"Yes. You know him, of course. It seems that he wants to make the trip, and is willing to run the machine without pay. I can't afford to do that, and that gives him an advantage over me. If Sid gets there first, and offers to do it for nothing, it means that they'll take him." "Well, he'll not get there first!" exclaimed Cora very determinedly. Suddenly they both heard the distant whistle of the train. "There she is!" cried Paul; and a little later they caught sight of the cars, flying over the track. "We're too late," said Paul. "Not yet," answered Cora. "We can take a shorter route, even if they can go faster than we can." She was already running on third speed, and the motor was taking about all the gasolene it could use. She adjusted the spark to give the best service, and now, as an additional means of inducing speed, she cut out the muffler. The explosions of the motor played a tattoo on the dusty road. "I'm going to turn here!" cried Cora as she swung around a corner. "Look out!" Paul needed no warning, for he was an expert autoist. The machine skidded a bit and tilted somewhat, but was soon flying down the straight, level stretch. "I cannot understand why Sid Wilcox wants to run in a cross-country race--and for nothing," said Cora. "Because he knows I want the place. He hates me and wants to make trouble for me." "Is that so? Then we have a double reason for beating him. And I think we'll do it. His train has to wait for the accommodation to pass it at the junction. We'll gain on him there." "That's so." "What time is it now?" Cora asked as, with hands firmly gripping the wheel, she leaned forward to peer down the road. She could neither see nor hear the train now. "It's nine-fifty-five," replied the chauffeur. "The train is due at New City at ten-fifteen." "Twenty minutes yet. I'm sure we can make it." Cora made that declaration with her cheeks flushing and her bright eyes ablaze with excitement. "Won't you, let me take the wheel?" asked Paul. "I am afraid that this heavy driving is too much for you." "Oh, no, indeed! This is my race, you know. I want to beat him." She looked at Paul frankly. "Very well. Only don't distress yourself too much--on my account." "Don't worry. I love this. At what place in New City do you wish to go?" "Directly in the center, next to the bank. The office of the Whitehall Motor Company." "Then we'll take this road," decided the girl. "I'm sure it cuts through a park, and will bring us out right at the center of the city." "It does, and it's the nearest way. You're getting to be quite a driver." "I mean to be. Hark, there's the train again!" "Yes, and we're ahead of it!" exclaimed Paul as he caught sight of the cars. "We've gained on them!"