The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-04-07

sudden panic in money centers, still
remembered by many in the North
west. Nelson receives word of the
threatened run while he is in the Pa
louise country, and the novelist brings
him to Spokane, thus:
ut was early in the day--a day that
American bankers will not soon forget
that Warren Nelson's great touring
car left Judge Vests home down IN
the Palouse hills, and whirred away
in mad dash for spokane. A boy
galloped out from Whitman, bearing
a telegram that should have reached
the financier the night before
I'm the drivers seat sat Nelson. his
face as gray as his moustache, but his
Jaws were hard set, and the car was
sent plunging along the uneven road
up hills and down into the valleys, with
all of the reckless speed its engines
could develop. In the seat behind Nell
son were Joe Bronson and Frances,
for the girl had read the alarm in her
fathers face, and had insisted on re-
turning to the city with him.
With siren believing its warning.
the car had swept across the Pine
creek bridge, turned into the main
street of Whitman with speed that
sent the car skidding in terrifying
way. and then. having chung to the
road in some marvellous manner, it
flashed through the village with the
speed of an express train, narrowly
escaping collisions with vehicles, and
while those of the town were still
shouting in alarm the flying automo-
bile was climbing the hill to the north
of the town; the sunlight glinted on it
an instant, and then it sped down into
the little valley and went springing
and lurching and whirring on it's way.
THE man who crouched over the
steering gear seemed not of blood and
flesh; he might have been carved of
marble or fashioned of steel. He
spoke no word; he gave no sign; for
no instant did his eyes falter from the
roadway that lay ahead one breath
and shot beneath the car the next.
The hand of the gauge told off the
miles with rapid sweep. and at last
the outer limits of Spokane were
sighted.
The time, Bronson?" Nelson shout
ed. his gaze still on the road.
Joe took out his watch and, lean
ing forward, held the dial before the
banker. nod was the reply, and
Bronson replaced the watch. Scarcely
had he done so than there was a re-
port like the sound of rifle shot, and
one of the rear wheels began pound
ing and grating over the hard road.
n,,f
Nelson gave no heed.
Scattered houses appeared here and
there and the road became long,
irregular street, but with hoarse bel
lowing the car tore onward. the Grip
pied wheel jerking in an ominous way
at every uneven spot. Quickly the
panorama whirlcd by them brought
closer and larger clusters of dwellings.
and then one hand shifted from the
steering wheel to The throttle, the car
being now so far into the city that a
more moderate speed was a necessity,
but still they dashed on at a pace
that carried a constant threat of
tragedy.
Deeper and deeper into the city
they sped. and slower and slower the
car was driven, but even the last few
blocks were reelcd off at a speed that
caused policemen to shout and others
to pause and stare at the reckless
flight. With Il sweep the car drew up
in front of the Falls City bank, and
Nelson, pallid of face, stepped to the
curb.
What time is ii. Joe?' he asked
" Five minutes after nine, and
- Take Frances home and then
come back to the bank
Nelson turned and walked toward
the door. but his steps We're unsteady.
Bronson drew out his handkerchief
and moppcd the cold pcrspiration that
was standing on his brow. He took
the drivers seat. but in so doing he
found that his legs were strangely
weak and his hands unsteady. Frances
had collapsed and was huddled down
in the seat. pale and battling with
nervous sobs. Joe tried to speak to
her, but his throat had grown sud-
denly dry and his words were broken
gasps. Then he faced to the front and
drove slowly down Riverside avenue