The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1914-05-28
Who's goin' to send these yer,
athaIetes away?'

Who's goin' to send these y'ere
athaletes away?"
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 fiattering. and more
loudly now, so that Skinner might
hear, he added: IF your man tries to
beat the gun. I'll have him wingin
makes his second jump"
Gallagher acknowledged the fair
ness of this proposition. This race
is goin' to be squar'," said he. We're
ready when y'all are"
J. WaIlingford 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 bis
trainer back to the track, his eyes
staring, his bones like water. Not I'M
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: IF 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 and spoke
with artificial heartiness, "Good-luck
Wally; beat him at the start" and
Covington followed.
Remember" he cautioned, sadly
what 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 oui
her hand for good-bY clasp. Deal
Mr.. Speed" she said, will you try
to remember this 2-remembe to rur
before he does, and don't let hin
catch up to you. II you do that, JUS
know you'll win"
This magnificent display of conf
dence nerved the athlete. and h,
smiled at her. He wished to speak
but dared not trust himself.
Gallagher was calling; so he wen
to the starting point, whence he sur
veyed the course. There it lay, NJ
more than a lane leading down be
tween ranks of brown-faced men who's,
eyes were turned upon him. On tn,
top rail of the corral perched Willie
revolver in hand. The babble o
voices ceased, the strident laughter
stilled, Speed heard the nervous rus
tie of feminine skirts. Skinner wa.
standing like a statue, his toe to the
mark, his eyes averted.
You'll start here and run a hun
dred yards out yonder to the tape,
Gallagher announced.
Il refused" said Speed firmly.
For one breathless instant ther'
was a hush of amazement, then a 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 al
if to check some hidden movement o
Willie's.
mo voylence yet, Will What d'yol
mean. Mr.. Speed?"
Speed uttered what he knew wa
his final joke on earth. 81 mean tina
I refuse to run straightaway. I'm al
all-around athlete, and l must run al
around something"
Amid shouts of confusion, those wit
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 fore
men beloved indistinguishablet threat
at each other. Chaplin lost no time Il
withdrawing his guests out of tn
turmoil, but Helen kept her place, he
face chalky but her eyes very bright
what are you tryin' to hand us?
reared Gallagher.
Still Bill was quick to take a cue
Don't get hecticl" said he. There
nothin' in the articles about runnir
straight. Let 'em run around the col
raj"
But at this suggestion every voic
seemed to break simultaneously.
"Humpy Joe ran straightaway, d.
clared Gallagher.
Yes. an he kept at it," piped Wi
lie. Il favor the idea of them runner
comm back where they start from"
Listen. all of you" Speed al
nounced. Il am going to run aroun
and around and around this cora
If Mr.. Skinner chooses to accompan
me, he may trail along; otherwise
shall run alone"
Never heerd Of such thing!
Gallagher was dancing in his excite
ment. but Skinner Gained him by al
nouncing, CURLY:
'Tll beat him any way he wants
run"
you couldn't beat rug" retorte
. I 1-bara'e No nee In entering One box