Evening star., 1927-09-27
Barstow Wen.

- whip curling out over the
horses backs, not touching
D them. for he was very careful
of the beautiful span. but max
Ing it's sharp cutting through the air
act as. an incentive. However. al
though their necks Strengthened a
little. the speed did not increase. 1t
could not. on this road, with an ordi-
nary driving rig. They were already
going at q three-minute pace.
He gave a quick glance over his
shoulder. An automobile was just
turning a curve of the road. three
fourths OF a miie behind. His eyes
studied it's occupants keenly.
"yes. that's the sheriff all right.
he thought grimly. NO one could
mistake those shoulders and that cow
boy hat and he's a head above his
companion l wonder who the COM
rs deputy, likely And the automo-
hiles CarSon's. No other could slip
over the ground The way that does,
suppose Cunningham has deputized it
also. Well" kissing 1his waiD cnce
more "it's going to be. o race. But
I'm glad Carson himSef isn't back
there. Reckless as the sheriff is after
same. he's new to nlachins work. and
don't believe he'll take over a mile
in three ont OF Il strange one. And
it's only 20 to Leighton, with
straight road and good start and
my span fresh. Yes, it'll be a race"
But n little later he could see that
the automobile was slowly but surely
gaining on him. and when s of the
20 miles were passed the machine
had covered a third of the distance
between them.
The horses were now breathing
heavily, and their speed decreasing,
the machine was coming on more
rapidly. Barstow glanced over his
shoulder. studying the ground criti-
cally, then allowed his gaze to fall
back to his pursuer. The sheriff was
motioninG frantically for him to stop.
Barstow grinned satirically.
Not just yet, Cunningham" he
thought. ''The race is getting too in
teresting Besides. there's too much
involved Any other time I'll be glad
to accommodate you. Just now I'm
going TO Leighton, and with good luck
I shall not have many minutes TO
gather up minister and have him at
the station when the train comes in.
Once across the line, and I'll whistle
to Cunningham--no, | won't: I'll ask
him to be best man if he follows me
that far. Thank the stars there1l be
no need for a license, and confound
the postnan for not delivering my
letter when It came,
There was long stretch of clear
road ahead with the horses going
steadily. He made a turn with the
reins about his wrist and drew let
ter from his pocket. 1t had been
given him by the mail carrier only
20 minutes before, just as he was
starting out with his span, and he had
read it at a glance and then dashed
away on this wild race to Leighton.
He now swept the lines with another
glance, his face glowing.
Dear Harold" the letter read, 1--WE
shall be there one day earlier than ar
ranged. The Senator will not speak
at Matters. and that saves us stopping
over: but he has arranged to address
the business men at Ronceford, hun
dred miles farther on, so the time
with you will be the same, only a day
earlier. From the train schedule !
think it will be about Is minutes
Have the minister and everything
ready. 1t seems reckless, hit-or-miss
kind of marriage, doesn't it, Harold?
But then uncle is so anxious to see
it; and he's got to be at Ronceford.
and must take the steamer for Europe
only q few hours later, TO be gone a
year. So it's Hobson's choice. But
never mind. Well make it up on our
wedding trip, and miss every train if
we like-or why not make the trip
with your span, and stop everywhere
and nowhere in particular. / think
that would be fine., CLAIRE
Barstou slipped the letter back into
his pociset, curling the whip once more
out in search OF impossible speed. Ten
minutes passed and with them three
of the remaining miles. Leighton was
now but nine miles ahead; and the
State line, beyond which Cunning
hams authority as sheriff would for
a time be null. was five. Once across
the line and he could snap his fingers
at the pursuer. He glanced back.
The automobile had covered one half
the remaining distance and was COM
ing on swiftly and ,ssmoothly I The
horses were breathing hard. Another
three miles, with no change and the
race would be ended.
Involuntary Barstow leaned for
ward, as he often did in moments of
suspense on the race track, when n
hands turn meant win or lose: Then
his face blanchsd.
A cow was walking deliberately
rom the roadside growth and along
mere the road was narrow. Barstow
rose to- his feet and reached forward
as fast as he could. his whip in the
air. A spill and smash was better
than missing a chance. AS they
swept upon the cow and the whip
came down viciously, the animal threw
up her head, thereby saving it from
rushing wheels that just g-a1cd the
skin.
But-as though ashamed ofiais Slight
concession. the cow snorted and
walked quickly to the middle of the
road and there stopped Barstow
heard "a yell behind him. The COW
had lowered her head to- the sautomo-
bile in manner that threatened dire
consequences to both. Cunningham
yelled once more, savagely; but the
cow remained obdurate. Then Gun
ningham stopped. Whom the COW
was hustled unceremoniouslv aside
and the machine again started il had
lost the three-fourths, of a mile previ-
ously gained.
When Barstow swept triumphantly