Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-02-02
THE KID AMATEUR

Gerard paused on the steps Of the
cement plateau overlooking the race
track, his eyebrows hitting IN the
wave OF hnmor slinting across his
face like sunlight over quiet water
What" he wondered. who
The grinning &mechanician. who
had just come across from the row
Of training camps opposite supplied
the information
"Oh, that's Roses rose Amt he
awful tweet? he Knocked.
Gerard continued to smile, but his
clear amber eyes grew kneely APP
praIsing as they followed the flight
ofe the ~rose-colored racing car
around the circular track.
H can drive" he gave 'lNcon4c
verdict.
Sure assented the mec1anician.
But he'll be the last rose of sum-
mer, all right when the race comes
off. He'll not last twenty-four hours
IA kid amateur. If you amt coming
over. Ill lead myself back to my
job"
~ ou never can tell" warned
Gerard. 'tolerantly." No, I'm not COM
ing over, Rupert; run along"
He moved over to one Of the grand
stand seats, as he spoke, and sat down
leaning on the rail with an easy
AltON0AAiNllI VI Has 0ORRAN u6
That was the first characteristic
strangers usually noted in him: an
exquisite Hellenic grace OF strength
and faultless proportion. He was
a mans beauty. os distinguished
from. a beautyman; other men
were given to admiring him ,extlav-
agantly and u~nresentfully. Unresent-
fully because OF his utter practically
and matter-of-fact t mosphere.
The afternoon sunshine glittered
goldenly across the huge, green field
and the mile track circling 1T, where
four racing are sped in practice con-
test. Two of them were painted grey.
one was a dingy-white the fourth
shone i'll delicate pink enamel
touched here and there with silver
gilt. It's driver and mechanician
were clad in pink also, adding the
completing stroke to-an effect sug-
costing the circus rather than the
race track. There was much ex-
and that reflection Of it lying on
Gerard's eyes.
Yet, ruhe rose-coiored machine
was we'll. driven. More than. nee
the watcher that nodded in quick
approval of a skilful turn or deft
manoeuvre. Once he rose and
changed his position to see more dis
tinctly. and was then that he first
noticed the girl.
She was SO beautifully and expen-
! sively gowned as to draW even mas
culine notice of the fact. the veil that
fell from her silk hood to the lem OF
her cloak would alone have purchas-
ed the motor costume OF the average
woman. Against this Mn,y drapcry
her intent face showed as a study in
concentrations; her dark-blue eyes
wide behind their black lashes, her
soft lips apart. she too, was watching
the pink racer. But there was no
laughter in her expression, instead
there was the most deep and earnest
tenderness, a blending Of the childish
and the maternal h a made Gerard
catch his breath and glance enviously
at the driver of the gaudy car.
The afternoon Was almost ended;
as Gerard looked, the pink machine
finished It's last circuit and plunged
Through the paddock entrance, to
leone to a halt before it's own tent
lin the white city of training camps.
Simultaneously the girl in the upper
rows of seats arose, catching up her
and hurrying precipitately down the
stairway aisle. SO great was her
haste that, coming suddenly to the
last step, one small, high-heeled
suede shoe slipped from the iron
edge and flung her violently against a
column OF the stand. Gerard reached
her just in time to prevent further
taii. -,
STAND Aaii." ne cauuoned. quletly
STEADY. IS a SECOND nlgna OIL
stairs. You are not nurs- OPP!
Giddy, for a moment she willingly
suffered his support, then drew back
on the narrow landing, her color re-
turning wildly.
/. No, she answered. 1 am not
hurt. thank you very c
l.. Inick waves OF 1alr mar lay across
ne rorenead above me oehcate dark
line OF ner DfoWs ner eanolo 81
met ms with the dlsnlty OF utter
naturalness and a 0un confidence IN
the goodness OF aAl e me I'M
preston Gerard received was orig
must nave oeen sneulariy HAPPY n
innocent. and that ne should 4 TO
know her iatner.
You Wall let me take YOU down
the rest OF me way at cas-" ne OF
Tered, the as sim
ply az she nad done.
sne glanced a0wn me stairs with a
snlVer' sull shaker ana un-
ne You ar. worry good. NY car Il
beyond the corner, there. IL am in
hafte to reach it.
That had been obvious. Yet As
she laid her eioved hand on Gerard's
arm, she fingered to look again in
the direction Of the training camps.
The cars will not go out again to-
day." h inferred, haff-questioning-
~.
NO, ] think not It is already late.
tTh{0 -av 81 .#a.a- .ear.# |H-- "-s.#. -Es-