The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-08-06
Going
Some
By Rex Beach

Those neal the starting-point gave
room. Skinner stepped quickly out
from his blanket. and stamped his
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 C%ovington, Bo: I won't
be here when you come back
Get on your marks!" The starter
gave his order.
Speed set his spikes into the dirt,
brought HE weight forward upon his
hands. He whispered something to
Skinner. That gentleman straighten.
ed up, whereupon. Willie cried for q
second time:
"On your marks!" and again Skin,
ner crouched.
Get sell"
The crowd filled It's lungs and wait.
ed. Helen Blake buried her nails in
her rosy cold palms. Chaplin and his
friends were swayed by their heart
beats, while even Fresno was bal
anced upon his toes. his plump face
eager. The click Of Willie's gun sound.
ed sharp as he cooked 1t.
Into the a close by his cheek
Speed again whispered an agonized-
Don't forget to fall down."
This time the cook Of the Centipede
leaped backward with an angry snarl.
while the crowd took breath.
Make him quit talking to met"
cried Skinner.
Gallagher uttered an i%mprecation
and strobe forward, only to have his
way once more barred by Still Bill
Slower. He can talk If he wants to-"
There is nothing" Speed pointed
out with dignity, "in the articles to
forbid talking. If l wished to. l could
sing. Yes, or whistle. If felt like
it,
ION your marks!" came the rasping
Skinner,
Remember. I trust YOU"
Skinner ground his teeth; the tendons
in his calves stood out rigidly.
Get set!"
Once more the silence of death
wrapped the beholders, and Willie
raised his arm.
Speed cast one lingering farewell
glance to the skies. and said, devout-
ly: What a beautiful, beautiful
day!"
Now the starter was shaking in an
ague Of fury.
Listen, you!" he chartered, shrilly.
I'm goin' to shoot twice this time
once in the air, and the next time at
the nearest foot-runner. Now, get
set!" and the speaker pulled the trig-
ger, ~whereupon Speed leaped as If the
bullet had been aimed at him.
Instantly a full-lunged roar went up
that rolled away to the foothills, and
the runners sped out of the pandemon.
ium, their legs twinkling against the
d~ust-colored prairie. Down to the
turn they raced. Speed was leading.
Fright had acted upon him as an cleo
trio charge; his terror lent him wings;
he was obsessed by a propelling force
outside of himself. Naturally strong,
1.-the, and active, he likewise pos.
sessed within him the white-hot flame
OF youth, and now, with a nameless
fear to spur him on. he a as any
healthy, frightened young animal
would run. At the second turn Skin.
aer had no passed him, but the thud
of his feet was close behind.
This unparalleled phenomenon sur.
pr1sed Lawrence Glass perhaps most
of all. Was this a miracle? He
turned to Covington, to find him danc'
dng madly, his crutches waving over
his head, in his eyes the stare of a
maniac. His mouth was distended,
and Glass reasoned that he must be
shouting violently. but. could no be
sure. Suddenly Covington dashed to
the turn whence the runners would
be revealed al they covered the last
half lap. for nothing was distinguish.
able through the fence, burdened by
human forms. and Larry numbered aft.
er him, ploughing his way through the
crowd and colliding with the box upon
which stood the Echo Photograph, Of
New York and Paris. He hurled
Mariedetta out Of his path with brutal
disregard, but even before he could
reach his point of vantage the sprint.
ers burst into the homestretch. Larry
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