Bert Wilson's Twin Cylinder Racer

adly

bad, and time and again he was forced to ride on the railroad embankment, between the tracks. Of course, progress in this manner was necessarily slow, and again

ionally well ballasted he was able to open up a little, but such stretches were few and far between. In places he was forced to dismount because of drainage culverts running under

little station, and about a quart of very inferior lubricating oil. But he comforted himself with the thought that "half a loaf is better

down with him. He arrived safely at the bottom, and a minute later was on the road. It proved to be

hing gaze met nothing but empty sky and empty desert, however, and he drew a sigh of resignation. "I guess there's nothing for it

over it. "Now that that's done," he thought, "I'll just have a bite to eat, and turn in. This isn't half bad, a

himself in cleaning and thoroughly inspecting his faithful mount, and found it in fine condition, even after such a strenuous day. "No need to worr

some adjustments it was almost dark, and Bert rolled

e, they decided that some unforeseen event had delayed him, and were not much worried. Nevertheless, the

orrow morning and meet him outside the town on his way in? It will break up the t

make arrangements with the garage keeper so we'll be sure to get

ulty in making the necessary arrangements. They paid the proprietor of the garage a de

open. "Oh, it's always open," he replied, "come and get the car any

at your word," they promise

, "we ought to leave the garage before six

"and maybe I won't be glad to set

m, "he'll be a si

going to get started at that unearthly h

ith no opposition, and shortly afterward they

arguing "that there would be plenty of time for that later on." In a very short time they presented themselves at the garage

hey passed right by the place where Bert had encamped at a distance of several miles, and before long came to a village, where they inquired if Bert had been through. No, the villager

ative whose tanned and weather-beaten face was seamed by a thousand wrinkles. "P'

ly have reached town last night," he said, with an anxious look in his eyes.

the track that he might

ept the old Holloway trail, and you can't rightly call that a r

ened." He explained hurriedly the race and its object, and ended by en

tation, "I'll go ye. But whareabouts in that gasoline buggy o' y

ing out. "I'll sit on the floor and

on they came in sight of the railroad embankment, and Dick slowed down slightly. Their guide waved his arm to the right, and Dick wrenched the wheel around, causing the machine to skid wildly in the yielding sand. Their guide hung on desperately, but was heard to mutter something about "sti

minutes of furious driving they caught sight of the "Blue Streak." A littl

f relief as Dick reduced speed, "we've

muttered under his breath. "That young chap must be an all-fired heavy sleeper to sleep in

t out, and Tom and Dick were going to make a dash for the sleeper, but their guide held them back. "Ea

crawled up on him durin' the night to keep warm, an' if he moves an eyelash they'll sting him, sure. An' ef they do--" he

thin a hundred feet of him, but to all intents and purposes they might as well have been a hundred miles distan

and. The hideous creatures would not leave him until the sun drove them into hiding, and Bert might wake at any mome

t o' lookin' glass," he muttered, looking aimlessly about him, "I might d

the mirror attached to the dash for the purpose of reflecting objects coming in back of the car. He had it off in less time than it takes to tell, an

old man, snatching the mirror fr

recumbent form. Its effect was soon apparent. The poisonous insects stirred uneasily, trying to avoid the glare that they

m waited for the last noxious insect to crawl sluggishly down onto the blanket and then off into the sand. Even after the last

ast. "I cal'late you can wake your frien

sion, but found that there was no need. As they started fo

"Of all the lucky old reprobates that ever lived, Bert, you're certainly the l

fraid to move for fear of having one of those things bite me-ugh!" and a great shudder of disgust passed over him, "that was

ot nerve, young feller, and no mistake. It ain't everybody as could hold hisself the wa

thing if you'd been in my place," o

dently much gratified by this little compliment, "although I don't s

and, of course, to my pals here," said Bert, "an

ecatory wave of his hand, "you can thank me best by not sayin' a wor

red to start on. "You fellows lead the way," he said, "and I'

ised their guide, "ye'll soon come to the main road leadin

ored neatly on the carrier. Then Dick pointed the nose of the automobile in the direction their guide had advised, Bert following at a little distance to give t

e assistance. They parted from him with great regret and many expressions of gratitude. He stood

there ever was one," said Tom, a

ffler of his machine, and as it glided along with scarcely a sound he and his friends conversed without the

e all ravenously hungry, and the ravages they caused among the eatables filled the waiters wit

d some of the worst going is over. But, believe me, I wouldn't want to r

It won't do you any harm to rest up an hour or two now, and we're craz

Some of the incidents were very amusing, but they elicited less laughter than they usually would, f

id I'll have to be moving. Get hold of that auto again, why don't yo

our sweet life we can," chimed

ready served them so well that morning. Bert ran the "Blue Streak" out onto the sunlit road, and, runnin

so. As soon as they began to get close he would shoot ahead, and although they had a speedy

attempt, and Bert dropped back

. "The old 'Blue Streak' and I don't

until they had gone much further than th

efore parting

id Dick. "We'll be waitin

see you later," and, leaping on the "Blue Stre