The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-04-23

line, but he didn't appear much. Some
n reported that he was in Paris
most of the time, holding up a corner
of the Ritz Bar.
Mrs. Gregory can ride between her
husband and me-" said Dickie. "Ayts
can take the brake"
Perfect" said Jean, beaming at
Dicky till her face ached. But If only
George were taking her down alone
Avis did it.
They trudged up the path to the
run, the hard dry snow cracking under
their feet. They reached the finish line,
where the Sleds would come whirling
around a last steep bank before they
broke the tape. Jean knew this spot
well. It was where she always came to
see George finish. When his sled took
the curve and slowed on the up-slope
know that nothing had happened to
him that time, anyway. Hello, there.
That looked like a good me-"
Once, on a competition day, she had
gone up and sat in the g~randstand
inside the horseshoe of the great Bav-
aria. She had held her breath until
it hurt while the sleds came flashing
around the curve, climbing almost to
the top of the twenty-foot perpendic-
uldI WILL. Wllcll GIlt ~dllllOullCST IL LllC
observation box called Georges num-
Der she closed her eyes,.
But she opened them at the wrong
moment.
There couldn't have been six inches
between the upper runner of the sled
and the top of that horrible wall.
Some one, some kind, and venomous
friend had told her that George
always took it that way-going within
a foot of the top at that particular
point.
So now she always watched him at
the finish.
Up at the starting line there was
only one sled ahead of them. Thank
God for that. If there'd been an hour
to wait, as sometimes happened, the
filters would have won.
The crew of the other sled, four
stocky young Bavarians from Munich,
stood looking down the run. There had
been a thaw two days before, followed
by a hard freeze. and the course was
steersman shook his head.
"Sehr schnell."
AS was customary he shook hands
solemnly with each of his crew before
they took their places.
"VorwartS," he commanded.
The brakeman pushed them over
the line, then sprang on behind the
others. The instant the sled struck
the downgrade it leaped ahead as if
it were alive and. in a moment, was
out of site around the curve.
George drew Jean aside. Look here,
Pussy" he said. Sure you want to do
it? Look at that ice"
She didn't want to. Oh, how she
didn't want to. But she gave a good
imitation of a grin and shook hands
with George.
And then, just for a moment she
really was glad to be there. George
hadn't looked at her. that way for
weeks.
Alta girl, Pussy" he said. Now
remember, all you have to do is keep
tight hold on the rails and sway with
me. And. whatever you do don't grab
hold of me-"
She sat down in the second seat and
let George help her on with her helmet.
Like putting on gas masks before you
went down into some dangerous pit.
They were all in their seats except
Avis. She stood for a moment, Squint-
ing down the u Then her y rested
reflectively for a brief instant on Jean.
George" she said, "let's go out for
And deliberately she tied up the jag
ged steel teeth at the back of the
sled.
Jean felt herself go cold all over.
Tying up the brakes. That's what those
Germans had done when they had
that awful accident at Lake Placid, the
time they went over the top of Shady
Corner. But George wouldn't let it be
done now. He'd say something. Quick,
George.
But George just sat there, square
and solid in front of her and never