ml tells his connection with the Boy it-Cuutsof America made a better llioy of him. "The twelve i points of the Scout law.” says the ! mother, in her article, are 1 1. A Scout Is trustworthy I. A Scout is loyal A Scout is helpful J. A Scout is friendly •. A Scout is courteous <>. A Scout is kind 7. A Scout is obedient s. A Scout is cheerful | >.i. A Scout is thrifty 1J. A Scout is brave 11. A Scout is clean 12. A Scout is reverent. jj -.fter telling how her son entered [the movement, she goes on to siy: “I had hoped my son would he all [these things,and had so admonished l,im. But these things are Scout laws i ind you. not advice and admonition «.r hopes backed by maternal plead i igs and fears, but laws self imposed • hen the scout takes his oath; for in raking the oath he promises to ob North Pacific Coast points 72 OS Tickets on sale to California June 12 to 20; final return limit August 31. August 29 tu Sept 4; final return limit October 31. Tickets on sale to N **1h Fitlfic Cent Fcirls Ju»3idto6: final retur limit July 2!. 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