Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-07-26

touch OF tbs eeatssia he ss!.f ms ear
ahead at top speed, and for a matter
OF ten miles or more held a dimin-
fishing lead In the race through sheer
good driving and an accurate knowl-
edge Of the road and its twistingS and
turntngs. But the road would soon
become cart track in the mountains
there was no outlet to the north save
by means Of the railroad bridge at
Little Butte station, and from some
where up the valley and beyond the
railroad bridge came the distance
softened whistle of a train.
Starbuck set high mark for him
self as courageous driver of motor
cars when he came to the last of the
three road crossings. Jerking the car
around sharply at the instant of track
crossing, he headed straight out over
the ties for the railroad bridge. 1t
was a counting of death. To drive
the bridge at racing speed was haz-
ardous enough, but to drive 1t thus in
the face Of downcoming train seemed
nothing less than madness.
It was after the car had shot into
the first Of the three bridge spans
that the pursuers pulled up and
opened fire. Starbuck bent lower over
his wheel, and Smith clutched for
handholds. Far up the track on the
north side Of the river a headlight
flashed In the darkness, and the
hOarse blast OF locomotive, whistling
for the bridge, echoed and re-echoed
among the hills.
Starbuck drove for his life. With
the bridge fairly crossed, he found
himself on a high embankment; and
the oncoming train was now less than
half q mile away. Somewhere be-
yond the bridge approach there was
road; SO much Starbuck could recall.
IF they could reach its crossing before
the collision should come
They did reach 1t, by what seemed
to Smith margin Of no more than the
length of the heavy freight train
which went jangling past them 5cant
second or SO after the car had been
wrenched aside into the obscure mesa
road. They had gone a mile or more
on the reverse leg Of the long down
river detour before Starbuck cut the
speed and turned the wheel over to
his seat-mate.
Take her q minute while I get the
makings." he said. dry-lipped, feeling
in his pockets for tobacco and the
rice paper. Then he added: holy
Solomoni never wanted q smoke
so bad In all my life!"
Smiths laugh was chuckle.
"Gets next to you-after the fact
doesn't 1t? That's where we split. ]
had my scare before we hit the bridge,
and 1t tasted like q mouthful Of bitter
aloes. Does this road take US back
up the riverw
"It takes US twenty miles around
through the Park and comes in at the
head Of Little creek. But we have
plenty of time. You told Harding two
hours, didn't your"
eyes: but I must have a few min
utes at Hillcrest before we get action,
Billy"
Starbuck took the wheel again and
said nothing until the roundabout race
had been fully run and he was cas-
ing the car down the last Of the hills
into the Little Creek road. There had
been three-quarters Of an hour Of skill
full driving over bad road to come
between Smiths remark and its re-
ply, but Starbuck apparently made no
account of the length Of the interval.
you're aiming to go and see Cor
ry?" he asked. while the car was
coasting to the hill bottom.
EYES,"
With a sudden flick of the controls
and quick tanning Of the brakes,
Starbuck brought the car to a stand
just as 1t came into the level road.
"We're man to man here under the
canopy, John; and Cory Baldwin
hasn't got any brother" he offered
gravely. 'Tm backing you In this
business fight for all I'm worth-for
Dick Maxwell's sake and the colonel's,
and maybe little bit for the sake of
my own ante Of twenty thousand.
And I'm ready to back you In this old
home scrap with all the money you'll
need to make your fight. But when 1t
comes to the little girl It's different.
Have you any good and fair right to
hunt up Cory Baldwin while things
are shaping themselves up as they
are2"
Smith met the shrewd inquisition
fairly.
"Give 1t q name" he said shortly.
ST will: I'll give 1t the one you gave
1t while back. You said you were
an outlaw, On two charges: embezzle-
ment and assault. Wen let the as
sault go. But the other thing doesn't
taste good"
II didn't embezzte anything, Billy.
thought made that plain"
$50 you did. But you also made 1t
plain that the home court would be
likely to send you up for It. guilty or
not guilty. And with thing like that
hanging over you you see,
know Cory Baldwin. John. If you
put 1t up to her tonight, and she hap
pens to fall in with your side of it
which Is what you're aiming to make
her do-all hell won't keep her from
going back home with you and seeing
you through !"
"Billy, I may never see her again.
I said I wouldn't tell her-that I
loved her too well to tell her q.
but now the final pinch has come and
TT