Show the flying MERCURY ely by eleanor M ingram author of the game and the candle by WALTERS 1910 by 0 coa 1 continued from last issue CHAPTER vill six was wag the hour tet set tor for the baart ot of the beach race and tt it was just seventeen minutes past five when dick Ft rench hanging banging in a frenzy of anxiety over the paddock fence circling the inside ot of the mile oval uttered something resembling a howl bowl and rushed to the gate to signal his recreant driver from the opposite side of 0 the he track lestrange LeB waved aved m gay return making his way through the officials and friends who pressed around him to shake hands or slap map his shoulder caressingly jesting and questioning calling directions and ad vice A brass baud band placed ed noisily in the grandstand grand stand where the crowd heaved and surged the racing machines wore were roaring in their camps the matter where were you vou cried dick when nhen at last lestrange crossed the course to the central field the cars are going out now for the preliminary run nearly crazy snarling at everybody and the other man has been getting ready to start instead ot of you well he ran can get unready smiled lestrange keep keel cool ffrench ive got halt half an hour and I 1 could beart now rm im ready he was ready clad in the close fit alt ting khaki costume whose immaculate daintiness gave gae no hint ot of the certainty that before the first six hours ended it would be a wreck ot of yellow dust and oil As he paused in running an appraising glance down doun the street like row ot of tents the white clothed arher ot of a spotless white car shot out on his way to the track but halted opposite the latest arrival to stretch a cordial band 1 I hoped a trolley car had bitten you he shouted the rest ot of us would have more show it if you got lost on the way darling the boyish driver at the next tent lent nt looked up as they passed and came cam grinning over to give his clasp get a move on what you been 10 loin doin all day dear child been givin your manager sal volatile Nol atile to hold hint him still 11 lie he nodded at the agitated dick in ironic commiseration go got get out your car darling I 1 want to beat you chaffed chaffee the neit in line strike up the band here cornea comes a driver san sang g another with an entrancing french accent laughing iet retorting orting shaking hands with each comrade rival lestrange went down the row to his own tent at his approach a swarm ot of mechanics from the factory stood back from the lorg low gray car the driver who was to relieve him during the night and lay day ordeal slipped down from the seat and unmasked iles hes here announced dick super rupert wheres rupert dont tell me hes gone now le outrange 7 but rupert was already emerging from the tent with Lp gaunt lets and cap his expression a study in the sar sardonic donle it hurts me fierce to think how hor you must have hurried be observed did you walk both ways or only all three rm no eve but id give a snake an apple to know where youve been all day would you queried lestrange provokingly clasping the goggles be fore his eyes well ive spent the th last two hours on the coney island beach about three squares from here watching the kiddies play in the band and I 1 feet like Ilke driving just then 11 was as mighty soothing too rupert staled at him a dry un willing smile slowly crinkling his dart darl maybe darling he drawled and turned to 0 o make his own on preparations fascinated a and useless dick looked on at the methodical flurry of the next few moments until lestrange was as in Ms hig seat feat and rupert swung in beside him then a gesture summoned him to the side of the machine ill run in again before we race of course said I lestrange estrange to him above the deafening noise of the motor bo be around here I 1 want to see boll you 1 rupert leaned out all good humor once more as he pointed to the machine got a healthy talk what he exulted the car darted forward A long round of applause melc welcomed olred Le Lestrang cs swooping advent on the track handkerchiefs and were w waved axed his name passed from mouth month to mouth popular aint he chuckled a mechanic next to dick they dont forget that georgia trick no sir it was not many times that the cars cara could circle the track quarter of 0 six mew blew from whittles whistles and lilai I 1 one ona signal laes flags sent the car car s to their camp for the last time before the race come here lestrange beckoned to dick as he brought his machine shuddering to a standstill before the tent here close weve got a moment while they fill 1111 tanks lanks he unhooked ills his goggles and leaned oer as dick came beside the wheel the face so revealed bright and quiet in thy the sunset 0 of glow one never can tell what may happen lie he said id rather tell you now than chance your feeling afterward that I 1 treat you quite squarely in keeping still I 1 hope iou wont take it is my father did weve been good chums you and 1 I 1 I am your cousin david the moment furnished no words dick against the car absolute ly limp ot of course im not going back to after this ram race I 1 shall go to tho the duplex company I 1 used to be with walh them and wanted me back your company can get along without me now all lii Is running well indeed mr mench ffrench has dismiss dismissed ea me his firm up lip bent a little more firmly the work I 1 was waa doing Is in your hands bands and balleys baileys see it through unless you too want to break off with me well have hava more time to talk over this break off dick straightened bened his bib chubby figure break off with you les go on my name is lestrange now and always A shriek from the official klaxon summoned the racers rupert swung swung back to his seat rest diets dick reached up his hand band to the other in the first really dignified moment of his life im glad youre my kin lestrange lie he said ive liked you anyhow but im glad just the same and I 1 dont care what rot they say of you take care of yourself lestrange bared ills his hand to return the clasp his warm smile flashing to ta his cousin then the swirl of 0 preparation swept between them and dick next saw him as part of one of the throbbing naming flaming row of 0 machines before the judges stand it was not a tranquilizing experience for or an amateur to witness the start when the fourteen powerful cars sprang simultaneously for or the first curve struggling tor for possession of 0 the I 1 C on 3 j water he demanded tersely narrow track in a wheel to wheel con test where one meant the wreck of many after that first 11 jew dick sate sat weakly akly down on an oil barrel and watched the race in a state of fascinated endurance the golden and violet sunset melted peari like into the black cup of night the glare of 0 many searchlights made the track a glistening band of white around which circled the cars themselves gemmec gemmed with white and crimson lamps the cheers of 0 the people as the lead was taken by one favorite or another the hum of voices the music and uproar odthe machines inac limea blended into a web ol of sound indescribable the spectacle was at once ul tra modern and classic in antiquity ol of conception at eight lestrange came flying in sent off the track to have a lam lamp re lighted water he demanded tersely in the iho sixty seconds ol of theston th the estop stop and laughed openly at dicks expression while he be took the cup why you light it out there asked the novice infected by the speed fever around him forgot our matches rupert lung flung over his shoulder as they dashed out again an oil smeared mechanic patronia patro angly explained you cant have cars manicuring all over the track and people tripping over em you vou get sent off to light up and if you dont go they fine you laps made machines darted in and out from their camps at intervals each waking a frenzy of excitement among its men atten at ten the mercury car came in again this time limping with a flat tire to bo be fallen on by its mechanics were leading but well lose by this said lestrange slipping out to relax and meditatively contemplating the alternate driver who was standing across the camp ffrench rench Ft at twelve ill have to come in to rest some and to turn ray my machine over to the other man and I 1 wont have him wrecking it for me I 1 want you as owner to give him absolute orders to do no speeding let him hold a fifty two mile an hour average until I 1 take the wheel again 1 ale I e I 1 you of 0 course you could dick answered 1 I 1 ve been thinking low how you and I 1 will run that factory together its all stuff about your going away why should you you and bour our father take me as junior partner you know im not big enough for or an anything else youre mans size lestrange assured na a hand on ills his shoulder but it wont do ill not forget the though neier all on a dozen voices signaled I 1 men scattered in every direction na as lestrange Lee Lep sprung sprang to his place the hours passed on the w heels abeels of 0 excitement and suspense when lestrange came la in again only a watch convinced did dick that it was madr midnight ight you gave the order lestrange Le asked yes ile iio descended taking on off his mask and showing a face white hite with fa tigue under the streaks ot of lust dust anil and grime ill be all right in half an hour he nodded in answer to dicks exclamation send one of 0 the bos tor for coffee will you please rupert needs some too here one ot of you ethers ask one of those idle doctors apprentices to come over with a fresh bandage my arms a trifle untidy in tact fact his right sleeve was wet and red where the strain ot of driving had reopened the injury ot of the day before but he be would not allow dick to speak of 0 it im going to spend an hour or two resting come in ffrench FI rench and well chat in the intervals it if you like and rupert Kii pert wheres he dick wondered peering into the dark with wita a vague impression of 0 lurking dangers on every side hes hurried in out ot of the night air reassured familiar accents a small figure lounged across into the light making v vigorous use of a dripping towel tell darling I 1 feel taint faint and im going over to that grandstand grand stand cafe a la car to get some pie ill be back in time to read over my last lesson from the chauffeurs correspondence spon dence school oh see here A telegraph messenger hoy boy had come up to dick richard ffrench Ft rench he verified sign please the message was from new york all coming down dick read limousine making delay wire me at st royal koyal ot of race balley bailey far from pleased young ffrench hurriedly wrote the desired answer and gave it to the toy boy to be sent but i he thrust the yellow envelope into his pocket before turning to the tent where lestrange Lestr aoge was drinking cheap black coffee while an impatient young surgeon hovered eTed near tho the hours rest was characteristically spent washed bandaged and refreshed e fre shed lestrange dropped on an a cot in the back of the tent anil and pushed a roll of motor garments beneath his head for a pillow there he intermittently spoke to his companion of 0 whatever the moment suggested listening to every sound 0 of the race and interspersing sp acute comment starting up whenever the voice of his own mahine machine hinted that the driver was disobeying instructions or the shrill maxon klaxon gave warning ot of trouble but through it all dick gathered much ot of the family story my aly mother was a californian lestrange once said coming back from a tour of 0 inspection she was twenty times as much alive as any ffrench that ever existed ive been told I 1 fancy she passed that quality on to me you know she died when I 1 was born tor for I 1 nearly drove the family mad they expected the worst of me and I 1 gave the best worst I 1 had bad but he turned to dick the clear candor of his smile it was rather a decent worst I 1 honestly believe the most outrageous thing I 1 ever did was as to lead a set of seniors in hoisting a cow into the deans library one night and so get myself expelled from college collage A cow the other echoed A tat fat cow and it mooed he stuffed the pillow into a more am comfortable for table position Is that our car running in no its just passing it if frank wreck my machine ill get this race and then the same week ray chum and roommate ran away with a Dora Dorat flora iora girl of some variety show and married her I 1 was ro mantl mantle myself at twenty one so I 1 helped him through with wit it he was wealthy and she was pretty it seemed to fit I 1 believe stayed married ever since tay by the way but somehow the reporters got affairs mixed and published me as the bridegroom have you got a elgar cigar I 1 smoke about three times a year and this Is one of them yes there was a fine scene when I 1 went home that night a broadway melodrama I 1 lost my temper easier then by the time my father and uncle gave me time to speak I 1 was too angry to defend myself and set them right I 1 supposed they would learn the truth by the next day anyhow anti and I 1 left home for good in a dinner mat coat and raglan with something under ten dollars in odd change that that was the harsh alarm of the official klaxon coupled with the cry of countless voices the ambulance gong clanged as lestrange sprang to his feet and reached the door which car he called rupert answered first not ours number eights burning it up after a smash on the far turn jacks car identified lestrange leslrange and stood for an instant go flag frank ill take the machine again myself its one and ive sot got to win this race several men ran across to the track tr ack in compliance lestrange estrange l turned to make ready but paused beside thee the awed awed D pick i ck to look over the infield to ward the flaming blotch against the dark sky he was in to change a tire ten minutes ago observed rupert beside them tell lestrange im don doln time catchin hirn him lie yelled to rne me heres hoping his broncho machine pitched him clear front from the fireworks when the mercury car swung in a moment later lestrange lingered for a last word io to dick im engaged to emily he said gravely 1 I dont know what she ebe will nill hear of me it if an thing happens ivo ive told you the truth im old enough to see ECO it now and I 1 tried to square things TO BE CONTINUED |