The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-19
A STORY OF SPEED

BY LEROY SCOTT.

faintest show of effort Morgan was de- lighted, for his sparkling device, on which he had chiefly counted for the commercial success of the Peck car, and on which he now chiefly counted for success in the race, was getting the very best work out of the cylinders. His mechanic, Jack Hen derson, the best workman in the Peck & Morgan shop, though hardly more than a boy, was equally enthusiastic. wen make em hump he said.
 Ten days later they were settled in their garage, with enough spare parts to build another machine, and with two weeks before them In which to become acuuaiEted with the course. At the draw ing to fir the order in which the twenty contesting machines were to start in the race, nineteenth place fell to Morgan. and nineteen was painted on the front, sides and back of his car in white figures two feet high. The first morning he had the racer out for practice he was , content to take things easy around the | thirty-mi course, which on the day of the race had to be circled ten times; but the second morning he let her out on the last round, with Henderson keeping time. "Thirty-three minutes," Jack an- nounced as the car flashed past the grand stand on the finish. That's going some!"
 Some" agreed Morgan, but man. WlltH Sllt ltdiAy 6OSo.
 It was the day of the race. While the heaven was still lighted only by the stars the roads leading to the course were pro- cessioned by thousands of glare-eyed tour ing cars, and the New York trains were adding tens of thousands to those who had spent the night in houses, barns, tents and the open fields along the way. When the first trace of dawn, faint, gray mstiness in the east, came at half past four. the course, wonted thus early to be without a soul save perhaps for a market gardener or two jogging sleepily downward, was crowded like a great ar tery at the hour of home going.
 Five o'clock found Morgan's and the nineteen other racing machines In wait ing line before the grand stand. A sense of solitariness crept upon Morgan. Each cars manufacturers stood beside his ma chine talking to it's driver and giving him encouraging pats on the back, and friends were coming up to shake the driver S hand and wish him victory, and here and there handkerchefs were being waved from the grand stand Morgan gave a quick, hungry glance at this great m clined plane of humanity, then returned his eyes to their former straight-ahead gaze; he had expected no friend, and he had seen no friend.
 We don't seem to be exactly the fav-
 
 q guess there aint many In this bunch bettin' even money we'll win
 "No. out million to one is the odds organs left hand came from the wheel and grlpped Jacks arm. But we've got to win, anyhow he said fierce ly "Understand?'
 eWe'n win-if she only sticks together Jack assured him. grimly; for, oh, Lord she's got speed to give away!'
 efir the Of officials at the head of the line of ma chimes; half-past five. the hour for start ing. was but three minutes off. Clear the courser' rang out an order. It was taken up by hundreds of voices and moved down the track in a great pillow of sound, and the crowd which had black ened the road parted, leaving between a brown ribbon of oiled earth. The next minute the engine of car No. began booming and spitting from both sides of it's bonnet darts of blue flame. The start CTS counted off the seconds. and at "Go! the car hunger forward. A great cheer rose from the grand stand, and kept pace with the car as it whizzed between the lines of bordering thousands.
 The first fifteen cars, cheer-foliowed, had gone flying at minute intervals toward the flushing east, when Jack. suddenly seized Morgan's arm. Somebody wants you" he said, and nodded toward box in the grand stand.
 Tn the box. one in the lowest tier, Nor gan saw a girl in a long tan coat. She smiled, and gloyed hand beckoned to him. Instantly he was out of the car and beneath the box. touching his begog- gled leathern skulcap that was tied be- heath his chin
 She leaned down over the railing till her head was on level with his, in order that her voice might be heard above the terrific fusillade No. I6 had just be- gun. "So you were not going to speak to a friend?" she demanded.
 "A friend?" he said dizzily. touching his cap to her aunt and uncle in the rear of the box 'I didn't know you were here. And didn't know you were my friend"
 Not your friend?r Her eyebrows arched with surprise Thought I sup pose I shouldn't be, after the way you've treated me-
 "The way I've treatd your gasped Morgan. as No. 6 roared away.
 ..Yes" Her face became severe. Think of how you served me on the telephone. I held the receiver till my arm ached. calling to you. waiting for you to say something more--but you'd cut me off. And then you haven't come near me for three months.
 He could only stammer and stare.