The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-08
THE TEST
BY JACK BETHEA

in readiness. Every bearing had been oiled, every screw adjusted to nicety. the tank filled with gasoline and nothing, remained to be done but the riding.
 He had used a new frame and substi- tuted his own engine for the factory one, One could not have told the racer from new one except for the giant gear. Harry tested the motor, turned out the lights and went to bed.
 The day of the race dawned clear and cool.s The track was in perfect condi- tion A slight shower had fallen the day before and the ground was just rough enough to grip the tires.
 The race between the champion and the unknown rider had been wal advertised and long before the hour for'the start the grandstands were crowded. All around the track people were pushing and show ing to get a better view.
 Fifteen minutes before the race Hardy rolled his machine onto the track and prepared to Timber up. He had taken a chance. His motorcycle had been care fully inspected and every screw set right.
 AS Hardy looked up over the crowd he caught the fiutter of white handkerchief and knew that Hester was watching him. At the same time a note was thrust into his hands by a small boy.
 
 read:
 Dear Bob Go in and win for-my sake. I shall be watching you. Let nothing stop you. Hester.
 Tucking the note into a pocket and lib- orally rewarding the boy who had re- mained near in silent adoration he waved encouragingly toward Hester
 No one had seen Harry. Fifteen min utes, ten minutes, five minutes before the start and no Harry. Hardy began to think that he was going to bolt the race and the grandstand was getting impa- tient when Harry pushed his way through the crowd, rolling his machine. An in- voluntary gasp of admiration went up from the. onlookers. Hardy looked ner- vouS.
 Hardy could see that the machine was built for speed and his experienced eye noted the extra large gearing. He had to concede that the cycle was as pretty a one as he had ever seen.
 Harry walked to the starting point and attempted to start his engine. The ma chine refused to fire. Again he tried this time with success. Firing like a cannon the motor seemed like d greyhound in leash.
 The time arrived for the start There was a little delay and the machines shot
 
 Hardy opened his machine boldly and it jumped ahead like frightened rabbit. By good riding he took the curve with Harry only few feet behind. Crouching, urging his machine forward, Hardy was riding as he had never ridden before.
 Slowly, but surely, he began to draw away from Harry. The distance gradu- ally widened between the two in spite of all the efforts Harry put forth. The two flashed past the start with Hardy 50 feet in advance.
 Try as he would Hardy could not widen the distance more than 30 feet. Harry stuck like a leech. As they passed the quarter post grim smile stole over his face as for the first time he heard his engine settle into the speed song Cau- tiously he fed her the gasoline and be- gan to creep up on the flying figure in front. Glancing ahead to gage the dis tance he was petrifed to see what had happened to his rival
 The crowd, in an attempt to get a bet ter view of the turn. had surged across the track. As Hardy's machine came tearing around the curve everyone ran back except woman who had misjudged the terrific speed of the motorcycle. Hardy struck her a glancing blow, knocking her down. By magnificent rid
 
 exquisite mastery of his machine he re- covered his equilibrium and with hoarse shout of rage threw the racer open. When Harry saw what had happened he cut out like flash and came to a sliding stop foot from the inert body of the woman. Tumbling from his machine he grasped the woman and with the aid of a man who sprang from the crowd, carried her outside the track. Dashing back he sprang on his machine and made a. flying start.
 His heart sank within him as he saw Hardy in front of him. As he completed his second lap Hardy passed the half mile riding like a demon Settling him self Harry fed gasoline and air eau tiousiy. His heart warmed within him as he heard his engine respond. Then he prepared himself for the supreme test of his nerve. sei ,s | Plugging the rail so closely that scarce a yard separated him from death he urged his motorcycle ahead. Slowly the distance shortened between them. Grad ually he began to cut down Hardy's lead. As he flashed past the start Hardy rounded the turn. Half recovered.
 The track was flying blur. The wind stung his face and particles of sand snapped waspishly against his goggles. Relentessly he crawled up Every nerve was set and he scarcely felt the heart breaking strains.
 At the finish of the fourth lap he was scarcely 50 feet behind Hardy. Taking advantage of every art he knew he was doing such riding as had never been done before on that track. As the flying ma- chies turned into the stretch Harry passed Hardy and took the pole. In vail, Hardy strove to catch him. The speed was not in the engine. Harry passed the finish winner by 30 feet.
 The grandstand went wild. There were thousands who crowded down to conerat- ulate Harry on his marvellous riding. Hardy had lost the sympathy of the crowd when he failed to stop at the &C., cident Pushing through the crowd that surrounded him Hester attempted to throw herself into his arms, saying:
 "Oh, Harry, I knew you were not a coward and I was going to marry you anyway"
 But Harry merely pushed her aside gently, but firmly. and rolled his machine through the crowd without a word.
 @ rNH