The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-06-26

only the beginning. Wonder what
I'm stepping inter
The answer came almost bcforv
the machine had warmed into action
once more the engine lahorcd: nor
was Il until Barry had answered Il.
gaspiEg plea by SHIFT 20 second
gear that Il strengthened again. The
grade was growing heavier: once
Barry turned his head and stared with
the knowledge that far beneath him
few tiny buildings dotted what
seemed 20 be space OF ground as
level AS a floor. pominion' And he
had barely passed outside its envir.
onsl
lie settled more firmly in his seat
and rripped hard at the steering
wheel. Tho turns had become abort.
CT. more. Barry found himself right.
ing the machine with sudden Jerks
as the car rounded the short curves
whcrn the front wheels seemed 20
hang rnomentarilv above oblivion. a.
tho chasins stretched away 20 seem.
inSly hostomless depths beneath.
Gradually. tho severity Of tho grade
had increased 10 ten. 60 twelve and In
short pitches TO even eighteen and
twenty per cent, For a time the
machine sang along In second. buck.
ing the raises with almost human
persistence. finally. however. 20 Rasp
and break In the smooth monotony
OF the exhaust. 60 miss. 60 strain and
struggle vainly. then 20 thunder on
once more. as Houston pressed the
gears into low and began a watch
tho motormeter with anxious eyes
Tho mercury was rising. another
half hour and the swish OF steam told
OF a boiling radiator.
A stop. while the red. kissing wa.
ter splsttcred from tho radiator cock.
and the lifted hood gave the machine
a chance 10 cool before rcplenlah.
ment came from tho murky. discol.
cred stream OF melted snow water
which churned beneath a sapiing
bridge. Painting and iight.hsnded
from the altitude. Barry leaned
against the machine for a noment.
then suddenly Strengthened TO draw
his coat tighter shou, him and 10
raise the collar about his neck. The
wind. whistiing down from above.
was cold: something touched hts face
and raelfed thcre.--snowi
Tho engine was cool now. Dairy
ieaped 20 the wheel and once more
began his struggle upward. new
seriousness upon him. new grim.
ness apparently In the tixhtness OF
hts lips. The tiny rivulsss OF the
road had given place to gushing
streams: here and thorc a patch %
snow appeared IN the highway; far
Their above. Barry could zee that the
white was unbroken save for the
haif-~rnsed marks Of the two cars
which had made the journey before
hirn- The motor. Ike some refresh.
Ell animal. rrnr~d with a new power
ard now enerry. vibrant. confidens.
but tho spsrt- was not oshns.l by the
man at tho wheel He was IN tho
midst Of fight that was new 20 him.
a struggle against one OF the
mightisst things that Mature can
know. the backbone Of the Rocky
backbone which leered
Abevs him IN threatening. vicious |
coidness. which nowhere held sur /
cease: n must be a battle 10 the and
Up--up-up--ths grades growing |
steadily heavier. The shifting clouds |
rnvciopinE him ard causing him 10
stop nj intervals and wait In shiver-
Ing impatience until they should |
clear and allow him once moro 20 |
continue thu struggle. Crayness and |
sunshine fitted about him. one mo
nent his head was bowed against the |
sweep OF a snow furry. driving |
straight against him from tho higher /
peaks. the next the brililaro@ of
mountain sunshine radia;ed about |
him. cheering him. cxhiiarating him.
pniy 20 give way 20 the dimness Of |
damp. drifting rnis,s. which closed /
in upon him like some great. gray 1
garment OF distress and held him In I
It's gloomy clutch until tho grade
should carry him above II and into /
The sun or snow again.
Higheri The machine was roaring
Ike a desperate. cornered thing now:
It, crawling pace slaekening with the
sleeper inclines. gaining with the les
yer raises. then settling more 20 the
aRgins pace as steepness followed
.teepncss. or the abruptness OF the
surve caused the great. slow moving
fehicie 70 lose the momentum gain
"a after hundreds Of feet Of etrug.
gle. Again tho engine boiled. and
Barry stood beside II In shivering
gratitude for It's warmth. The hills
4