Evening star., 1925-03-29
BY OCTAVUS ROY COHEN

You mean Semore is studyin' bout
ma'yin Ammonia?"
"Suttinly."
"An' he figgers that does git out Of
town he can do same?'
You Is tootin' now, Son."
Zero smashed his right fist into the
palm Of his left hand. "Dawg-gone
his hide!' Use gwine teach him. Use
gwine git revenge TO this dirty
work"
"Wh-wh-what you aims to do to
him, Zero?"
Use gwine keep on wukkin' at the
rink!'
And he did, but no longer did he
work in the dark.
THE day of the race found Zero
l. busy with decorations. The silver
trophy had been purchased and en-
graved, and was on display In the
center of the rink. At noon Zero tele-
phoned, Ammonia.
Miss Mims?"
"Uh-huh."
This Is Zero"
who Zero is?'
Use he"
'I ain't the kind of a gal to make
talk with strange gemmen." The re-
ceiver clicked on the hook and Zero
urned miserably away
He understo ood now why Semore
lad conceived the idea for the race.
1t afforded Ammonia public opportu-
nifty for triumph and 1t was a cinch
that Miss Minis would be grateful
to the man who made that triumph
possible.
BY O'Clock that evening tho rink
had been prepared. Ropes had been
stretched around the hoor OF the
rink to mark the inner boundaries OF
the racing track. These ropes were
attached to stakes which had been
stuck in tho foor with the help
of slender and sharp nails Within
tho inclosure and at each Of the four
points Of the compass had been placed
small tables. On each of these tables
was a large can OF powdered chalk.
Each can had a perforated top and
each was to be presided over by
man whose duty It was to keep fresh
chalk sprinkled on the track during
the course Of the race that the skates
might not slip on the sharp turns.
Semore Mashby himself had insisted
upon presiding over the chalkbox at
the curve nearest the finish line.
Ammonia's advent was the signal
for tumultuous applause. She was
clad in a new sport suit of white
trimmed lavishly with oerise. On her
ample feet were new laced boots and
she wore about her ebony throat a
Iamb's-wool scarf such as she had
seen in moving pictures of colder
countries.
Zero Harris. whose role was that
Of master OF ceremonies, eyed her
longingly and only the fear OF pub
lie rebuf deferred him from again
seeking a reconciliation.
AS a matter of fact. Ammonia had
long since wearied of the warfare.
But lest he might presume that her
pride was not so strong as his, she
maintained an attitude Of severe
aloofness which dissuaded him from
attempting eleventh hour amends.
Mr.. Mashby made his way through
the excited throng toward Zero's pri-
vate office. A bit OF disconcerting
dialogue came to his ears.
This race sho'ly gwine be a fine
thing fo' Zero Harris" commented
the first voice.
How Gomez
Hes pow'ful fond Of Ammonia
Minis. amt he?"
You said it,
"Uh-huh. Barrin' accidents"
AN she's gwine be terrible CRATE
full to the man which taught her
to skate"
''Shuah-but I heard tell it was Sc
more which fust thunk of havin' the
race"
That don't make no diff ence. Does
a gal git popular on account she does
somethin' she is gwine be grateful to
the man which taught her how to do
same"
This, indeed, was a new angle TO
the situation. 1t had not occurred to
him that Ammonia's gratitude would
be directed other than in his direc-
ton. Contemplation of that pos
sibility was vastly disturbing
'DawEgone" he soliloquized, "if
tha;s the way she looks at it, l mos
hope she loses"
He returned to the inclosure and
beckoned to Ammonia.
Il has arranged things so that
you Is closest to the ropes when the
race stahts, Ammonia. You jes' keep
on the inside an all them other gals
will have to swing wide on the
turns SO you won't have to travel
near so far as they does"
He laid a tentative finger on her
arm-'An' don't you go forgittin'
Miss Minis, that I thunk up this race