Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-11-27


the next day on the dier. Charley
didn't talk much. and I didn't worry
him.
At the indianapolis station / got my
second shock. Charley had a girl! he
must have telegraphed, for she was
waiting at the station with apparently
none other than dearest mamma. He
told me afterward that she was the
daughter Of the purchasing agent Of
the factory. Say, she did love my bossi
Why, she couldn't have spelled It
palmer on an electric sign When /
saw Charley after dinner he told me
the whole thing. She wanted him In
the race.
ED, you ought to see the little mink.
Do you know she thinks I am the best
driver IN the world, and If she keeps
up that talk It's going to turn my fool
head. don't you know It. She makes
II so all fred real Why, I can see you
and me leading Barney about ten laps,
and
Charley: !Charleyg" I broke in on
that gun. Wen be lucky devils to
bring hume two whole frames and a
few pieces Of car. II your little lady
wants you 20 race. race! But keep
your head. boss. That speedway Is
some nasty driving"
When the big day came I was not
with him, II was my blamed eyes. l
eried--honest to goodness-almost an
the night before. / seemed so much a
part OF Charley and his squaty little
Greyhound. But eyes are necessary,
and with an aching heart Charley took
on Newman. So was at the track In
a front seat Sitting with me was
Miss Lois-Charley's sweetheart
We had nervously waited the hour
before the 800 mile affair. / think the
little lady cried and laughed by weird
turns. Once her mother wanted her to
leave the speedway. but she couldn't
have made her leave for a million dol
lars At the start her nerves were on
edge. She leaned far out, and l was
fearful Of some Mysteries. But she
braced up. And how they whirled.
The Greyhound was going at dizzy
speed Charley was taking the turns
like a good fellow. She made me use
the field glasses. Now he darted past
a rival. Now he ducked close to the
earth and went like a scared gopher.
After a few minutes Miss Lois caught
my arm.
"Mr. Ed. l oughtn't to care for glory.
But you don't know-it will mean Nv
erything to us-tO Charley and me. on,
how I want him to win, but it's awful.
Mr.. Ed"
/ said nothing. I didn't quite
know what to say. AS l stood figuring
on what to do for the girl. in case
something did happen, / saw Charley.
he shot past US for the twentieth time.
saw a cloud Of dust There was a
cry from nearly 10000 mouths. La
Roche, the French driver. had gone
down in a nasty heap. Again l caught
sight Of Charley and how he was driv-
ingi The dump had given him q slight
advantage. and be was eating Up the
path before him
How long our nerves had tingled l
don't know. ! would have been a
thousand times easier at my old place.
saw Charley rush by the stand and
stop a hundred yards down the course.
Il was tire trouble. I could sec them
working like henda
"Go to him. Mr.. Ed" She almost
pushed me. Tell him to be careful.
Tell him.
was on. The face Of that girl was
q miracle. I remembered her words
and rushed to Charley. l pulled him
from his work and told him the girl he
loved was scared worse'n l ever saw q
woman. He grew a little pale, but It
didn't show much under his dirty face.
"In stop, II you think she wants me
to. Nothin' is too good for her. But
II that motor holds l can win In a
walk"
AS he stopped talking there was a
crash. Young Lockwood had gone
into a fence a few yards back stretch
Charley's car vas already In trim to
go. She painted as II mad to leap for
ward OF the mad path that sometimes
leads lowell, 1t isn't pleasant Il say
Just where. But Charley did not get
into the car.
ED. II l drop out viii the boys say
I Quit7"
! didn't answer. Far down the track
came the cry OF another spill. Above
the din came the unnatural sni IL voice
Of Miss Lois. She was leaning against
the fence only ten yards away.
Tell Charley to drivel Tell him
to drive for LOisI"
Without a word my boss was in his
place With a pun the Greyhound
Jumped into the middle OF the speed
way. And then ranted on.
As l led the girl back to the stand
great tears mounted to the corners Of
her pretty eyes
Men need brave girls. don't they,
Mr.. Ed1 Men expect
Bangl
Only a moment later q racer was OF
! IRE. Il had jumped the railing and
| WAS uo~ huFninO fntO oahaa a half