Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-08-07

Who's goin' to send these y'ere
athaletes away7"
Il ami" announced Willie without
hesitation. "Bein' perhaps the handi-
est man present with a weepon, I'm
goin' to start this journey" He
looked his foes squarely in the eyes.
HAS anybody got objections to me?"
The silence was hattering, and more |
loudly now, SO that Skinner might |
hear, he added: III your man tries to |
beat the gun, I'll have him wingin'
his way to lands celestial before he
makes his second jump"
Gallagher acknowledged the fair
ness Of this proposition. "This race
il goin' to be squar'," said he. We're
ready when y'all are"
J. Wallingford Speed stepped out 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 yet to
come. He heard Larry still coaching
earnestly: III 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 ana spoke
with artificial heartiness, "Good-luck.
Wally; beat him at the start" and
Covington followed.
Remember" he cautioned, sadly,
what I 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 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 lot him
catch up to you. II 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 . 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 q statue. his toe to the
mark, his eyes averted.
You'll start here and run hun
dred yards out yonder to the tape.
Gallagher announced.
II refused" said Speed firmly.
For one breathless instant there
was q hush Of amazement, then . or,
Of rage. Still Bill Slower hurled thu
nearest man out Of his patch, ant
strobe forward, his lean face ablaze
He wheeled and flung up his hand q
II to check some hidden movement o
Willie's.
mo voylence yet. Will! What d'yo'
mean, Mr.. Speed?"
Speed uttered what he knew wa
his final Joke on earth. Il mean tina
refuse to run straightaway. I'm q
all-around athlete, and l must run al
around something"
Amid shouts of confusion, those VIII
had taken position along the cours
came crowding back to the starting
point. Willie wrapped his legs abou
the top rail of the fence and drew
second revolver, while the two for
men beloved indistinguishable threat
! at each other. Chaplin lost no time
/ withdrawing his guests out Of tn
turmoil, but Helen kept her place, he
face chalky but her eyes very brigh
What are you tryin' to hand us!
roared Gallagher.
Still Bill was quick to take Gu
i Don't get hectic!" said he. There
!. nothin' in the articles about runni
straight. Let 'em run around the CO
10 raj"
But at this suggestion every voit
!. seemed to break simultaneously
"A "Humpy Joe ran straightaway" d
A. clared Gallagher.
4 Eyes, an he kept at It," piped w
y lie. II favor the idea OF them runne
"A comm back where they start from
ID Listen. all of you," Speed a
" nounced. Il am going to run arouI
=. and around and around this corr,
: II Mr.. Skinner chooses to accompal
me. he may trail along: otherwise
a shall run alone"
Ut Never heerd Of such thing
,e Gallagher was dancing in his excit
i'd ment, but Skinner Gained him By Z
" nouncing, CURLY:
I'll beat him any way he wants
Or run" . ..,o..