Part 9 (1/2)

”All ready?” called Jack again

Ida shook her head She looked critically at the clutch lever, from her seat at the wheel, which Sid had relinquished to her The lever was not properly adjusted, and she called her companion's attention to it

Sid shi+fted it, and then Walter called from his seat beside Cora

”All ready here!”

”It's about tily

The cars, which had been cranked, were ”chug-chugging” away, and vibrating with the speed of the unleashed motors Three clutch pedals were released, and the three cars ears, as Ida threw in a higher speed Her hand and ear were not quite true, but to the surprise of the others her car darted ahead It was speedier than had been thought

It was a beautifully clear road, and thedesperately to the wooden riht,” he cautioned ”Don't work so hard at it An auto is like a horse--a light, firm touch is what it needs”

”Um!” murmured Bess She was afraid to open her mouth lest she should lose her breath in the wind

”Look out for that wagon!” Walter suddenly called to Cora

A clumsy vehicle was so still, so sloas the movement Ida was nearer to it than the others, and as she passed it she swung safely to one side, giving several disconcerting blasts on the horn as she did so She was proving herself a good driver

So to second place Cora thought she had herat full speed, but either it had not ”warasolene, and had not correctly adjusted the sparking device

Just as Cora was about to pass the wagon, which feat Bess had now safely negotiated, the oldit see he had forgotten and pulled his horses to one side--the wrong side--toward Cora's car, which was rushi+ng right at hion!

”Mercy!” screamed Mary ”We'll be sh her face hite

Walter reached over, as if to take the wheel froirl She stopped him by a shake of her head, and then braced herself for as co She screamed at the top of her fresh, clear voice:

”Stop! stop! Don't turn! stop!”

The farmer heard just in time He fairly pulled the horses back on their haunches, and the wagon caet past, but Cora hed Mary in thankfulness ”Wasn't that awful?”

”A narrow escape,” assented Isabel ”But not as bad as the other one was You should have seen that! We're safe now”

The Whirlwind careened along the road, frohway

”Why didn't you let e sort of way

”I couldn't seeh