The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-06-15
CHAPTER I.
The hid Amateur.
Next Week, s.CAB NO. "a"
BY X. +. Foster

Inc AAu Amateur
Gerard paused ON the steps of
the cement plateau overlooking
the race track.
"What?" he wondered. why.
who"
The grinning meehanieian who
had just come across from the
row of training camps opposite
supplied the information.
"Oh, that's Roses rose. Amt
he awful tweet?" he Knocked
Gerard continued to smile.
HE can drive"
Sure" assented the mech
anician. But he'll be the last
rose of summer when the race
comes off. He'll not last twenty
four hours-a kid amateur. II
you amt coming over, I'll lead
myself back to my job"
You never can TELL" warned
Gerard. mo. I'm not coming
over. Rupert; run along"
He moved over to one of the
grand-stand seats, as he spoke.
and sat down. The afternoon
sun glittered across the green
field and the mile track circling
1t, where four racing cars sped In
practice contest. Two of them
were painted gray. one was
dingy-white; the fourth shone in
delicate pink enamel. Its driver
and mechanician were clad in
psuk also, adding the completing
stroke to an effect suggesting the
circus rather than the race track.
Yet, the rose-eolored faehine
was well driven. More than once
the watcher nodded in quick ap-
proval. Once he rose and changed
his position to see more distinct
ly, and it WAS then he notice the
girl. She, too, was watching the
pink racer.
The pink machine finished its
last circuit and plunged through
the paddock entrance. Stimuli
taneously the girl arose, hurry
ing down the stairway aisle. So
great was her haste that, coming
suddenly to the last step, one
high-heeled shoe slipped and
flung her violently against a col
umn of the stand. Gerard reached
her Just In time to prevent fur
Their fall.
You will let me take you
down the rest of the way" Ger
ard offered.
You are very good. MY car
is beyond the corner, there. L
/ am In haste to reach It,"
They descended to the lower
floor and crossed strip of sandy
ground to where a car waited,
empty save for the chauffeur.
Il am running away from my
brother" the young girl explain
ed. He is practicing out there. 1t
vexes him IL 1 watch him or say
l am afraid for him. Thanks to
you, | shall escape before he finds
me-"
The kid amateurs" sister,
Gerard thought, as he put her in
the car.
The margain of safe escape was
not great. AS Gerard stepped
back on the cement promenade,
the pink machine shot across and
came to a halt near the exit, its
driver turning in HIS seat.
Anyone going to town." he
called.
NO." came the sdiscouraging
monosyllable from the official
stand.
The drivers gaze Travelled over
the empty tier of seats, to fall
at last upon Gerard.
You're wearing a chauffeur's
license" he challenged.
Il surely am. Want to engage
a mani" was the grave response.
The boys arch glance swept the
others face, so definitely stamped
with the habit of mastery.
eff | did I'd ask you to recon-
mend one," he retorted mirthful-
1y. But l wasn't thinking of
hiring you. I want to ask If you
would ride into the city with me.
My mechanician is busy, / can't
find anyone else to go with me,
and I've got to get my car to the
shop tonight"
Now l wonder" Gerard unused
aloud, why you want anyone
with you"
Because I won't be eighteen
for a month";" he explained. "Un-
der the latest law freak turned
out at Albany, I'm too young to
drive a motor vehicle safely on
the public roads unless l have a
licensed chauffeur alongside of
me. oh, of course you'd taught"
Il was only recalling what I've