New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-07-26
Idly gap caused by somebody's tardi-

tidy gap caused by somebody's tardi-
ness.
Christopher was sitting in his car
ready to move up when his turn should
come, when an "O-O-o-h." of astonish-
ment from the crowd, sounding like
the sudden indrawing of a breath,
made him turn his head to glance curl
ously about for the cause of the ex-
element.
An amazing vehicle-if vehicle 1t
could be called-was gliding, silent
and snakelike, towards the empty
place in front of Scarlet Runner. In
shape it suggested a gigantic cigar; in
color it was black; and its jointless
metal casing glittered in the wintry
sunlight. Halfway down its length
the great cigar was cut out into a
nick, and in the nick sat, very upright
and alert, the slender figure of a
woman, her face masked by large cur
tainlike goggles.
"A wOman!" was the whisper that
went round the crowd; and Chris
TOPPER heard one h%urrying official say
to another: "Only arranged last night
for her to do 1t. Old Dick Herbert's
hurt his right hand, and so she"
Race caught no more.
Everything combined to focus the
crowds attention upon the new arrival.
In no single feature did this car copy
the usual automobile, and all the as
scmblage of freaks suddenly looked
quite commonplace compared with it.
The thing had no side-wheels; but
from under the metal casing W CEN
trail wheels could be seer revolving,
one placed behind the other, in a
straight line. Running as it did upon
these two central wheels alone, the
marvel was that the vehicle could keep
upright. But when the gyrOscOpic car
had slid into its place directly in front
lently to a standstill, it remained up
right on its two central wheels. A
shout of applause rose, in response to
which the trim chauffeuse nodded
gnily, as if she took part Of the trib-
ute for herself. Then, doubtless with
the feminine wish to "shOw Off" she
jumped lightly out to speak to an old
man who came towards her. She had
touched a hidden spring, and u step
had dropped from the side of the car
riage, enabling her to alight with ease.
The old man had his right hand
swathed in bandages, and Christopher
was sure that he must be Richard Her
bert. the inventor. The masked young
woman raised her voice to a tone loud
enough for him to hear.
yes" she said laughing, tive are
the freakiest freak of all. And I'm
glad; for this is a race for new inven-
tions, and the newest ought to win. l
really don't see what that poor, old,
embarrassing red thing is doing in this
galere, do you?"
1t was the voice of the girl who had
attacked Christopher in the restaurant
the day before.
"Vicious little vixen. !" he said to
himself, turning a color to match his
car. And instantly a furious desire to
beat the girl in the race swept Over
him.
AS he thus resolved, the freaks were
getting away. The girl had
hoped up into the g%yrOscopic car once
more, an official observer from the club
by her side, and then, with scarcely
Il sound from the engines, the black,
cigar-shaped car shot ahead like Il
shark chasing its prey. Two minutes
came C~hristOpher's turn, his own
observer" having by this time mount
ed to the seat beside him.
Through London and the stretch of
suburbia that lies between town and
the long line of strange-lOOk-
ing autOmObiles-many built for the
of this ce-ra slowly
enough. The order had been given
that no competitor must pass another
until open spaces had been reached.
therefore Christopher was compelled
to keep at the enemy's back. He had
but too many opportunities for Observ- |
ing the big car and its chauffeuse.
OF its pace Christopher had been
to form no estimate until open
country was reached, but then it shot
with the speed Of a newly dis
covered comet. Opening Scarlet Run
throttle, he also leaped ahead,
keeping close on the enemy's heels.
Soon the gyroscope, with Scarlet
Runner close. behind, gained upon the
'ther cars that had started before
hem.
The Cigar (as Christopher began to
all the Herbert inventory and Scarlet
had started in the race fif-
eenth and sixteenth respectively; at
he end Of the first day the former
vas already ninth, the latter tenth.
The first night halt was in an i'm
midland town, where all the
automobiles were driven to garages
locked up. Christopher learned
through a motoring acquaintance that
lis rival was Richard Herbert's daugh-
er and only child. driving in her ia