Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-26
J Short Story
Split Seconds Count

! "what's your time >" he
q. asked.
Il guessed II a. 1922"
lie whistled. The record for tho
race was only Ia minutes 49,
seconds. That had been made
some years ago when the u miles
from MilepoSt 5. where the event
always started, was dry and hard
packed Even If the sun came out
10 shine brightly every day now,
the road would not be fast. Tom
told her that.
I'm depending on YOU" She
said. with that dazzling smile
that showed her dlmples 10 best
advantage. you see. Mr.. Nor
gan SAYS he'll give 500 II any
one I'm the pool comes within
two seconds Of the winners
time. and $3.50 IL the winner j.
within one second. know
you're going 10 win, and hope
your time il 1879
an over the region pools had
been made on the probable win
ming time The Summit House
employees had kicked in 81 apiece,
and maintenance employees of the
auto highway were IN II, too.
Some took more than one num-
Der. Paul Morgan, who owned the
Finger Peak concession, always
offered A bonus for metlculous
gueSswork, and had been stuck
aieie-aaee= lal=a- hundred
Better join your tourists"
Elaine suggested. They're
over there i'm the souvenir room
and you're apt TO lose n COM
mission"
Il gave Sammy the nod" he
said. IF they buy anything. I'll
get my cut later. But they
won't. Did YOU give 'em the
once over? Plenty of money in
that crowd, but it's still in the
sock"
HIS LAST TOURISTS
Elaine. he reflected. was out of
luck if she expected 10 collect on
the pool. He drove the big
phaeton carefully near timberline, I
where il still showed in spots.
But that's what brought en- in
people liked to throw Snowballs I'M
August. 90 swimming in the big
pool down at the foot
Of the peak the same day.
And next Monday there'd be-
$4,000 or 10000 people parked on
The upper reaches of the highway
a lot of damned foolst
ike myself trying 10 bust their
neckS by travelling lickety-split on
The rim of 2,000-foot precipiceS.
This was his last party of
tourists He was quitting his job
tomorrow so he could tool the big
special Job up the mountain two
Or three times daily until the day
1f the race.
In the cool Of the morning the
highway was turned over to the
racers exclusively, and he could
make as fast time as he wished.
He knew every inch of the road
IF course. but he didn't know his
swift vehicle as we'll as he should.
He didn't know for instance, how
The Bailey Special would react to I
he hairpin turns.
Elaine's Uncle Jim was one of
The Judges. and he couldn't resist
the plea of his attractive niece for
a place in the judges stand at the
finish line.
He asked her why she didn't 60
down 10 Hilepost Ia, where view
could be had of several miles of
the highway and the weather was
better Up on top the snow was
swirling around. but the sun was
out al MilcpoSt Ia. However, she /
mixed the suggestion, saying she
wanted to be right up there when
the official time was checked off |
There were p starters. Half a
dozen were veterans of the Indian /
apolis races. others came from
Denver and Colorado Springs and
Kansas City "A few like Tom
Taggart, were tourists drivers
with no racing experience save in
going up and down the mountain.
KNOW COURSE BETTER
They knew the course better
than did the others; knew all the
bound 10 be found /
on a dozen miles in which the
altitude rose from 1000 to over
1900 feet.
Don't Get the idea that the
Finger Peak race is like those on
a regular speedway. That would
be inviting mass suicide. and IT is
bad enough as it is. 1t is run like
the Labor Day Hill Climb on.
Pixies Peak, the classic OF It's kind. 1
The contestants start at FIVE
minute intervals: about half of
them reach the finish. The others
drop out because OF motor trouble I
blQWoutS or wrecks. hat mp 10 now
no driver has gone of the cliff to.
sure death ON hr rocks below 1t.
is race against time
Staggering Bill Henderson had
won the race five times. held the
eptlrSp rpgprd and be hrqorod Il,