The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-06-20
A NOVEL
A w ZEE X

/ out his hand to the speschless
Rupert.
You heard-now do It," he
required.
Still dumb. the mechanician
dragged off his glove and gave
for the races finish the hand
clasp that he had denied for its
start.
The Mercury sprang from her
camp with a roar of Embossed
power. During the rest of the
hour, people stood up in seats
and automobiles, watching the
Mercury Titan. Not before had
they witnessed driving like that.
never again could the driver
equal that inspired flight.
Just sixty-nine seconds ahead
OF his nearest rival. Corrie Rose
brought his car across the line.
As he halted the Mercury before
the judges, the people burst out
over the course and overwhelmed
the victors.
1t was some time before Corrie
and Rupert could be rescued froIu
the enthusiastic press of admir-
ers. When at last the Mercury
came over to its own camp, Ger
ard was first able to bring Fla
via to her brother.
Stiff, weary and dishevelled,
Corrie descended from his car.
tripping impatiently over the
flowers someone had placed in II.
There was a perfunctiOnary quail
ity in the tenderness with which
he kissed Flavia, as there had
been a FESTIVE haste in his ac-
ceptance of his present ovation.
Il want my father" said Corrie
Rose.
Very lovingly Gerard put his
arm around the slim shoulders
and drew his master-driver to a
tent behind the repair pit. there
left him to enter alone and went
back to Flavia.
Comparative quietness had de-
scended upon the row of pits
when, half an hour later, Mr..
Rose and Corrie strolled casually
up to join the other two members
of the party.
81 don't know how long you
propose to stay here" observed
the senior, tolerantly. "Lenoir is
waiting with the limousine, and
1t strikes us it's about time to
start for home"
Chilly wind blowing, too"
| Corrie suggested.
Gerard and Flavia exchanged a
| glance of infinitely tender COM
| prehension of these two.
Il want to show you all some
thing, first Gerard detained
them. I'VE don't want to take
| any worries home that we can
leave here. Give me that ball of
tape you put in your pocket this
| morning. Corrie."
Astonished, Corrie obeyed.
Hello. Rupert" Gerard sent
his voice across to where that
black eyed machinician leaned
against the Mercury Titan, a hun
dred feet away. CATCH"
Rupert promptly turned. The
improvised ball in his fingers,
! Gerard slowly raised both arms
above his head in the old grace
full gesture, his brilliant eyes
smiling at his companions, thea
launched the sphere straight to
its goal.
1t was not Flavia who found
oNOA taACA AFGb BlNG way
Gerard Gerard" Corrie's cry
rang out: he sank down on a
camp chair and covered his face.
Remorseful, Gerard sprang to
him.
"Corrfe = don't take IL like
that Il is all right; I've been
fighting for this ten months un-
der a French surgeons orders"
You never told me. Oh, Ger
ard, Gerard"
81 did not want to tell you un.
til I was sure the cure was real
and permanent. And l was not
sure until I met the surgeon In
New York yesterday"
You could have told me last
night. l might have been killed
today and never have known"
Gerard exchanged with Mr..
Rose a glance of very sad under
standing, a mutual acknowledge
ment of mutual error.
Would you have driven the
Mercury today against your ia
theirs wish, IL you had known
that | should be able to drive my
own car next year? think not.
But I would tell no one else until
I did you, although" he turned
to the radiant girl, although Il
was hard not to hold out both
hands to Flavia."