Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 152: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

150 an enormous figure eight on its radiator. The boy’s glad start of surprise and wel- come, as he caught sight of Danny’s fa- miliar figure, warmed the older man’s heart. “What are you doing here, you old spirit of the briny deep?” he said delightedly. “T had a week off, and I thought I’d like to look you up,” said Danny. ‘“They’ve been raisin’ your rate pretty regular, haven’t they? A month or two ago you was alookin’ at one of these things in a book, and now they tell me, Bud, that you’re agoin’ to give these old heads a run for the money.” “I’m goin’ to try,” said Bud. ‘These old-timers say that I caught the feel of these big race cars naturally without much prac- tise, and being young at the game with no smash-ups yet my nerve is good.” “Go on and win for the Navy,” urged Danny heartily. “Everybody is callin’ you the ‘Sailor,’ and it’d be a new kind of trophy for the old ship to pull down.” ‘‘Which reminds me,” said Bud, “that my furlough is up. Maybe that’s why you came down?” ‘That can wait,” said Danny. ‘‘What you want to do now is to win this race. After that’s over we can see about the other.” “It’s worried me,” said Bud, “‘for I knew I was overdue a couple of days, but with you here representing the question and laying it aside for the day, I can go at this race with afree mind. How’s it to take you for that promised little spin around the track? The car is all ready, and I’d like to get the feel of her again.” ‘“‘We’re sailors in a strange land,” said Danny, ‘“‘and I’m here to help, and not hinder.” “Climb aboard, then,” said Bud. “I want you to tell me how it appeals to you.” Danny sat tight and watched Bud, as several very unusual things happened. First the big car at the spin of a crank began to explode like an automatic one-pounder almost directly under him. Then. Bud pressed down a pedal, pulled a lever into place, and they began to roll slowly out upon the white, smooth course. Half a minute more and the engine had settled into a muffled roar, and the trees and tele- graph-poles along the course became a blurred, indistinct line. Danny took his flat cap off and secured it between his knees, and Bud nodded toward the speed indicator. Adventure Danny set his teeth and held on. The figure ‘‘sixty” wiggled and jumped on the dial, and as he watched it, it climbed up to seventy. His companion leaned forward a little over the wheel. Then Danny caught the thrill of it, and smiled at Bud as the figure became seventy-five, and the big car throbbed and swayed, and the wind tore at him like clutching fingers. ‘Then the speed slacked to sixty, to fifty, and Danny shouted questioningly— ‘“‘What’s the matter with her?” “Nothing,” said Bud. ‘“‘We’re back. Want another round?” Danny shook his head. ‘‘Save it for the race,” he said, and as the boy continued to look at him he added, “T don’t blame you, it’s got anything I know beat a cable’s length for makin’ old blood over!’’ “IT knew you'd like it,” said Bud. ‘“‘Come on over and meet the mechanician. He’s a wonder, and taught me all I know about racing.” ‘I don’t know the rate,” said Danny. ‘“What does he do?” “Everything,” said Bud. ‘He’s the chief engineer of the boat. He rides with me, and keeps her oiled, and all the cylin- ders working.”’ A moment later Danny had accepted unhesitatingly the oil-streaked hand of a wiry little man with gray hair, and was looking steadily into a pair of big brown eyes as alert and all-seeing as his own. ‘“‘This is ‘Pop’ Hurley,” said Bud, “and if we get in the money, it will be because of him.” Hurley waved the remark aside courte- ously, and continued looking at Danny Wallace. “I’m glad you came down,” he said. ‘A fellow likes to have his friends around him in a time like this.” “TI wish more of the boys were here,” said Danny. “As it is, I’ll do my best to represent the old ship. Just remember that there’s one old sailor up there on the benches who’ll do all the rootin’ he’s able.” .] BY THE time Danny wasseated, the cea big green car with Bud and Pop <—# Hurley rolled out upon the track and sped away for a final tryout. Danny watched for its return, and waving franti- cally, was rewarded by an answering wave from Bud as the car returned. As he sat COmicloo C©