Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-04

it," replied Melinda. isn't il funny
we are going to Benborough. too.
wonder who'll get there first. fancy we
shall"
This was said wisn aegravating con-
fidence and was a distinct challenge.
Obi" said Charley. turning to me,
lis it to be a race? You had better pre-.
pare yourself tor a hot time, then, old
man, and we may as well settle who's
to pay the police fipes.''
i never 80 against the law of the
land, | said. reproSin gly, as l tried TO
catch Meiinda's eye. But she persist
emily avoided me. so at last drew her
to the far enc OF the sned.
Don't you Trims that we had better
choose another route and go TO Benbor-
ough some other timer l began But
Melinda turned on me like a. tigress.
Coward" she whispered, fercely.
I'VE are going to scarborough to-day,
and we are going to start just in front
of them. We are going to keep in front
all the way, even if we get fined. If you
let them pass us I'll steer the car myself
and perhaps smash it up and theirs, too.
L Will. If you don't go now I'll never
speak to you again, never! / mean
what l say
The cars were being pushed out and
Phoebe and Melinda were following
them closely. Charley held back, and
for moment l thought that he, too,
dreaded the contest.
Don't you wait for me, old man." he
said, with an aggressively self-confident
grin on his face oOipg 70 Hoht
up. l reckon l can give you a start and
catch you in five minutes, anyhow"
1t Charley had not said that all might
have been well. AS it was, my "cool
head" was fast deserving me and his
words and manner put my back up and
made me feel as if l would almost like
to contest the road with him.
At that moment Phoebe's voice floated
in from outside.
DO come along, Charley" she called,
angrily, cor the day will be gone"
Hurry up, Reginald" came Melinda's
voice, sweetly.
That settled it, Melinda had never
called me by my Christian name before
1t made me reckless. would enter the
lists and do what could for her that
day, cost what it would
Charley made a move as if to go.
iii take the road before you and
keep it," l shouted as l rushed out be-
fore him.
The car swung out into the road and
dashed off at good pace which every
moment increased
After a few minutes heard Charley's
machine snorting and changing behind,
and a minute later | heard him yelling
something. Melinda clutched at my
arm and shouted in my ear, but the
rushing wind carried her words away
Don't let him pass" | imagined she
must have said. and 1 resolved not to
do so as l shook her hand off my arm.
for it impeded my control of the ma
chine.
Suddenly, when terror at my rash
temerity was gradually stealing over
me, Melinda gave lurch and fell against
me limp and inert. The strain had been
too much for her and she had tainted
/ tried to stop the car and then terror
wholly seized me, for, do what would,
l could not abate its pace one jot In
fact, to my excited fancy IL seemed to
laugh at nv efforts, anS TIC moro
tried TO stop IL the faster 1t appeared
to go. On and on it tore while / chung
frantically to the steering wheel, won
dering vaguely whether Melinda would
recover consciousness before we
smash it would be.
Suddenly, as if it had lost nerve, felt
the car slacken. Slower and slower il
went, until l had hopes of being able TO
take my eyes off the road and of giving
some attention to Melinda, who seemed
to be gradually recovering. Then off
1t went again, and there were more
gymnastic animals and policemen.
Meanwhile its maneuvers had given
our enemies a chance to catch us up.
The air was full OF shouts and yells ap-
preaching from the rear And then
hateful sound!-just as the car gave a
final snort, tried to stand on end, but
came to dead stop, heard Charley's
voice among the rest, and he brought
his machine alongside us.
"You old idiot! What on earth do
you mean by this?" he yelled as he
lifted Melinda down.
What does this mean?" stammered
feebly.
Mean, you fool" cried Charley.
Meant Why, it means that you've
been tearing over the country for the
last hour with Miss Wlnsley and have
nearly killed her with fright"
The lady lifted her impenetrable veil
and 1 realized that it was only too true.
My companion had been Phoebe and
not Melinda
NEARSTONE FOR BUILDING.