Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-10-07
CHAPTER XVII.
The Race Ended.

ihs Dietrich was a touring and not
a racing car, but it was very heavily
engined to anything between sixty
and eighty horsepower.
Directly the race proper began 1t
seemed obvious that Marriott and
Grant had the advantage Of the other
car.
4 shoald think" Marriott said,
bending low over the steering wheel
and with his eyes half closed, that
we have ten seconds in the minute
over this chap, and he is driving for
all he Is worth. Give nae four min
ntes and straight road and / will be
even with him"
He spoke IN a voice which reached
Grants ears with great distinctness-
1t was the voice of sailor accus-
toned to make himself heard In a
gale.
What are we going to do then?'
Grant said
That remains to be seen," Basil
replied; but / expect that we wilt
slow down. At any rate, we must
risk no accident, as the Duke is
there
He went on Jerking out his words
breathIessly. while the furious wind
created by the enormous speed at
which they were going WrestIed with
them. Have you got your revolver
In your pocket?" he asked Grant.
Grant nodded.
Very well. then. When we get
up close, take 1T out and shoot at the
back tires. II you puncturs only one
of them they are bound to come to
stop
Grant felt In his pocket and with
drew the little glittering WebIey,
loaded in all its five chambers.
Very well" he said careIessly.
On they went, rushing through the.
air like shell from gun A mile,
was shoyelied up and thrown behind
them In minute and half, but still
the other car kept it's distance.
cannot understand IT, Marriott
gasped out. 1.-THE engines are not 10
powerful as ours. nor is the car so
big
Then, suddenly, the explanation
came to him. He did not tell Grant.
because he was a man, who In times OF
action and danger, did nothing that
was superfuous He wanted all his
energies, all his concentrated atten-
ton, all his physical power, to drive
this car 10 overhaul the one In front.
1t would therefore have been super
fiuous to tell his companion what he
had arrived at. It was this.
The driver of the car which held
the little Duke dressed as a girl had
turned a spray Of pure alcohol into
his petrol, and, at the risk Of running
mis- car in a few days, was straining
II to its utmost capacity.
The sailor was scientific man,
and, indeed, had often been to the
Brooklyn Racing Track when on
leave. He knewknew instinctiyely
that the trick, forbidden In motor
racing under the automobile clubs
laws. was being employed In this
very up-to-date car which he could
not catch.
II the swift movement Of an ex-
press train had Induced thought.
when the two men were rushing
from Victoria to Dover but few
hours ago. the enormous speed at
which they were now hurled through
the sir reacted upon the sailor as
oxygen upon man stifiing in the last
throas Of asthma. Everything seemed
to become clear and vivid In his
brain. He remembered every detail
Of the quest, and In doing SO became
convinced that the tall man with the
blond moustache was none other than
Fritz Won Ravenstein himself. It was,
indeed Captain Marriott was as GER
tain OF II as II he had evidence and
proof---the son OF Miss Decies, the
Baroness Won Rayenstein, who had
the little Duke in his power.
Clearer and clearer grew the young
maA's appreciation Of the situation.
He realized that the spy, Huike, had
ben employed merely To discover his
own y 4 and Grant Inoy emsI,ts. and to
telegraph them direct to the sinister
and mysterious figure at Wohiau-
4 andskrona. s l5
Hulke had evidently mot been ad-
9nitted fully intoathe confidence Of the
lconBptrators. He was given one duty
e perform, and that WAS ali. There
fore, Hnlke had been obviously UNI
aware that Fritz Won Rayenstein and
the little Duke were actually staying
inthe same hotel to which Grant and
Marriott the Duchess and Daisy, had
come BY choice.
How the little Duke and his captor
left England Marriott did not know,
~ - DClIs5SL1c IuDt
clinniAgly c0ntrtyed, but that waA Inn
material The fact remained that
and his chargS hAd not
hAans. Akle "a 4sslsses ~ &esss
bssrg before. and That FAT Proxi-
dencs call its II aat t'oiiy " di.
rscte ths 1ftJ ] IA fss very
SPOT Mker6 thS hi nv and 'th man
IA him sre reating bsfore khsS Az
-