Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-12-09
Who's goin' to send these y'el
athaIptoa awov9u

Who's goin' to send these we're
athaletes away?"
Il ami" announced Willie without
hesitation. "Bein' perhaps the handi-
est man present with weepon, I'm
goin' to start this Journey" He
looked his foes squareiy in the eyes.
Has anybody got objections to me?'
The silence was fiattering, and more
loudly now, so that Skinner might
hear, he added: "If your man tries to
beat the gun, III have him wingin'
his way to lands celestial before he
makes his second jump"
Gallagher acknowledged the fair
ness of this proposition. This race
is goin' to be squar'," said he. We're
ready when y'all are"
j. Wallingford Speed stepped ont of
his clothes and into his silken run
ning-suit. He was numb and cold.
His hands performed their duties to
be sure, but his brain was idle All
he knew was that he had been be-
trayed and all was lost. He heard
Glass painting instructions into his
ear, but they made no impression upon
him. In dull trance he followed his
trainer back to the track, his eyes
staring, his bones like water. Not un-
til he heard the welcoming shout OF
the Flying Heart henchmen did he
realize that the worst was vet to
come. He heard Larry still coaching
earnestly If you can't bite him, trip
him up" and some one said:
Are we ready?"
Glass held out his hand. "Good-by.
Mr.. Speed"
Chaplin came forward and spoke
with artificial heartiness, ''Good-luck,
Wally; beat him at the start" and
Covington followed.
Remember" he cautioned. sadly,
what | told you about the start-it's
your only chance"
Why don't you fellows think about
the finish OF this racer" faltered the
runner
Then, in a voice broken with excite
ment, Helen Blake spoke, holding out
her hand for good-by clasp. Dear
Mr.. Speed" she said, will you try
to remember this remember to run
before he does, and don't let him
catch up to you. If you do that, l Just
know you'll win"
This magnificent display of conf
dence nerved the athlete. and he
smiled at her. He wished to speak,
but dared not trust himself.
Gallagher was calling; so he went
to the starting-point, whence he sur
veyed the course. There it lay, no
more than a lane leading down be-
tween ranks of brown-faced men whose
eyes were turned upon him. On the
top rail of the corral perched Willie,
revolver in hand. The babble of
voices ceased the strident laughter
stilled. Speed heard the nervous rus
tie of feminine skirts. Skinner was
standing like a statue, his toe to the
mark, his eyes averted.
You'll start here and run a hun
dred yards out yonder to the tape, .
Gallagher announced
lClhoOs oolu CpCCu III my.
For one breathless instant there
was a hush of amazement, then a cry
of rage. Still Bill Slower hurled the
nearest man out of his patch, and
strobe forward, his lean face ablaze.
He wheeled and flung UP his hand as
if to check some hidden movement of
Willies.
NO voylence yet, viii, What d'you
mean, Mr.. Speed?"
Speed uttered what he knew was
his final joke on earth. Il mean that
l refuse to run straightaway. I'm an
all-around athlete, and | must run all
around something"
Amid shouts of confusion, those who
had taken position along the course
came crowding back TO the starting
point. Willie wrapped his legs about
the top rail of the fence and drew a
second revolver, while the two fore
men beloved indistinguishable threats
at each other. Chaplin lost no time In
withdrawing his guests out of the
turmoil, but Helen kept her place, her
face chalky but her eyes very bright.
what are you tryin' to hand us?'
roared Gallagher
Still Bill was quick to take cue
Don't get hectic!" said he. There's
nothin' in the articles about runnin
straight. Let 'em run around the cor
raj"
But at this suggestion every voice
seemed to break simultaneously
"Humpy Joe ran straightaway,' de
clared Gallagher
yes, an he kept at it." piped vii
lie. Il favor the idea of them runners
comm back where they start from
Listen, all of you" Speed an
nounced. Il am going TO run around
and around and around this corral
If Mr.. Skinner chooses to accompany
me. he may trail along; otherwise
shall run alone"
Never heerd of such a thing!'
Gallagher was dancing in his excite
ment. but Skinner Gained him by an
nouncing, CURLY:
'T'n beat him any way he wants tC
run
! You couldn't beat rug" retortec
I There's no use in suffering. One box.
I he IN q