Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-29

wards. Does the Centipede accept Its !
fate7" Still Bill glared at the faces
ringed about him.
I'VE do II Skinner says So"
Twice around the corral" agreed
Skinner. But no accidents, under
stand7 II he falls, keep going"
Instantly there ensued a scramble
for grand.stand seats; the cowboy,
swarmed like insects upon the stout
fence of the corral.
Then you'll start and finish here
Once y'all pass we'll stretch a string te
yonder post, and the first man to bust
It wins. Who's got a string?"
"Mr Gallagher won't you use my
sash2" Helen quickly unfastened the
long blue bow of ribbon from her cot
ton gown, and Gallagher thanked her
adding:
Moreover, the winner gets it,"
For the FIRST time then, Skinner ad
dressed Miss Blake.
Hadn't you better make that the
loser. miss? The winner gets the
| COIN" and the assent came in fash
ing smile from the sky-blue yes.
Then the loser gets the ribbonH
Gallagher announced loudly and made
one end fast to the corral. Which
call han treatment for Mr.. Speed
4 an only wish we might retain 1t al
the Centipede as a remembrance Are
the runners ready?"
Those near the starting-point gave
room. Skinner stepped quickly Out
from his blanket, and stamped bis
spikes into the soil; he raised and low
cred himself on his toes to try his
muscles. Speed drew his bath-robe
from his shoulders and thrust it to
ward his trainer. who shook his head
Give 1t to Covington, 30; | won''
be here when you come back
Get on your marks!" The starter
gave his order
Speed set his spikes into the dirt
brought his weight forward upon his
hands. He whispered something to
Skinner. That gentleman straighten
ed up whereupon Willie cried for {
second time:
ION your marks!" and again Skin
ner cronched.
Get set"
The crowd flied its lungs and wait
ed. Helen Blake buried her nails IL
her rosy cold palms. Chaplin and hi
friends were swayed by their heart
beats. while even Fresno was bal
anced upon his toes. his plump fac,
eager. The click of Wilie's gun sound
ed sharp as he cooked it.
Into the ear close by his cheel
Speed again whispered an agonized-
Don't forget to fall down"
This time the cook OF the Centiped
leaped backward with an angry snar
while the crowd took breath.
Make him quit talking to me-!
cried Skinner
Gallagher uttered an imprecatio
and strobe forward, only to have hi
,, way once more barred by Still BIZ
Slower. "He can talk il he wants to.
,, There is nothing" Speed pointe
out with dignity, "in the articles t
!. forbid talking If wished to, I coul
, sing. Yes, or whistle, If I felt lik
a 1t.
ION your marks" came the raspin
voice of Willie as Wally murmured
. Skinner:
Remember, trust you
Skinner ground his teeth; the tendon
. in his calves stood out rigidly.
Get set"
9 Once more the silence of deaf
: wrapned the beholders, and Will
, raised his arm.
Speed cast one lingering farewe
| glance to the skies, and said, devou
ly: what beautiful, beautifl
day."
Now the starter was shaking in a
ague Of fury.
| Listen, you" he chartered. shrill
| I'm goin' to shoot twice this time
! once in the air, and the next time {
i the nearest foot-runner. Now, q
4 set" and the speaker pulled the tri
II ger, whereupon Speed leaped as If Il
II bullet had been aimed at him.
II Instantly a full-lunged roar went |
H that rolled away to the foothills, al
n the runners sped out OF the pandemo
ium. their legs twinkling against Il
dust-colored prairie. Down to Il
turn they raced. Speed was leadin
4 Fright had acted upon him as an ele
4 trio charge; his terror lent him wing
! he was obsessed by a propelling for
! outside of himself. Naturally stron
J 1.-the, and active, he likewise pc
= sessed within him the white-hot fan
of youth, and now, with a namele
fear to spur him on. he ran as al
II healthy, frightened young amin
Of would run. At the second turn Ski
ner had not passed him, but the Thu
~ of his feet was close behind.
This unparalleled phenomenon su
rs prised Lawrence Glass perhaps mo
al of all Was this a miracle? +
IN turned to Covington to find him dan
III ing madly, his crutches waving ov,
his head, in his eyes the stare Of
&c maniac. His mouth was distende
SO and Glass reasoned that he must
&. shouting violently but could not
ut sure. Suddenly Covington dashed
the turn whence the runners wou
a. be revealed as they covered the la
"a half lap, for nothing was distinguis
in able through the fence, burdened
ia human forms. and Larry numbered a.
ar er him, ploughing his way through II
II crowd and colliding with the box upC
," which stood the Echo Photograph.