The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-19

a-minute reputation. Whatever It's best was, it showed that best now. In a dozen seconds Morgan was a whizzng speck down the roadway the tails of his yellow dustcoast whipping the air The crowd, obivious of the cars racing past, stood on its feet and watched him dis appear, and then counted the minutes till he should come again. They guessed what he was going to try to do. Could he make 1t in time, and would the car run?
 Presently the speck reappered far down the roadway-grew larger as it skinned toward them-and then they saw a great hump on Morgan's back-and then, as he dashed up to the grand stand they saw that the hump was a wheel. its tire in- Hated. He sprang from the motorcycle, gave 1t a push toward it's owner, and in- stantly Jack was unstrapping the wheel from his back The next instant the two of them were fitting 1t to it's place.
 But before the task was done the am nouncer's shout went up, Car comingi" and two minutes later No. 8 tore by and began It's tenth round. More than another two minutes were gone ere the last thing was finished. Then Morgan leaped to his seat and Jack began to crank the engine. Would the engine run? The grand stand asked Itself. The engine answered with a mighty booming.
 Jack bounded to his seat. Morgan let in the clutch. The car movedl A great cry of relief rose from. the grand stand and changed to a cheer as the car fairly sprang into a leaping speed. Faster, faster she went-swaying, lurching, pull sing giantly. me gale of her making swept over the bonnet and struck her riders faces like blows. And still she went faster. as though she had the infi- nite speed of flying worlds.
 At the first turn Morgan called back her speed-but not enough As she flew about the curve she slidded off the course onto the grassy roads 'de--'twas a marvel her tires were not torn off. but they held-and missed a telephone pole and destruction by a foot. Jack shuddered but Morgan never winced-held his statute-llke stare on the ribbon of road way. She swung back into the course and her speed mounted and mounted to it's height of a minute ago. and there seemed still more speed in her-and she flung the miles behind her like Gods fastest wind.
 Could they make 1t? A hundred thou sand people wanted them depressed on their flight with their hearts best wishes In the grand stand all eyes were fixed at the beginning of the final stretch; cars thundered by all unnoticed. The crowd sat with watch in hand, counting off the minutes since Nineteen had started twenty y-twenty-one twenty y-two-twenty- three
 Car comingl' shouted the. announcer.
 A tiny blot flashed into view. Eighteen or Nineteen? All eyes strained for the figures on the cars front as she came forward like a meteor The number be- gan to appear-the first figure was a one, the second eight or nine--eye could not tell which, The dipped down a grade and was lost to sight. The heart of the crowd stood still. She flashed up into view again, and there was her number before all. Nineteen.
 The next instant she roarod by-two tense crouchng figures in her lap-the very soul, the very body of speed itself And the grand stand, on it's feet, roared back at her. And q little girl In a tam coat let her head fall forward upon her folded arms.
 It was the next morning. Mr. Peck, slt- ting at his old desk in the office of Peck & Morgan, pushed away a heap of open letters and took up again one of the half dozen New York papers before him. There was but one thing in the papers. and that was the automobile race, and there was but one thing in the automobile race, and that was the wonderful running of Nineteen and the wonderful driving of Morgan MT. Peck elenched his jaws very tightly and scowled very heavily-but his mouth twitched and his eyes blinked and he read every word in each paper.
 Shortly after Il o'clock the office door opened and Morgan walked in, In automo- bile coat and begoggled cap, having just driven out from New York. He looked thin and pale, and his eyes were blood shot from the strain of yesterday. He stared at MT. Peck and at the head of open letters, then walked sharply forward
 Pardon me, sir. I should like to know what business you have to open my mail?' he demanded.
 MT. Peck did not reply at once, and when he did speak did not answer the question. Without looking up he jerked pudgy thumb toward the heap of let ters that lay on the desk
 "Thlrty-seVen orders there," he said, grufly.
 They haven't had a chance to come in-therell be hundred tomorrow Nor gan could not refrain from answering. "I have twenty with me-" His face grew sharp again.
 What right have you. sir. in my mail?" he asked
 Mir Peck again jerged his thumb to- ward the heap of orders.
 MT. Morgan, don't be so brash-you need money to push then through. How much dyou want?'
 None"
 MT. Peck looked up at the pale face of the young man.
 None? None? What do you mean?" His jaw fell
 You know MT. Tucker has been want ing to branch out into the automobile business Morgan quietly exclaimed.