The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-09-21

and the others were showing him by various pencheo
calculations on the margin OF an illustrated paper
that. by renting small Office in the Haymarket anu
calling themselves 1.-THE Automobile Salon, Limited
thew would each make ten thousand year and spend
1;fo+ioe of happy week-ends driving powerful cars
wbv he a fisherman, thought, if you can be a
,,o+orst a-and at the same moment turned and saw
shellcraft who had just come in and ORDERED an az
sinthe He sat down in an armenian anu sIsse1s"
out shaking hand for pile OF automooAe papers
and magazines. Shellcraft was then man OF aDouc
forty-ve worn and od-looking, with CURIOUS steer
culver in his eyes and certain RIGHTEOUSNESS aoou'
his well-cut mouth. He was clean-snaVeo' ana ia
normal health would have been good looking man;
Init there was something about his appearance now
that was the reverse OF attractive his shoulders
had a curious forward stoop and his head and neck
were inclined forward on his shoulders the race was
fallen in and prematurey wrinkled, and the effect OF
the fine intelligent brow was d1scounteo py Ratnetc
weakness of the chin '"~ :!
ct sea thew have reduced the flying kilometer by
another two seconds" he said, as took seat beside
him. IT should like to have seen that" and some
thing like enthusiasm glittered in his pale, steely
eyes.
"Not much to see" objected, and he involuntarily
straghtened up in his chair: PERSONALLY don't I'M
derstand where the fascination OF record-reduclng
comes in ="
"Ah!" said shellcraft slipping his absinthe, lit is
uoou ~ AAA9
motoring for the sake of the things saw ON the
roads then used to like it for the places could
to and the journeys could make; now simply like
it for itself. Speed-pace-there's nothing like 1t!
flush came into his salow cheeks and his eyes
grew bright. "And tell you solemnly" he added in
a low voice. with kind of logged emotion that was
curiously impressive, 'that this thing which you
sometimes call the speed mania and which Is regarded
as the childish fad Of the mschfevous rich is but
n terrible
hended forces that in the world beyond the VEIL
They dwell out there in the darkness, but they send
out their antennae to us here In the light. know"
said shellcraft. ::~:.<5 ~~,:~-
There was fragment of sugar left in the bottom
of shellcrafts glass; little white island in little
milky acid sea. He took up the glass and watched
the tiny island crumblng and corroding away, one
particle after another sinking into the liquid until
1t had all been absorbed. .
@sYou think" he said slowly "a motor the most
commonplace and matter-of-fact thing that has
designed; tell you that, equally with the dem
lists chair the operatingtabe the hangmans moose,
1t may be the instrument and of prodiges be-
yond belief It's nothing In the motor itself;
but the forces speak of are enthroned in strange
places, and distributed by strange conductors
Anxious to bring him back to saner things asked
him what kind of car he drove Immediately a change
came over his face. The enthusiasm faded from it,
and was replaced by furtive and almost cunning
expression.
IT have two three cars he said; "the I
drive most is fiftyhorse car of no particular make
at all; it's an experimental My other two
a Fiat and Daimler. see that NARROW has been
experimenting with oxygen" he said though he
were anxious to change the subject; and our talk
drifted into normal channels and continued
until at dinner-time, went our separate ways:
Our conversation in the Club smoking-room had
been on the OCCASION Of a flying visit to London;
.tr4 - for
from motor cars and did not recognize the writing
on the large envelope that brought shellcraft's
letter. 1t at the breakfast-able, but the
glance gave to it showed me that 1t was too long
and important to be read then, and presently took
it out into the mild fragrant air of the October morn
ing, and began to read it walking up and down the
terrace in the sunshine The letter dated
from Shellcrafts place in Surrey; had not turned
the first of its closely written pages before was ar
rested in my walk and stood rooted in amazement
II have hesitated many times whether not
should write to you, he began. IT have or
twice taken up my pen and begun letter, and have
put it down again with of the hopelessness
of my intention. Now however, something has hap
pened that makes the help and advice of a friend
necessary; and turn to you in confidence that even
II you don't and cannot understand me- you will at
least believe and give me your advice. I want
to tell you that am a maniac-a speed maniac. Do
you understand? In order that you may not think
that am talking lightly or fooshly (which you are
ant to think when we simply conversing face to
face), am writing down in words something of the
exnerience that has led UP to this crisis in my life
and the strange mania that holds me helpless VIC
tim. ~T; = :%2&@ :..,.
"In the first place, am conscious of being dom
mated by the neighborhood and personality of my
.Stqr car And myself often thinking about \.
S2i NJ