Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-03-05

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the clasp, his warm smile flashing to
his cousin; then the swirl Of prepare
ton swept between them and Dick
next saw him as part of one of the
throbbing, flaming row of machines
before the judges stand.
1t was not tranquilizing expert.
ence for an amateur to witness the
start, when the fourteen powerful cars
sprang simultaneously for the first
curve, struggling for possession Of the
narrow track In q wheel to wheel con.
test where one mistouch meant the
wreck Of many. After that first view,
Dick sat weakly down on an oil barrel
and watched the race in state Of
fascinated endurance.
The golden and violet sunset melted
pearllike into the black cup of night.
The glare of many searchlights made
the track glistening band of white,
around which circled the cars, them.
selves gemmed with white and Grim
son lamps. The cheers Of the peo-
pie as the lead was taken by one IA
'vorite or another, the hum Of voices,
the music and uproar of the machines
blended into web of sound indescrib-
able. The spectacle was at once ul.
tramodern and classic in antiquity Of
conception. y
At eight o'clock Lestrange came fly
ing in, sent off the track to have q
lamp relighted.
water" he demanded tersely, in
the sixty seconds of the stop, and
laughed openly at Dicks expression
while he took the cup.
"Why didn't you light 1t out there's"
asked the novice, infected by the speed
fever around him.
Forgot our Matches" Rupert flung
over his shoulder, as they dashed out
again.
An oil-smeared mechanic patroniz-
ingly explained:
you can't have cars manicuring all
over the track and people tripping
over 'em. You get sent off to light up,
| and if you don't go they fine you laps
made"
Machines darted in and out from
their camps at intervals, each waking
a frenzy of excitement among its men.
At ten o'clock the Mercury car came
! in again, this time nmping with flat
| tire, to be fallen on by its mechanics.
"We're leading, but we'll lose by
this" said Lestrange, slipping out to
relax and meditatively contemplating
the alternate driver, who was standing
across the camp. "Ffrench, at twelve
I'll have to come in to rest some, and
turn my machine over to the other
man. And won't have him wrecking
it for me. want you, as owner, to
. give him absolute orders to do no
speeding; let him hold a fifty.two
mile an hour average until take the
wheel again"
"Me?"
81 can't do it. You, of course"
'You could" Dick answered. i've
been thinking how you and will run
that factory together It's all stuff
about your going away; why should
you? You and your father take me
| as junior partner. you know I'm not
big enough FOR anything else.'
! You're mans size," Lestrange as
sured, a hand on his shoulder. But
1T won't do. I'll not forget the offer.
though, never
~All on!" dozen voices signaled;
men scattered in every direction as
Lestrange sprang to his place.
The hours passed on the wheels OF
excitement and suspense. When Le-
strange came in again, only a watch
convinced Dick that it was midnight.
"You, gave the order2" Lestrange
asked.
eyes," .'.
He descended, taking of his mask
and showing face white with IA
tigue under the streaks of dust and
CRIME.
'I'll be all right in half an hour"
he nodded, in answer to Dicks excla-
nation. Send one Of the boys for
coffee. will you, please? Rupert needs
some, too. Here, one of you others,
ask one Of those idle Doctors appren-
tees 10 come over WIN Ieeu pdhN
age; my arms trifie untidy."
In fact, his right sleeve was wet
and red, where the strain of driving
had reopened the injury Of the day be-
fore. But he would not allow Dick to
speak Of 1t.
I'm going to spend an hour or two
resting. Come in, French. and Wen
chat In the intervals, II you like"
"And Rupert? Where's he?" Dick
wondered. peertngs into the dark with
vague impression Of lurking dangers
on every side.
"He's hurried in out Of the night
air." treasured familiar accents;
small figure lounged across into the
light. making vigorous use OF drip
! ping towel. Tell Darling ! feel faint
and I'm going over to that grand-stand
cafe la car to get some pie. III be
back in time to read over my last
lesson from the chauffeur's CORE
spondence school. Oh, see what's
here!"
A telegraph messenger boy had
cpvuo ,yy, IN Dirk