Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-02

ones, but he didn't touch the front
tires.
When this was finished Robertson
turned to the reporter. Now" ne
said, there's nothing to worry about.
I'm not going to break my own neck
to kill YOU" The reporter smiled
|feebly, saying he was "all ready" He
was lightly dressed, with only a sweat
er on besides his ordinary clothes. He
had no cap and wore a light pair OF
goggles.
Here, said Robertson, you can't
go that way; those goggles would be
off in three minutes" Turning to his
mechanician, he told him to put his
rig ON the reporter. The reporter
stood like a dummy while cap
which covered his ears and buttoned
under his chin was fastened on;
while a sort of rubber bag, with holes
for arms and head, was slipped on
and fastened with difficulty between
his legs; while his light goggles were
replaced with heavy ones, protecting
cheeks and nose. He felt that now
when that tire burst there was no
hope at all, so strapped and bundled
was he. He was told he looked like a
driver, but the joke had no humor for
him.
| Robertson then showed the report
er pump in front of the mechanl-
clans seat, with an indicator above
it. you've got to keep the indicator
at four" he said He showed several
other sorts of stops Just behind the
engine hood, which on his order had
to be pulled out and pushed back
with his foot. He also told him he
must look behind every half-minute,
and when a car was in sight tell
what car it was and how far distant.
The reporter climbed in beside the
driver He found that he fitted into
the round padded seat like ball in
cup. He was told to brace his left
foot against steel bar extending out
side from the car foor. All was
ready. Outside was the white light
of early morning.
Various handles were turned on or
off, pulled out or pushed in. The re
porter pumped the indicator UP to
| four Then there seemed to come q
million terrific explosions all at once,
as though dozen volleys had been
fired. A cloud of smoke shot from the
exhaust pointing out from the engine
hood in front of the mechanician's
seat. The noise was terrific and the
vibrations of the car terrifying. 1t
gave the impression of a tremendous,
irresistible force locked within this
fragile vehicle. The reporter held his
breath, group of men at the door of
the garage shouted, though they could
not be heard, and held up their hands.
A racing car streaked past.
The men sprang aside and waved
their arms as if to beckon The car
leaped through the door, turning to
the left down the Jericho turnpike, the
still air became gale pushing the
men back into their seats, the car
seemed to leap forward with a thou
sand short. sharp bounds, so that it
strained against the two mems backs
The sound OF the wind was like the
swapping of a long pennant in a gale
For an instant the reporter could
not get his breath; he braced as Hard
las he could against the steel bar,
grasping tightly the handle behind the
drivers seat. The car rounded the
slight curve came to straight ground
swerving a little to one side and the
other, then rushing on. The reporter
thought his goggles would burst in
ward. Then he remembered the pump
he held in his left hand. The indi.
Gator did not point to four The rat
ting explosions continued, flame
spouted from the exhaust pipes, and
sand from the oil-coated road stung
the mems faces.
The significance of the pump the
reporter did not know; he knew tina.
the car was vibrating terribly. that
the indicator trembled violently, that
the speed was terrible For what he
hhOV ~ lliohb DlCdu QCdlll IL ludJ III
dicator was not brought back to four.
He pumped, gripping the handle b.
hind Robertson's seat with one hand,
bracing hard with the left leg. He
brought it back to four.
Miles had already fallen behind II
road here was hard, the car flew on
more smoothly. The reporter saw
trees far apart pass in rapid success
sion: felt the car swerve slightly a;
the smallest unevenness of the road
felt that the utmost limit of speed haa
been attained Then he remembered
he was to look around He felt if he
did so his goggles would surely go, bu,
slowly turned his head. The LONG
stretch Of road behind grew measure
bly, greater with each fraction of
second There uac No ooy in c;rb+