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g % fsERIAL^i 1 STORY J J p????I r . STANTON n WINS n ! By ! Eleanor 1*1. Ingram | Author of "The Game 1 ami the Candle." "The C Flying Mercury." etc. g . Illustrations by ? Frederic Thornburgh c \ I Cui? rlglil IjU. '1 oo Uubbtt Morrill Cuuipu.Q7 1 E CHAPTER I. I The Man Who Dared. The official starter let his raised arm fall and leaned forward, peering J across the blended glnre and darkness. c "What?" he shouted, above the pul- * eating roar of the eleven racing machines lined up before the judges' . stand. "What?" There was a flurry around the central car, whose driver leaned from his seat to stare down at the man who had slipped from beside him to the ground. The great crowd congesting the grand-stand pressed closer to the barrier, staring also, commenting and conjecturing. "The mechanician of the Mercury Is off his car!" "Fainted?" "Fell?" "The automobiles hadn't started; he mu6t be sick." The referee was already pushing his way back, bringing the report from the hastily summoned Burgeon "Heart disease," he announced right and left. "Stanton's mechanician just dropped off his seat, dead. But Stanton himself had already swung out of his car, with the energetic decision that marked his every movement. "My man Is out," he tersely stated to the starter. "I've got to run over , to my camp and get another. Will you hold the start for me?" The question was rather a demand thnn a request. There was scarcely one ?mnnn thn ? * ...V -ont uuuit-lK.t; WI1U would not have felt the spnrklo gone t ,'rom this strong black wine of sport they had come to sip. If Ralph Stanton had been withdrawn from the twentyfour-hour contest. He had not only j fame as a skilful and scientific racer; ho had the reputation of being the most spectacularly reckless driver in America, whose death could be but a question of time and whose record of accidents and victories verged on the appalling He kn*>w his value as an attraction, and the starter knew It. although preserving impassivity. "Five minutes," the 'official conceded, and drew out his watch. Already a stream of men were running toward the Mercury camp with the news. Stanton sprang into his machine, deftly sent it forward out of the line, and shot around into the entrance to the huge oval Held edged by the Beach track; a mile of white ribbon bordering a green medallion. The row of electric-lighted tents, each numbered and named for its own racing car, was in a turmoil of excitement. But moat agitated was the group before the tent marked "9, Mercury." "Durand's down and out?give me another man," called Stanton, halting his noisy, (laming car. "Quick, you?" ' But no one stepped forward from the cluster of factory men and mechanics. Only the assistant manager | or the Mercury company responded to the demand: "Yes, go; one of you boys. I'll make It right with you. You, Jones." "I'm married, sir," refused Jones succinctly. "Well, you then, Walters. Good heavens, innn! what do you mean?" For the burly Walters backed away, actually pale. "I'll dig potatoes, first, sir." "Why, you u3ed to race?" "Not with Stanton, sir." There was a low murmur of approval among his mates, and a drawing together for support. Stanton stepped down from his car, snatching off his mask to show a dark, strong face grim with anger and contempt. "You wretched, backboneless cowards!" he hurled at them, his blue- tr black eyes flashing over the group. * "Do you know what 1 r.nd the company stand to lose if I'm disqualified tl for lack of one of you Jellyfish to sit <-i beside me and pump oil? Isn't there a man in the camp? I'll give fifty dol- Pi lars myself to the one wha goes, a ft hundred if I win." r< "I'll promise twice that," eagerly If supplemented Green, the assistant w manager. He hnri nrivma w ? uv i a UU " Stanton. tc Not one of the clustered workmen moved. ei "Damn you!" pronounced the driver, bitterly and comprehensively. "I'll repeat that offer to the man who will ol go for the first three hours only, and meanwhile we'll send to New York le and find a red-blood< d male." ir The men looked at one another, but' shook their heads. w "No? You won't? You work your miserable bodies three months to earn al what I offer for three hours. What's hi the matter with you. don't I risk my ui neck?" He turned, sending his pow- at erful voice ringing down the line. Ji "Here, hunt the paddock, all of you? si / wo hundred dollars for a man to ride he next three hours with me!" "You can't take a man from another amp, Stanton," protested the frantic rtfV ^en. "He might trick you, hurt lm- *;Br." His appeal went down the wind unteeded, except for one glance from the acerls gleaming eyes. "He won't trick me," said Stanton. The crowded stands were a bulk of iwaying, seething Impatience. The >uddoek was in an uproar, the Mer:ury camp the center of Interest. Hut to volunteers answered the cnll. The rnntlng machine, its hood wrapped In ets of violet llame, headlights and ail-lights shedding vivid illumination iround the figure of its Unfiled master, julvered with impotent life and itrength. ltaging. Stanton Btood, vatch in hand, his fuce a set study in tcorn. Suddenly the harsh rasp of the ofil.U1 1-1 ,v. muAuu Huureti anove the hubbub, vnrning, summoning. "Four minutes," panted the despalrng assistant manager. "Stanton?" ! Some one was running toward them, tome one for whom a lane was opened >y the spectators from other camps vho had congregnted. "Get aboard," culled ahead a fresh roung voice. "Get aboard; I'll go." "Thank Heaven for a man!" snarled Itanton, as the runner dashed up. 'Why, it's a boy!" "Floyd," Mr. Green hailed hystericaly. "You'll go?' "I'll go," assured Floyd, and faced he driver; a slim, youthful tlgure In t mechanic's blue overalls, his sleeves oiled to the elbows and leaving bare lis slender arms; his head, covered ike a girl's with soft closely cropped :urllng brown hair, tilted back as his iteady gray eyes looked up at Stanon. "You? You couldn't crank a tnxl:ab," flung the racer, brutal with disippointment and wrath. "You'd go? V boy?" "lm as old as the driver of the singer car, and scant live years young;r than you?I'm twenty-one," flashed he retort. "And I know all there is lhout gasoline cars. I guess flkiu're jig enough to crank your own motor iren't you, if 1 can't? You've got liirty seconds left; do you want me?" Met on Ills own tone, Stanton rasped, then caught his mask from he mnn who held It. "Why don't you get on your clothes?" he demanded savagely. 'Are you going to race like that? lump, you useless cowards there? an't you pass him Ills things? Teleilione the stand that I'm coming, some me." There was a wild scurry of preparaion, the telephone bell Jingled madly. "Jes Floyd is one of our new factory \ X '11 w \ T"" Stanton Stood, Watch In Hand, ten," hurried Mr. (Jreeu, in breathless xplanation, an Stanton took his seat. He's a gas-engine wonder?he knows tern like a clock?he tuned up this \r you've not, this morning?" The klaxon brayed again. A trim aparition In racing cosiutne darted oni the tent to swing into the nar>w seat beside the driver, and Stan>n's car leaped for the paddock exit ith a roar answered by the deafentg roar of welcome from the specta >rs. "Seven minutes." snapped the startr a a M ? ? l -? , .... ,nc ...iivui j ? ih-cwu in i?ne. Stanton shrugged his shoulders with i ipreme indifference, perfectly aware ! r his security, since the start ha.1 at been made. But his mechanician aned forward with a little gnrgle of resistible, sunshot laughter. "Don't worry," he besought. "Really, e'll get In seven minutes ahead." His mocking young voice carried bove the terrific din of the eleven uge machines, atid Stanton turred pon him, am a red and irritated at ihe udacity. The starter also Btared, ist as a flashlight flared up and lowed fully tne young gray eyea j 111 3 ill! I r v * ' dancing behind the goggles, the red young mouth smiling (below the mask the shining young cjurls which the cap failed to cover. He stared, thee slowly relaxed into a smile, and went forward. "The talking done'while I'm up. Is done by me," stated Stanton forcibly. "Remember." "Don't you ever need a rest?" queried Floyd. Stanton opened his lips, and closed them again without speaking. His trained glance wen^ to sweep his opponents. gaging their relative positions, their probably order on the Urst turn, and his own best move. The successive flashlights on either side were blinding, tli?e atmosphere was I cu?u<.uuiiis ?iin uie cxniiuBi gasolene t and acetylene funhes. It was as familiar to him as the odor of sawdust to the circue dweller, as the strong salt wind to a hnibitant of the coast; the unusual elenjent lay in the boy beside him. Mati, he refused to acknowledge himj. The sharp crack of a pistol, the fall of a flag, and the whole struggling, flaming flock sprang forward toward the first turn, Wheel to wheel in death-edged contiest. And Stanton for got his mechanician. The Mercury Jed the first circuit, as usual. It was very fast, and its pilot took the clmnceB more prudent drivers avoided. Still, the lead was less than the car's own length, two of its closest rivals hanging at its flanks, when they pnssed the tumultuous grand-stand Just ahead lay again the "death curve." There was a swift movement beside Stanton, the isendcnt linen streamers floating from his cap were deftly seized and the dust swept from his goggles with a practiced rapidity. "Car on each side an' one trying tc pass," the clear voice pierced the hearing. "No room next the fence." Stanton grunted. The boy knew how to rise in a speeding machine, then, and how to take care of his driver, he hoted. Nevertheless, he meant to take that fence side. And he did. As the other drivers shut off power to take the dangerous bend more slowly, Stanton shot for ward ut unchanged speed, cut in aheud and swept first around the turn, tak ing the inside curve. The spectators rose with a universal cry of consterna tion; the (Mercury swerved, almost facing the j infield fence, skidding appallingly ilnd lurching drunkenly or two wheels, then righted itself undei the steering-wheel in the muster'f hands, anfi rushed on, leading by a hundred f<>et. The people cheered frantically, the band crashed into raurnns nmotn Stanton's) mechanician got up to lent: over the I hack of the flying cur and feel the rear casings. 4 Hla Face a Set 6tudy In Scorn. "You're tryln' to tires," he Imparted , his accents close to the driver's ear. ; That was the IIrat time that Stnnlor ! noticed that Floyd llsj>ed and blurrec his final "g" in mom* nts of excite ment. It might have sounded effcin! nate, if the voice had not been with out a tremor. As it was At the end of the first hour, tlx bulletin boards shtmoii <?> \t. * "I J five lapH ahead of Its nearest rival And then Floyd spoke again to hii d river. "What?" Stanton questioned, abov? the noise of the motor. "We've got to run in; I'm afraid 0' the rear inside shoe. It won't stanC another skid like the last." Stanton's mouth shut In a hare line. "I will not," he stated. "Oet bad in your place. You can't tell." "I can." Stanton deigned no reply, sliding past one of tho slower cars on th< back stretch. To go In meant to los< the whole time gained. As th*y tool the back turn, Floyd again lear.oi over. <TO bK CONTINUED.) J I I ' < INTERNATION/ ^Kj||jj3Bi^^BMwETOHBB 1 Photograph of the International Jo! 1 of three Americans and three Canadlai ner. Sitting, left to right: F. S. Streete TOURlsfsrs 1 More Than 20,000 Americans : i Are "Doing" Panama. i < Interesting and Curious Throng Spend , Their Time RMing Over tho I Isthmus In Slghtseo- i < ing Cars. I ' ' I Colon Pn nnnrn T"H., * ' , - ....a.... A uu I uau U1 1UUP lBts to the isthmus is in full blnst. * No doubt, tlio record will go higher ' than last year, or any year, but there are no signs that It will total the tig- ^ ures given in the forecasts of the 1 steamship managers working their special brand of enthusiasm. Panama was to see 40,000 Americans "doing the canal;" the tourists probably i will exceed 20.000, but that number j1 puts a strain on the accommodations I there. | And who are the tourists? NaturJ] ally they are mostly well-to-do clti7.ens out for a holiday "taking in" the cannl. They are not the fashionable people in Its New York sense of ; the word. The lnttor havo barely, !t would seem, heard of it. They can J1 only move in little certified ilocks The great bulk, however, is made j up of successful business men and L ' their wives and families, for whom nothing Is too good. IV A surprising number, too, are farmers who have been fattening on prosperous seasons In fat lands. On our steamer we had men and ; women from Illinois?Peoria, If you K ^ I', Sightseeing Car In Panama. 8< please?Michigan, Indiana, Ohio. 1 el Iowa. Rhode Inland. Massachusetts, c< Now York, New Jersey, (Colorado, tl Virginia. Pennsylvania. One Rhode it Islander was In his ninety-first year. Everybody has made preparation | ei for tropical temperature crash, nl- s' pacr. ?nd Immaculate linen suits H among the men and every wonderful l? and expensive dress and waist con- ra celvable In lace and linen and light ei fabrics, with reserves of silks and satins and Jewels for gala rights. cc All of which may be preface to a el few words on the marvel of the worn- d< an tourists. Probably their greatest tb labor Is writing postal cards. if When not writing postal cards they dl are fnklnc cnnnahntu I ...... u; __ _ 0 .|/U..vrvu. IVTl (llljr Ull?1 ?? fay "Look at that," and a hundred of hi tho pestilential machines are pointed sa In the direction indicated. After the hi shot the invariable question Is, "What was It?" pr The girls of all ages are, however, as pleasantly fluttery and positive about nc this modern Industry. on "I don't bother a bit what it is," "t said one. "I Just snap It. Stand a be moment, please," and another art sin on is added to her beadroll. Of course he their paradise is tho sightseeing at train. And what Is a sightseeing 'u train? You must know the passage from eh Colon to Panama across the Isthmus he brings you within measurable view wl of the whole canal-?Just enough to on Irritate you. Hence excursions three w< In number are provided to widen and Mi deepen your knowledge. These ao trains start on alternate days from P? Colon and Panama. The first takes Pu / - v-v ^ ?? i\ IHINT RnilMHADV IL JUIIII UUUIIUnll I WjrclBl r^>f\ : . r *! I \ \ a-"\H hctb8bwi^^3^^mbbh^pbkb^mbb8brm HMRii t<* j^Mafc^HBK^BHBjB^MB b^^WWBpx >.sv:' JurMBWM^^BW^^B^^HB^^^BBM^BMm QY^ir Bnt Boundary Commission, which was < Bis. Standing, left to right: H. A. Pow Br, James A. Tawney and T. C. Casgral Bon to tho rmnt tH"1? l?^u-nnn ^ hind the other?at Oatun on the Atlantic aide and to the great Gatun Jam and spillway; the second takes you to the Pedro Miguel single lock ind the Mirafiores double locks at the Pacific end; tho third takes you iown through the nino miles of r*ulehra cut. The train consists of hree show cars with the cross seats anged in rising tiers. On the low- ; st level stands a guide, who talks ;ently through a megaphone, retailing ho wonders which tho audience Is vltnesslng?three cars, three megajhones, three lectures. Tho trains by using the working racks are enabled to go close to the ocks. and so forth. The train stops; he lecturer quits, having invited tho ludlence to alight and to take a close ook, and everybody is on foot, scram>llng to the front more or less decoriusly. for they are n polite and good i inturod folks. Thus you pass over j llzzy heights in safety; you gaze lown or look up; you snap everylilng with your camern and, exclaimng everything from "My!" to "How icrfoctly wonderful" you pass on to he next wonder. )EAF MUTE SITS ON JURY flystery of a Philadelphia Court Unexplained, But New Trial la Grant- ' ed When Discovery Is Mads. * Philadelphia. Pa.?A new trial was I ranted in common pleas court after 1 ; had been discovered that a deaf ' nute had sat as a member of the Jury urlng the hearing of an ejectment ] ult. How the man became a member t f the Jury and why he sat through i lie trial, unable to hear or speak, is 1 mystery which none of the court at- i iches could explain. t :hurch with s Yflethodist Conference Is Unable to Solve the Problem of Extending I Usefulness of Institution. t New Haven.?One of the smallest f (lurches in this country is the Parker t Conn.) A. M. E. Zion church of Meri- j i'iit its membership numbering but iven regular members with an aver- c le attendance at church of about 8 fteen persons. The smallest of the congregation ^ as always been a puzzle to those Invested In the church. It has been . rganzlcd sincce 1890. but never ' 'ems to grow any larger despite the Torts of revivalists and well known ? >lored organizers who have visited in church for the purpose of building up. During Its twenty-two years of existice many preachers have been as- B gned to the pastorate, but owing to le smallness of the congregation of te years it ha3 been Impossible to ^ due enough money to pay the preach' for his services. n At the lust mftCtlliB nf tlwi MullmHInt " t inference the question of the Parker lurch was discussed at length by the t] dogates. Scheme after scheme for e e building up of the Impoverished f easury, and the congregation, were scussed, but none seemed feasible. a '. ('. Andrews, a lay preacher hold- e g a pastorate in Providence on a n lary, then cama forward and offered i s services as a preacher. leaving his family behind, the ; eneher went to Meriden, where he ! ^ sumed cuarge. inasmuch as ho had > income, it become compulsory upi him to provide a roof for himself. curing Borne old boards and timrs, the preacher built a small room 0 i the rear of the church. For weeks e labored from morning to night until J last ho had for himself a cozy ^ ime at no expense to the church. k Determined still further that the n urch would not have to support him, c| cast around for a suitable position tj hereby he could earn enough to live C) i. Mr Andrews was not afraid of n >rk. and prominent business men of priden who had heard of his efforts 81 d his sacrifice secured for hjm a n, sition with the Meriden Qas com- j tl ny as a porter. H COMMISSION \ I?I KlliiPl *5 :| ' to* jrganlzed last January and consists ell, C. A. Magrath and Qeorgs Turn. PEARY SEES U. S. TAKE ARCTIC Rear Admiral Believes Government May Try to Make Use of Polar Lands. New York.?Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary predicted the United States government would send an expedition to the arctic to see If use could be made Rear Admiral R. C. Peary. Df the large tracte of unexplored terrl* lory there. ? The admiral added that he would not head such an expedition, he said, because he felt too olt*. now to make more polar exoloratlons. Raold Amundsen, who expects to ex? ?lore the arctic In the Fram, would :ake "a big chance" he allowed his ihlp to be frozen In the Ice and drift. Vlr. Peary believed. The ship might 'emain frozen In four or five years ind drift anywhere. EVEN MEMBERS | Here six days In, the week the >reacher tolls as a porter. In the af i.uunn uuu evenings ne gets out aad vorkH among" his parishioners, perormlng nil the duties of a minister, mch as visiting the sick and offlclatng at marriages and funerals.. Hent on performing service to his :ongregation, Mr. Andrews, however, ihuns all publicity ,and performs his ;ood deeds without making known his vork. . v 'UTS HENS IN GYMNASIUM it. Paul Poultry Man Increases Number of Eggs With Artificial Garden and Other Devices. St. Paul.?Hens should have a gymasium, proper training and hn occalonal change of diet in order to <break gg laying records, according tp Samel 12. Mahan. a local poultry dealer, ir. Mahan recently established in collection with his chicken coop a gymasium, where daily each hen is given wo hours of exercise. , He declares that as a result of this raining the average production of ^ ach hen has increased in nlhe days rom 55 to 85 per cent. A feature of the gymnasium is an rtiflcial garden bed, where the hens xercise their muscles but find no ourishment. VOMEN NOW SMOKE CIGARS iut In Reality They're Only LeafCovered Cigarettes, and 8old on the Continent. Ixmdon.?Englishwomen are develping the smoking habit more than ver. Of course they do not as a rule get eyond cigarettes, but recently a petit rand of cigars has been put on th? larket. It Is something like the thin vjj igarettes which one buys on the con- / nent for a couple of centimes, ex- ^ r-pt that the flavor and strength are ore akin to the Egyptian cigarette. It is a leaf-covered cigarette, with l ifflcient pungency to make the fall I xiokers think they are doing some- 1 ling daring in lighting up what looks I ke a cigar. -I