, 1921-09-15
A High Speed
Courtship
BY HART.

g. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
The big gray racing car plunged
around a sharp curve, skidded
wildly, righted itself, and shot
ahead up the straight, with its
,speedometer climbing steadily from
40-55-60-close to So. Its LONE oc-
cupant was a girl-a girl enveloped
In n white d%ust-coat, wearing a snug
motoring cap and 'gauntleted gloves
that were gripping the wheel Of the
powerful machine with a sure clasp,
that seemed to indicate complete mas
terry of the iron horse that was surg
Ing under her. The roar of the ex-
haust and the high song of the tires
on the smooth road drowned all other
noises. Another curve showed ahead;
and the girl, setting her teeth, took 1t
at full speed. She passed a car COM
ing in the opposite direction with a
rush that left Its occupants gasping in
amazement. But the girl cared moth
ing for frightened passengers or IAN
ger to herself. She was saying as
she nursed her car to an eve higher
burst of speed, TN show him! I'll
show him !"
About a mile beyond her a ar, IN
what like her own, was making even
more reckless time over the road. 1t
was painted a dull brown and built in
long stream lines that CAV 1t the APP
pearance of something which would
scorn anything under go miles an hour.
At its wheel was seated a young man.
so enveloped in coat, cap and Cog
giles that nothing could be seen of his
features.
As he urged his machine down the
road he kept saying to himself: Great
Scott! Why did she want to run
away like that2 I've got to catch
heri"
The cause Of this mad race down
a country troad was one of those
little things that bring about great
effects. Bob Hathaway had gone to
call on Margaret Elliott with the firm
intention Of proposing to her, a
thing which he had beer on the point
of doing for the last two months. To
do her justice. Margaret was perfectly
aware of this intention on the part
of young Mr.. Hathaway; and in her
mind she had decided what her an
swer was to be. But Bob, unfortu-
nately for him, was an enthusiast on
the subject Of his big Bramble road
ster. while Margaret had but one pas
sion-her own Gancia Eight, which
she drove, tended. and repaired her
self. Bob on calling, had unwisely
hnastQh nf tho ttrna ha bod mazda In
coming over a distance Of eight miles.
Margaret had replied that she often
made the distance In several seconds
less. This had started an argument
which had drifted, as such arguments
do. from a friendly dispute into a def
mite intention On the part Of both par
ties not to give In to each other. Mar
garet had suddenly challenged Bob to
a race to Baxter, so miles away, and
before he had had time to object she
had hastened to the garage, run put
her car, and was flying up the road.
Bob, a little angry, followed al his
best speed. Tit result was two cars
msdly careening for a distant goal and
a perfectly good proposal scattered to
the wind.
The Gancia had had a few yards
start, which Its faster pickup had
heightened to nearly a mile before
Bob got his heavier machine into its
full swing: but once he had opened
the throttle the Bramble began to u
down the distance. Twenty miles out
OF Baxter he was less than a half
mile behind. and gaining steadily. He
exulted under his breath, and pushed
the throttle the last fraction of an
incn toward the floor. The car
doomed under him and ate up the
strip OF roadway. He was gaining
he would win.
At that moment, Is miles from the
goal, inspiration visited Mr.. Robert
Hathaway. He grinned a grin 10 him
self. A w~ell-known clump of trees
shot past Bob knew that n quarter
OF a mile further on the road straight
ened into a stretch that ran eight miles
without a curve, ending with a sharp
climb and then a twisting descent into
the town of Baxter. He drew up till
he was about n hundred yards In the
rear OF Margarets Gancia. so that he
was sure that she saw him In the lit
tie mirror on the left fender; and
there he hung as the two cars rounded
the last curve. and shot into the long
straightaway.
He saw Margaret glance slightly to
.side-the top OF her head was Wis
lille over the rear of her car-and
then the Gancia uttered n defiant roar