From the Car Behind

ung everywhere in the windless atmosphere, muffling sound as well as light. There was not even a servant

ectric lamp Rupert was preparing his machine to go out, a sol

an?" Gerard questioned, a

. Moving to reply, the mechanician let fall a tool and the c

ur peaceful life ain't what he's used to, exactly. He

the Mercury racer with

, is she?"

himself and proceede

sarcastically. "But I'll put in a rope, if you're worrie

have it found on you, Rupert. Sta

eary half-light and heavy air had absolutely no depressing power upon his flawless nerves and vigor of life. By the open door he paused to l

pert's muffled tones came from

queried lazil

the place burst into thunderous tumult; violet flames darted from the exhausts an

regular reports from the cut-down motor. "But I guess I've got to stand for them. Anyhow, I couldn't have a classier Friday-th

amazed eyes travelling over the small,

g's wrong

saying

the facts did exist, occasionally to be read in the prosaic columns of a newspaper, more often lost except in camp annals. He knew, and Rupert knew, of a mechanician who suddenly refused absolutely to go out with the driver by whose side he had ridden countless miles, having no better reason than a disinclination for the trip. And they both had seen the substitute who took

urself a day off," he suggested. "I'll find one of the f

mechanician acidly, and flung

ng drives, plunged into the sandy Long Islan

mps the men stood, watch in hand, timing the machines already out. Reporters vibrated everywhere; surrounded by an admiring group, two world-famous French and Italian drivers were pitching pennies for the la

eeting as the Mercury rolled in an

river, from the starting line. "What's up-

er mind Rose, he's coming; tell me where

ll of them now for fear my speed would make the rest of you quit, discouraged. I'm g

k. Rupert says it's a hoodoo day. We don't

ig blonde pilot of the neighborin

y ankle ten minutes before the start, when I was racing with Darling

r an

him start

your pink Rambler," a

caught the pink flash behind a row of mist-draped trees edging the cross-road.

f he happens along while I'm on a straight stretch," he

Mercury shot down the course; the gray

stretch of back road, on the second time around, there sounded a sharp report, the car staggered perilously, and a tire tore itself loose from a rear wheel to hurtle, a vicious projectile of rubber and steel, far across the stubble

ebbles, its mechanician turning to survey the halted Mercury. As Rupert swept the last tool into its place with

asn't forced by his money into the amateur ranks, that boy

figure swung int

ll foot in a strap support, as the car leaped forward. "But

rapidly, rather it lingered until t

emanded Gerard, above

nician re

eet," he m

e to

ang ahead under Gerard's touch, and with an answer

of passing the sixty-mile an hour gait now held by the Mercury. But he was not allowed

ver been less skilled, but it was safe enough now. Gerard was laughi

Rupert, at his companion's ear, himse

xplosion from the checked car behind. A brass nut smacked the Mercury's gasoline tank. I

t off there," Gerard answered

the oil pump when the pink car made its final attempt to pass and was again forced back, but acro

outed harshly

rward across his steering-wheel before the mechanician could snatch it from the inert grasp. With a lurch the speeding Mercury caught in a rut, swerved from the road and,

the nearby Westbury corner swarmed into the orchard to join the pale-faced farmer already there, the sun emerged brilliantly from a bank of clouds, glinting across the heap of twisted met

escuers stood hesitating on the verge of action, Corrie Rose in his pink racing costume sprang up the bank

vagely. "The car's got to be jacked up. Hurry

s attacked. Under Corrie's brief orders they scattered in search of the logs, a telephone, and such aid as the

ph of The Trial of John Knox. A plush photograph album was jostled on its marble table by the driver's shattered mask and a glove upon whose wris

f the house hysterically. "Oh dear, dear! Pitching apples across th

f the emergency surgeons to arrive ran up the steps and into the room, str

rected concisely. "Here, I

rd's face was no more drawn and colorless than his, but he answered to the call

ented, his voice hoa

he room, when those nearest the door were suddenly thrust back. Staggering, furious pa

the fierce questi

Rose-gently! Clear out, you; the ambulance m

eyes embraced the scene

at most of you are chasing headlines for paper rags-print down that Allan Gerard was killed by that man. I'm saying it; Gerard cut him off from getting past, and he

. Dazed, the hearers stared from the mechanician's tattered, accusing figure to the pale young

ng this to put you to sleep? Why ain't you taking him out of here? Put his mechanician

he floor from Corrie's grasp. Livi

t a word; I don't care if Rose has murdered all Long Island, h

drawing Rupert into the retir

s, official cars and private vehicles arrived to halt around the little house, th

e. From it descended a gentleman who, after a comprehensive glance over the disordered, crowded or

the mechanician's shoulder. "Rup

lessened by flecks and bars of court-plaster; across the apathy

rench at Gerard for not giving him the road. It hit him, and we ran wild without a driver till we struck here.

had inflicted on bruised flesh and muscle, and turned his gray face to the surrounding

opposed entrance. In the hall, nauseating with the omino

aid briefly. "I want Gerard taken there instead of

nted, his professional impassivi

t all, sir; at least, not to-da

onscious

reaching for the door. "H

nce of more skilled attendants, but recognized as one who had earned the right to be there, Corrie stood near the foot of the improvised bed,

d, and he saw father and son looking at each other across the parlor strewn with the tragic litter of the l

ed consultation, a third was busied at the ma

nly bade the shadow of Allan Gerard's voice,

quest from his masculine patients, the man at the table took a case from

self," he approved brus

tiny narcotic, his right arm and shoulder w

again. "Now open that door and let

Ger

suffering but absolutely c

may be out of my head or in a box, to-m

given now. Someone offered Mr. Rose one of the horse-hair chairs, during the moment of rearrangement before the youngest of the doctors left the room. Only Corrie remained unmoved, not

badge visible under his coat. There was silent orderliness; the grim significance of the room, the presence of the watchful surgeons, the central figure of the driver so well known to all of those who ente

, when the company was complete, and slowly tu

my chance to reciprocate now," he asserted. "Well, I'll give what copy

of speech, his will locked to composure each rebel

t when two tires blow out at the

neral sigh of quick-drawn

l wearily. "I couldn't hold the machine to the road. The shock broke my control-there's no one

y urgent in his suspense. "Your tires wrecked you?

er, to meet the fixed gaze of th

ite. "What else? Corrie, leave me yo

eat it down. The surgeon flung out his hand in a sweeping gesture of d

walked more firmly and his face had relaxed to naturalness. On the narrow porch t

ead in the upset, I fancy; I've seen a man run half a mile across country, crazy as a loon, after being pitched out on his head in a s

guess there wasn't much need to worry about that part. I'll wait here and take him home w

done up,

. A troup of men appeared, running toward the house in the wake

lled ahead. "I've got it whe

rd stared at each other, mute. After a moment Mr. Rose drew out his handkerchief, passed it across

e issued

n is not c

om