Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-12-09

} rig On the reporter The reporter
: stood like a dummy while a 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, wae slipped Oh
and fastened with diffic 1ty 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 i
driver, but the joke had no humor 70.
him.
! Robertson then showed the report
er pump in front of the mechani-
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
Iehgire hood. which on his order had
to be pulled out and pushed hack
with his foot. He also told him he
must look behind every half-n.inute,
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
a cup. He was told to brace his left
foot against a steel bar extending out
side from the car aoor 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 .
million terrific explosions all at once.
as though a 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
vibra IONS OF the car terri. wing. IL
gave the impression of 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 coEa
not be heard, an neld up their hands.
A racing car streaked past.
The men sprang aside and waved
their arms as if TO beckon The car
ieaped through the door, turning to
! the left down the Jericho turnpike, the
still air became a 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 long pennant in a gale
For an instant the reporter could
not get his breath; he braced as hard
as he could against the steel bar,
grasping tightly the handle behind the
drivers seat The car rounded the
slight curve came 10 straight ground
lswerying a little to one side and the
lother then rushing on. The reporter
Thought his goggles would burst in
ward Then he remembered the pump
he held in his left hand The ind,
lcator did not point to four. The rat
Ting explosions continued, flame
/ spouted from the exhaust pipes, and
sand from the oii-coated road stung
the mems faces.
The significance of the pump the
reporter did not know; he knew tina.
Ithe car was vibrating terribly. that
Ithe indicator trembled violently. THAI
the speed was terrible For what he
knew it might mean death if that in
dSeator was not brought back to four.
He pumped, gripping the handle 30
hind Robertson's seat with one hand
bracin5 hard with the left leg He
brought it back to four.
Miles had already fallen behind T.
road here was hard. the car flew OIL
more smoothly. The reporter san
trees far apart pass in rapid success
sion; felt the car swerve slightly a..
1.-THE smallest uneve mess of the road
felt that the utmost limit of speed han
been attained. Then he remembered
he was to look around. He felt if he
did so his goggles would surely 90. bu,
slowly turned his head The long
Z 80 ~NNA Va ASau hClIAhu grew measure
bly, greater with each fraction of
second. There was no car in sight.
He turned forward. and saw jus
ahead suspended over the track. a
square. black cloth. He knew thar
meant curve. a right-angle curve
| Fear returned as the car rushed ana
lleaped nearer to that right-angI
curve and never slowed. He saw
where the corner was: that there was
| a tree at the very angle; that Rot
! son was heading for that tree The
/ tree or the fence. ne thought, we can
not stop Then Robertson called
Holt FAST" The reporter heard his
voice as though at a distance. He
held on. the car slowed and seeming
to pivot around the tree. sped on
along the Old Westbury road
The car that had passed the garage
door was just in front. Robertson pu;
on higher speed. gained as though by
leaps. was abreast, then ahead. of the
other. The Westbury road was rough
er than the Turnpike, and the head o.
the car seemed to swing from side 10
side in an alarming way. There were
little rises along the road. and the