Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-04-10
1922 sssssssesse%Ss
"6be Terror"

a fondness for athletics. He had rec
ord as a bikist, and Ire owned ana
drove q trotting horse. When the auro
appeared his friends knew that ne
would soon have machine.
A perfect machine-a thing OF brass
and steel as easily controlled as
ehild's toy, an almost living, breathing
creature. moving at walk, II the d.
rector willed, or flying along the high
wav at the rate of a mile minute
stood In garage, and the colonei In
spected it. He had scarcely begun
when fear crept over him. To others
the machine was an object Of curiosi-
ty. To him there was something I'M
canny about 1t.
A year passed, and yet the colonei
had not Joined the ranks of the auto
lists. Then men began to smile and
throw out sarcastic hints. Out of every
hundred autoists ninety eight are
afraid Of their machines. The other
two are reckless Of consequences. the
ninety eight know that they take their
lives in their hands every time they go
out.
Until Colonel Whiteside realized that
he was an object Of unfavora0le COM
ment he needed the warning whispers
When his "nerve" was questioned he
was forced to buy: He talked, and the
salesman and the chauffeur talked.
Some one else talked also. 1t was tne
auto. and he alone heard its words. IL
breathed heavily. 1t Kissed warming
ly. Its "chug. chug, chug," had a men-
ace. 1t said:
BUY me If you will, but look out. l
am a creature OF strange moods.
ba,S; / stampede; go wtong as often
as 90 right. Buy me and possess me,
but remember that some day I Will be
the death of YOU"
The auto was purchased, and the
colonel took instructions In its manage
ment. For a fortnight he went about
with his heart in his mouth and ever
on the watch for accident. Then he
began to feel contempt for the warn
ing. a determination to defy and drive
and take the upper HAND. 1t was
child's play. A turn Of the wheel this
way-that way-more speed-less speed
go ahead-stop. Why, the most docile
horse he ever owned was not SO serviie
and obedlent. His bicycle had never
been under such command. Ten miles
an hour had satisfied him, but one day
when the warnings required to him he
became indignant and put the speed up
to- twenty. No calamity followed. He
was as safe as he had been at halr the
speed. He returned home feeling that
| he was master.
The autoist who confines his pace to
fifteen miles an hour this week will be
making twenty next week. He must
do II He Is driven to do 1t. His fellow
towards will laugh and grin If he does
not do it, and he can't stand tnat
When Colonel Whiteside knew that he
had made twenty miles an hour nc
was pleased and proud. Every minute
of that hour he had expected accident
After that he got chauffeur. Ihats
the usual course of the ninety-eignt
They leave the driving to SOMEBODY
else and lean back and try to looH
placid and nonchalant. Now came
twenty-five, thirty, forty-hye miles al
hour. The colonel gasped and felt
pain In his heart. He did not speak Z
the chauffeur because he was afraid
his voice would betray him. He had
weakness OF the knees, and thlng'
blurred to his vision. But for prize
and fear Of ridicule he would hav'
said that never again would he ride a
such a pace. Let him show the WHIT
feather and the man beside him woul'
grin In his face and then tell the new
to hundred others. Let 1t be WINS
pered that q man Is afraid Of his aut
and he is done for. The other ninety
, seven are also afraid, but they VII
, make common cause against the nine
ty-eighth to conceal their fear.
"This machine can make a mile
: minute" said the chauffeur In the ga
rage one day as the colonel was read
; for his spin.
} "YesT
"And we'll let her out today"
= every well"
y There were dozen men about, Du
!. had there been only the chauffeur I
!, listen the colonel would not hav
0 dared to protest. He must acquiesc
I or be thought timid He nodded hi
!. head and smiled, but at that momen
the auto said:
2 ayes. I will make a mile a minute
q but look out for me. | have give
n YOU several warnings, but you hav
/. not needed them. Today you sha
n feel the sensation Of flying, but wi
p you sleep in your bed tonightT
J. The start was made. More obedier
e than any horse that ever wore ha
e ness. the machine rolled over the a
Y phalt streets, guided by the slighte'
It touch. There was time for the colon
l. to suggest that the pace be limited
II thirty-fiye or forty miles an hour whe
q the long, straight stretch Of countr
- road should be reached, but he feare
- to do so. The chauffeur Is the re-
e boss of the auto. He makes or u
K, makes the reputation of the owner Il
e, nerve"
e. The colonel turned his face awe
7. and closed his eyes. The pace gre
le faster and faster. 1t went from thlr'
8; to forty. from forty to fifty, from fl
re to sixty miles an hour The machii
n, had the road to itself. 1t chugge
a. It gasped, 1t few. 1t was like ms
y. being shot from cannon. 1t wi
re fearful speed. but 1t was as safe as
e. OF n sudden the wheels skidded. q
Id machine turned. and the farmer w
i'd came driving along found a brok'
he telegraph po.e. an upset and batter
auto gasping out Its life and two de-
men in the highway ditch. The teri
had said it would be 30, and 1t was 8
NJ. QUAD