Bert Wilson's Twin Cylinder Racer

of D

menced racing wildly. In an instant Bert had shut off power, and came to a stop as soon as possible. Then he dismounted, and commenced a hasty examination. The first thought that flashed across his mi

. Of course, the key that prevented the sprocket from slipping on the shaft had dropped out

thirty miles from the nearest town and provided with a permanent f

h only partial success. He found a nut that fitted the shaf

nning every foot of the path. He realized that the likelihood of finding it was very slim, but there was always the chance, so he

h an idea, once more looked through the tool bag. He selected the smallest of his screwdrivers and a file, and began to file away at the screwdriver about half an inch

ached, he cut through the obstinate metal and final

an awful job, but the end justifies the means. I wouldn't swap

fairly tight fit. "Eureka!" he exclaimed aloud, "that's bend

along now, old fellow," he said, apostrophizing the "Blue Streak," "we've got

t seemed as though fate repented of having saved him from a horrible death that morning, and wa

tra links with him, and repaired it quickly, but even then much valuable time was lost. Then, he had hardly started again before a wea

bles were over, when suddenly he was apprised by the hard jarring of the back wheel that the tire on it ha

ter remedying the last misfortune. "Hard luck seems to be keeping m

raced along, mounting up the miles on his speedometer in a very satisfactory fashion. He m

h plenty of wholesome "grub," and had personally supervised

and crisp brown crullers. He washed down the meal with a long pull from his canteen, and then, after allowing himself a

denly turned a sharp bend in the road and ran squarely into a deep bed of sand. Before he could slow down appreciably, he was in it-and, a se

showers of sand into the air. Bert shut off the power and proceeded to take stock of damages. The footboard on the right had struck through

best he could, and at length he managed to make a tempora

get anywhere if this keeps up long. But perhaps it's better to have everything come

y, he was to find that this view of the case was altogether too sanguine. The road grew continually worse, and it

slightest sign of weakening, and Bert was grateful indeed for the staun

ak" slipped and skidded, and tried to "lie down and roll over," as he described it afterward, and the strain on his wrists and arms was tremendous. If the handlebars had once gotten out

fited by a brief rest. Probably every experienced motorist has noticed this, and many theories have been advanced in explanation, but none of them seem very satisfactory. Bert by this time was beginning to feel the effects of the strain he had endured all through the day. He plowed slowly through the clinging sand, travel

had strapped on the luggage carrier. "And it's a mighty lucky thing I did, too," he thought, "otherwise I'd b

st me until I reach some place where I can get more," he thought, throwing the empty

opened the throttle, and when he had attained a good speed, changed to high gear. The "Blue Streak" gained momentum and charged ahead, throwing showers of sand into the air. Every muscle tense, Bert h

pper time." Consulting his speedometer he found that he had covered something over a hundred and twenty miles

his hands with a force that almost broke his wrists, and he was flying through the air. He landed with a crash, and for a few

There it lay, at some distance, half buried in the sand. He went over to it, and, aft

ht, with a sinking heart. "Something must have been badly brok

but then stopped. "I knew it," he exclaimed aloud, with a feeling nearly akin to despair. But his indo

h the aid of a wrench he soon set matters right. The main thing was to locate the cause of the motor refusing to run,

uarter of an inch or so from the cylinders. A hot blue spark jumped snapping across the gap, and Bert dre

ly important part of his equipment. His suspicions proved well founded. The carburetor was packed w

h this out in a little less than no time, a

the instrument and connected it up with the induction pipes. Flooding the carburetor with gasoline, he gave the engine a quick turn

, "now, old boy, w

ools away, and in a short time was speeding along again, nothing daunted by the accident. Presently the road improved, a sure sign that he was approachi

solacing himself for the strenuous day he had gone through