"Line up!" called Jack. "Get ready for the race. We'll not insist
on a handicap for you, Cora."

Sid sent his car directly to the middle of the road, the very best
place.

"Better let the touring car go there," suggested Walter in as even a
tone as he could command. "It will need lots of room, and the road's
not very wide."

"That's right," added Jack. "A runabout can go on either side,
then."

"I don't know," began Sid. "Cora ought to beat, and yet with two
fellows driving against her--"

"Oh, if it's a matter of girls," almost sneered Ida, "I'll drive the
Streak."

"Good idea!" hurriedly spoke Jack. "That will `make the match even.
Suppose we take a girl to drive our car, Walter?"

Walter glanced rather ruefully at his companion.

"Why--er--yes," he drawled. "Suppose we take--"

"Bess," finished Jack, quickly. "She knows considerable about a
car, and she's driven this one."

Somehow, the idea of having Bess as a rival to Ida suggested fun to