Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-22
the small wheel. and gives the large wheel more


elasticity In front.
am sure that If I had been riding down THAI
long, winding hill with feet on the pedals,
should have taken some very ugly headers. As
1t was, the little wheel jumped frightfully three
or four times. and on one sharp grade felt my
hair rise with the conviction that was hustlinv
forward on . single wheel. It was . wonderful
relief to me when dashed around the last curve,
yacht, and knew that in minute more, II ali
went we'll should be spinning smoothly along
the level bellows held my breath for that last
wild rush, and iciutched the handle-bers with
muscles tense as steel. The bicycle trembled
and swayed on the rough decline. 1.-THE handles
had turned the fraction Of an inch, tremble to
think what would have been the result
And now the wild race was almost over and
was beginning to breathe freer, when suddenly,
from the level just beneath, heard q cry
Hello, there-hello! WhOa!"
had no time to answer the shout Before
could open my lips the lantern light CLEANED on
prancng horse, and man plying whip and
rein to urge it forward. Fortunately, had in
stinctively guided my machine to the right.
whistled by with scarcely hairs breadth be-
tween the flying cranks and the hubs of the car
rage. AS l was receding in the darkness l
cried ont as loud as could shout, Hold oni
Danger ahead" Then | gradually applied the
brake, and in less than two hundred rods came
to stand-still and dismounted. How strange
1t seemed to be mOtionless and on my feet again!
l had wild desire to fling my self forward The
still air seemed to choke and sufIocate me. Only
u moment l stood with nv hand resting almost
with caress on the handle of my faithful
bicycle; then l glanced quickly at my watch.
Twelve minutes OF nine! And 1t would be seven
minutes yet before they opened the hoodgates
On that ridge, five miles AWAY
mounted and rode rapidly back to where I
had met the team. The driver was impatientiy
waiting for me. "Turn and ride for your life!'
l cried. The f1oodgates at the dam will be
open in five minutes
"Where-where shall l rider he shouted,
jumping out and seizing his horse by the head
Turn around and follow me-" answered.
"Drive as you never drove befOrei"
turned my wheel and sped down the river
road again, and in few moments heard the
buggy rafting after me. The horse was a good
one. and did not sacken speed until came to
the first house. There dismounted. and. when
the driver came along, 1 shouted
Drive ahead as fast as you can, and shout
them up at every house. Don't stop. will toll
to the left in two miles, and goes uphill. There
you are SAFE"
"All right" he shouted back, and whipping up
his horse. disappeared ia the darkness
l speedily reused the inmates OF the first
house. informed them of their danger, and
directed them to hurry across the fields and
up the slope to the village. Then |
mounted and speed on, as fast as l could
drive my wheel in the light sandy road. My
companion, found, had done his duty WELL
L
found the people up, and in a terrible state of
excitement to find out what the matter was
All followed my directions as speedily as posi-
BILE. and when at last l reached the ascent, at
the turning OF the road, and YEARLY pushed my
wheel. on foot, up the deep-rutted rOad-bed.
had the proud satisfaction of feeling that had
done my duty, and done it well-thanks to my
trusty wheel.
And now, reader, would you have the sequel?
1t is told in few words. The floodgates at
Brents' Mills were opened just in time to save
was overlooked to the depth of many feet, till
it looked like a vast lake. Fortunately, how
ever, no buildings were carried away. and no
lives were lost, and when the water fell again
the people returned to their houses to find
everything unharmed, except some of the grain
in the garners. And is that not sequel enough?
Something still left to say? Oh, yes. about
But who is that jogging my elbow, SO that
cannot write? Oh-Daphnis! Daphnis Templeton.
Kind reader, she will have mo bid you very
gOod-night.-The Wheelman.