The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-09-17
A High-Speed
Courtship
By FREDERICK HART.


The big gray racing car plunged
around sharp curve, skluueu
wildly, righted itself, and shot
ahead up the straight, with It's
speedometer climbing steadily from
4O-5;-60-close to 60. Its lone &C.
cupant was a girl-a girl enveloped
In a white dust-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
Oh the smooth road drowned all other
noises. Another curve showed ahead
and the girl, setting her teeth, took 1t
at full speed. She passed 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 dan
ger to herself. She was saying as
she nursed her car TO an even higher
burst of speed. IN show him! I'll
show him."
About a mile beyond her car, some
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 gave IL the ap-
pearance of something which would
scorn anything under 60 miles an hour.
At it's wheel was seated 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 that? I've got to catch
herr
The cause of this mad race down
country road 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 been 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
self. Bob on calling, had unwisely
boosted of the time he had made In
coming over a distance of eight miles
Margaret had replied that she otter
made the distance in several seconds
less. This had started an argument
which had drifted, as such argument:
do, from a friendly dispute into def
mite intention on the part Of both par
ties not to give in to each other. Mar
garet had suddenly challenged Bob t.
race to Baxter, so miles away, ant
before he had had time to object sh,
had fastened to the garage, run on
her car, and was flying up the road
Bob, little angry, followed at hi.
best speed. The result was two car,
madly careening for distant goal ant
perfectly good proposal scattered t,
the wind.
The Gancia had had q few yards
start, which its faster pickup hat
heightened to nearly a mile befor,
Bob got his heavier machine into 1t,
full swing; but once ne had opened
the throttle the Bramble began to Gu
down the distance. Twenty miles on
Of Baxter he was less than a half
mile behind. and gaining steadily. Fl,
exulted under his breath, and pushet
the throttle the last fraction of al
inch toward the floor. The ca
doomed under him and ate up tn,
strip Of roadway. He was gaining
he would win.
At that moment, Is miles from tn
goal, inspiration visited Mr.. ROber
Hathaway. He grinned a grin to him
self. A well-known clump of tree
shot past; Bob knew that quartz
of mile further on the road straight
ened into stretch that ran eight mile
|, without curve, ending with a shar1
climb and then twisting descent int
. the town of Baxter. He drew I'D III
he was about hundred yards in tn
rear of Margaret's Gancia, so that h
was sure that she saw him in the lii
tie mirror on the left fender: an
there he hung as the two cars rounde
the last curve, and shot into the lon
straightaway.
He saw Margaret glance slightly [
one side-the top of her head was Wis
lille over the rear of her car-an
then the Gancia uttered a defiant roa
, and sped down the straightaway. Bo
, replied with long blast of his hor
: and settled himself for the finish. IN
here an amazing thing happened. TIL
Bramble began to lose. At the b,
: ginning Of the straight it had been a,
parently gaining; but as the roa
whizzed under the wheels of the tw
cars the Gancia slowly but surely DIRE,