The Bet

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Adamstown, in the western foothills of the Cascades is a ‘˜one-horse’™ town between Eugene and Salem.’ In the north Rockies, it’™s known as a one-horse town not because there would be only a single horse outside the bar at noon but because it has only one of most of the necessities for it to be called a town at all.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ One school, one supermarket, one barber, a doctor, a baker and a car-dealer who was also the town’™s mechanic.’ It also possessed an extremely rich real-estate man.’ If one needed a hospital, it was to Eugene they would go.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ There are two roads in Adamstown.’ The main one joining the trunk road from Salem to Eugene,’ the other into the hills to the east.’ This one, which went high into the mountains feeds the ranchers and sheep-farmers who populate the fertile highlands.’ To get up to these lush hills and valleys the road zigzags steeply for some eight miles,’ circumventing rocky outcrops and high cliff faces.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ It’™s a narrow road partly because of the difficulties and cost of construction, partly because it is only the occasional truck, wagon or car that uses it. Thirty three hairpin bends zigzag a traveller up to the hills.’ It’™s only natural that it came to be called Thirty-three Bends.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Another one of the town’™s ‘œpossessions’ is known as The Castle. It’™s a palatial home and set in a small wood of pine on the town’™s outskirts. It belongs to Adam. The man to whom the town owes its name.’ Adam, now in his fifties, is a very successful estate agent whose lavish offices are in Eugene.’ He was the one to see the potential of the area.’ ‘ His plan, with the backing of the State Council, had set its development in motion.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gladys, Adam’™s second wife, a most beautiful thing has soft curves in the right places, naturally blonde hair and eyes that illuminate her face like a summer sky.’ She’™s at least twenty years his junior.’ She could be often seen in her red Mercedes sports , hood down,’ ‘ travelling to Salem or Eugene to shops, hairdressers and beauty salons.’ There was another car like it in Adamstown.’ It was in Mike’™s the car- dealer’™s show-window.’ ‘ The same red.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Mike, the town’™s mechanic, enigmatic about his past,’ is about thirty five and very athletic looking.’ His jet black hair sets off a handsome, sun-tanned face.’ He owns the motor agency -come- filling station with a workshop aound at the back.’ Though silent about his past, Mike is much liked.’ His quick, open smile earns him friends easily.’ In his middle thirties and still single, most gossip has it that he must have had a tough marriage which had made him shy of women..’ ‘ As friendly as he is, his past is taboo in all conversation.’ He moved to Adamstown only three years since.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Adamstown was fully aware of Gladys’™ crush on Mike.’ She finds every pretext to be at his workshop.’ Of course they are pretexts ‘“ after all, isn’™t it a new Mercedes sports?’ ‘ Mike, however, out of respect and loyalty to his friend and best customer, Adam,’ kept her in the cool.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gossip and rumours almost inevitably begin at Bob’™s barber shop. From there they travel fast and are all over town in an hour or so.’ ‘ Now it was all over the air waves that in a special brave attempt to get real attention from the man, Gladys had set a bet with Mike.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œMike, any truth to a wager between you and Gladys?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œSure is, Bob. Bob’™s the barber, remember?’ ‘œI’™d be a fool to turn this one down.’ ‘œA race down Thirty three Bends!’ Not together, of course. Timed.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWhat, your Volks Wagon Beetle against a Mercedes?’ You crazy?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œNo, Bob.’ I think it’™s a pretty even match.’ Don’™t forget it’™s down, not up.’ Don’™t need much power.’ ‘ The only’ up-grade is the two mile stretch.’ The rest needs agility and the V.W. is pretty good on curves you know.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWhat if you win, Mike?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHold onto your pants Bob.’ I get the red one in my window!’ How’™s that for enticement?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œGee!’ What a win!’ Gee!,’ he repeated,’ ‘œNow why didn’™t she bet me?’’ Bob had become a little flushed.’ ‘œAnd if you lose?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œI give her free service as long as they’™re in Adamstown.’’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWow! You stand to gain much more.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYou bet, Bob.’ I’™d be all kinds of a fool to turn this one down.’ But look – Gladys is loaded.’ Just a pinch in the piggy-bank for Adam.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWont Adam will be mad?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œNaa!’ We both told him.’ Adam thought it would be exciting.’ He agreed.’ Somehow he’™s not jealous about Gladys. Rumour has it he has a floozy in Eugene.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The great race had been set for the following Saturday afternoon.’ Of course just everybody was there.’ ‘ According to the last census, two hundred and forty three of all ages.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ People began to take bets on the outcome.’ Jock opened up a bookie joint and took bets.’ Tongues wagged and every ear was open as they would in such a small town until the great day came around. That Saturday, end of May it was – the hills higher up the slope still misty.’ Thirty three Bends was damp but not considered dangerous.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œLadies first,’ called a very obese man, bald except for a fine ring of hair just above the ears.’ Slim was the town baker.’ His portly figure lent him an air of dignity and authority and thus he had been unanimously elected as judge.’ There were three time-keepers each with a stop-watch.’ Their’ times, averaged,’ was to be the unquestioned official ‘˜time’™.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The starter’™s gun had been test-fired at the upermost point of thirty-three bends.’ The sound of the shot had faintly but distinctly carried into town.’ ‘ There were four witnesses with the official starter.’ The rules made, all was set and ready for the great event.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The time moved slowly up to three.’ Dead silence fell over the crowd as the’ moment approached.’ Ears strained to hear the crack of the starter’™s’ gun.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Softly the shot echoed and re-echoed down the valley. The time keepers pressed buttons unanimously alternately studying their time-pieces and looking up to the hills.’ ‘œThere!’, one shouted as the first flash of red of the Mercedes appeared’ on a distant hill.’ It had been moving fast.’ Very fast.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œDidn’™t think she’™s that good a driver,’ Bob said excitedly.’ ‘œSure looks as if Mike has bitten off more than he bargained for.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The air was tense with excitement.’ ‘œThere she goes!’,’ this time from Slim,’ the portly judge who was rising up and down nervously on his toes as if by doing this he would get a better view.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWow! She’™s going damn fast for a woman..,’’ but this comment trailed off as the excited speaker got a very dirty look from the baker’™s wife.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œGoing like mad,’ said another.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ From time to time a flash of red would appear, now here, now there as Gladys made the grades at a break-neck speed.’ All knew by now’ that Mike was going to have a tough time beating that run. Gladys was almost literally burning up the road.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œJust look at her go!’,’ an astonished remark came out as a squeak.’ Finally a red streak burst around the final bend in the foothills and roared into Adamstown. Gladys crossed the finishing line at an estimated hundred and forty m.p.h.’ ‘ All cheered at this unexpected show of versatility.’ ‘ Two minutes later Gladys, in pretty pale blue dungarees and a red scarf, the car’™s hood down, drove back to the finish line waving cheerily.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œHey, Gladys, where d’™ya learn to drive like that!’’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œJust love to drive fast,’ was her casual reply with a smile that seemed to embrace everybody.’ ‘œWhat’™s my time?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The timekeepers looked up from their calculations.’ One passed a slip of paper to Slim who announced sonorously: ‘œEight minutes thirty three seconds!’’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ There was a gasp from the crowd. That meant an average of nearly sixty miles an hour – with all those hair-pin bends. ‘œFantastic! Unbelievable!’’ ‘ Slim shook his head in disbelief.’ It was now Mike’™s turn.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œPoor Mike,’ a voice was heard to murmur.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Now the second shot was heard to echo distantly.’ The timekeepers pressed buttons.’ ‘ It took almost a minute before the first flash of green was to be seen around the top curve.’ It was going at a remarkable speed.’ ‘ Enquiring glances were exchanged.’ ‘œThere he goes!’ Boy, just look at him go!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWow!’ He’™s terrific,’ another shouted.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWho’™d ever think…’ this remark trailed off in astonishment and disbelief.’ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The bright green beetle was seen to swing first around this,’ then that bend.’ ‘ It just didn’™t seem to be in keeping with the car. Along one stretch of about half a mile that could be followed by the onlookers the beetle seemed to be going like a bullet.’ Exclamations abounded.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œGee! Just look at that!’’ Another screamed in excitement’ as in surprise after surprise a flash of the beetle would come into sight.’ Finally with a cheer from the crowd it flashed around the last bend and literally roared past the amazed onlookers followed by an enormous, billowing cloud of blue smoke from its engine.’ All couldn’™t help but laugh and shout their wonder praise and surprise ‘“ I, perhaps one of the loudest.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ All eyes were now on the timekeepers.’ They compared scribbled figures.’ They looked at Slim their eyes wide.’ The head time-keeper passed him another’ slip of paper.’ He looked at it unbelievingly while the crowd craned their necks to see what was written.’ After a wait that had seemed interminable the portly baker finally announced once again authoritatively: ‘œSeven minutes and fifty seconds.’’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ He had beaten Gladys by a full forty three seconds
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ There were intant calls of victory and excitement..’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œMike!’ You did it!’’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œYou old son of a gun!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Mike drove up’ a smile the size of the Empire State Building on his face.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWhere’™d you get that speed-iron from?’’ Bob was the first to come up to MIke to shake his hand warmly.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ There was then heard the first bit of information from Mike’™s past.’ ‘œWaal,’ he drawled,’ ‘œDid quite a bit of racing before I got to Adamstown,’ he said with a grin.’ ‘œDid pretty well at it too.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œBut Mike, how did you get a Beetle to go like a bat outa hell?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œWell, Bob, as a racing mechanic I know how to supercharge the engine.’ ‘ I knew also that it would blow the old engine but if I didn’™t supercharge I wouldn’™t have the chance of an ice-cream in hell!.’’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Many eyes showed surprise and satisfaction.’ Some youngsters showed pride that Adamstown could now boast another ‘˜one’™ ‘“ this one a racing driver.’ It was obvious by the congratulations that most were happy that it was Mike who had won.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Gladys, strangely enough, seemed to be as happy as’ the rest congratulating Mike.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Two days later Mike was seen in his new’ red Mercedes sports.’ Seated next to him was Gladys.’ ‘œJust going for a ride’’ Gladys said and waved.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ They were also to be seen taking her car out on test runs.’ It seems that it never really was in best running order.’ Strangely enough Adam didn’™t mind.’ Bob got the news that Adam really had got himself another pretty thing but in Salem, not in Eugene.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Seems Mike’™s past experience with women saved him from Gladys.’ ‘œWouldn’™t want to settle down with a girl that kept going to beauty salons and hairdressers in Salem and Eugene,’ he said smilingly at Bob.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Four months after the bet,’ Mike got married:’ ‘œA homely girl from Eugene’, Bob said.’ Bob knew everything.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Theirs was a simple, happy wedding. All of Adamstown were at the small chapel to wish them’ well.’ ‘œShould have seen them,’ Bob said as he ended the tale to me.’ ‘œThey looked really great in that beautiful, red, open Mercedes.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘œGladys? Oh, she was there also alright – smart and smiling as usual. She was with another guy – smartly dressed and handsome too . Each with an arm around the other’™s waste, they joined all the town’™s well-wishers waving the newly weds a happy farewell.’