The Washington times., 1916-12-23

heart. Now Il needed no very pro-
found research to discover what had
happened to the Cigar. One accumu-
istor was exhausted. There he'd been
hort.circuitings through q badly In
sulsted wire.
"Accumuiator used up" announced
Christopher.
II was afraid so. oh, poor father!
what will become OF me7' walled the
girl. In a very small. hesrt-broken
voice.
"I have q spare one" Christopher
said. You're very welcome to IT,
NO" she cried. II wouldn't take IL
from you. I couldn't possibly"
Don't say any more" cut In Chris
TOPPER. "I want you TO have the sc-
cumulator I shouldn't enjoy q win
now unless you had that chance. No
credit to me, you see. IL we hnger
here some OF the others will be on us,
and neither of us will win."
The temptation was too great Tor
her. she let him run back 10 his car
(which she couldn't help remembering
that she had called q poor. old un-
interesting red thing'') and take from
under the scat that spare sccumulator
which might mean salvation for her
Z
working with quick. deft fingers ut
the cigar.
"Therew exclaimed Christopher.
you've plenty OF power for your
| horoscopes again. See, they're spin
ming round like mad. Now you can get
on"
As he spoke the Girl sprang TO her
seat, the observer following her ex'
| ample, as Mcclellan climbed expect.
antiy back into Scarlet Runner. -
can never thank you enough fof-lor
| ne Goals OF fre," Miss Herbert ssid'
hand on the steeripE.wheel. But
I'm going to let you start nrst. we
| must wait.
mo. you mustn't wait" echoed
Christopher lAconioaily.
He was standing against one OF his
OWE driyinE.wheeis. looking up at her
with an odd exprs .rion In HE eyes, as
| II he were suddenly very tired. She
was no lonss. white 4 bright color
| stained h.t cheeks, but II was Christie
phsr who was pal. under dust and
! tan. lie felt rather detected. for he
was On the act OF doing a hideour
/ thing -wounding his best friend. Also
/ he was throwing away ten thouhand
pounds, and o fortune from his uncle.
I Just because . girl had chied and
| Christopher had quietly. stsalthily
taken o penknife from his pocket and.
with his hand behind him. had driven
the little blade deep into Scarlet Run
ner's tire.
II said We mustn't wait. And you
must GO hrrt." she repeated.
sorry" said christophsr duly. with
q lump In his throat, a. he hoped
that Scarlet Runner would forgive
him. I'm afraid can't obey.
appear Go be hung up too. Tire down
I see.
| Dorothy Herbert stared at the nat
tening rubber and Mcclellan whistlot
family, mAkins . sound rather like the
escaping air which Esshed from the
tires wounded inner tube.
1T would be quiNotic OF YOU TO wait
for me now" went On Christopher
| Fortune Of war But ! don't give
up yet. N won't take me long to ro
place this tire. and I have q nshting
chance mil"
Hesitating. hAlrTeluctant. half-eager
the girl let herself by hypnotized BY
the command In her late enemy's eyes
Almost mechanically her foot pressed
the clutched lever: the car moved for
ward. once the driver looked back
marki.ss: q few seconds later she had
dropped over the brow OF a hill.
II suppose I shall have TO record
this--or-stop against you" sa.d
MLellan. as Christopher renewed the
inner tube and forced on the cover.
IT'S my duty TO do that. All the
same. well, ! think It's about ths
finest thing I've ever known a man q
do--joily lot finer than tho record
YOU might have made. II you hadn't
done &C."
There are some things you must
do-you don't know why" grumblec
chirtopher. once more taking bis
seat.
Far beyond the outskirts OF Edin
bursh crowds began TO line the road
way on either side-cheering, enthusi
astie crowds, prepared TO give the win
ners q hearty Scotch welcome. Then
thicker and thicker grew the press In
the southern suburbs. II seemed thai
Lowlands and Highlands had banded
together to form one huge. shouting
throng.
Put on . spurt. masterv roared q
tall soldier In kits. THE lassie's nc
far ahead o. ye the noo"'
| Christopher smiled, but not very ga,
ly. lie was beating down the tempta
ton To lessen the distance between tn,
cars, and he mad conquered IL just
enough to give that smile.
At last he struck the superb line OF
Princes street. and far away at tn,
other end he sould see . crimson ban
ner. which marked the winnig post
Speeding towards that fiutter OF rec
(yet not so fast as IL might have Eon,
II the ehauffeuse had chosen) was tn,
gyroscope.
The air rang with applause as tn,
snake-lile car. with the pale girl driv
ing, passed beneath the flag: anc
Christopher, hearing, could not hav,
analysed the feelings which surset
In his breast.
He had timed his own arrival as h,
followed. and he came In at the finish
precisely as he had started, exactly
two minutes behind the car which sci
out before him.
Those who did not know doubtless
thought he ought to be glad ant
proud TO win the second prize, AT
exceedingly handsome gold cup: bu
Christopher knew, and II he had moi
known he would have become unpleSs
antly certain when he saw his uncle'i
Il face.
Tho old man had come by train e
Edinburgh to meet the winner of the
first prize, who, from telegraphic &c
counts. he had LITTLE doubt would b'
his nephew.