The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-12-24

lOVe-slcK cycleri II must geJ out OF
this" He came out upon the drive
and walked slowly up tomeet the boy.
A glimpse of his face in the moon
light showed Fred that he was not
over fifteen@
BEG pardon; but | must have got
in a private drive, have not@ said
Fred, shamelessly. w. ~
eyes, sir; this is Ashcroft" an
swered the youth, pleasantly
"And you, my boy, are young Ash
ley,just out for a moonlight spin?'
said Fred, withltrue sophmoric conde-
cension. "My name is Campbell
suppose we take our ride together"
"Thank you, that would be jolly
shall we startY" Fred gazed admir-
ingly at the littlefellow as he vaulted
lightly by the pedal into the pigskin
and said, soto uoce, "He's got the fam
lily accent. Wonder If could pump
him about hissisterTi Fred mounted
and rode up alongside of his compan.
ion, who was pedaling along with that
careless ease so natural to the young
riders,
"You ride a great deal, don't your
asked Fred. rlr fy7 s
@oh, yes, sirr' answered the boy
heartily.
"And enjoy it, too, / see,' 'quoth oul
hero "what doyou think Of trycy.
cling2 aW ~.
"Idont thing It is quite safe, al
ways,' answered young Ashley, cast.
ing mischevious glance at Fred
which he, however, did not see.
"Your sister, Miss May, rides out
occasionally doesn'tshe?9
Eyes, sir" -fr
And does she like it, too?" asked
Fred, indifferently.
"Yes, she used to but l believe she
thinks it isn't safe on the highway
now" el
Fred cast a quick glance at the
speaker, but he was regarding the
moon with such innocence Of expires
sion, that Fred concluded that if he
had heard OF the mornings accident
he didnot know that the guilty person
was riding beside him, They rode Oh
in silence for awhile, then turned dowt
Brentham pike. Two miles ahead lay
the famous Brentham hill, the terrol
Of timid 'cyclers, and the scene o
many accidents until the Union board
ed 1t conspiciously. Fred felt yer.
much drawn to this quiet, gentle boy
riding with him, and decided that h,
would prove a true friend in promot
ing his acquaintance with mis- sister
May. rxr4J8sg8
I'll met your sister not long ago
and she asked me to cali. Do yo,
think that she really would care to SCI
meP' M s5a
II am sure she would, very, yer!
much" said young Ashley, SO iervent
ly that Fred ,oYerjoyed, would hav
hugged him ON the spot had that beer
a practicable feat. As it was, he ex
pressed his qualification as modestl,
AS passible. The 'cyclers had no1
reached the top Of the long and steeI
nill. Fred prepared to dismount, an
was surprised to notice his eompaniol
fstraightened up and take q firm gri
OF the brake handle. lg tg A9 shl.'a #
"Why, are you going to ride it?" h
calculated. IA
"Oh, yes, / always do, my brake
perfect safety" 6d
Pm with you, then,' said Fred, d,
termined not to be outridden by
mere boy, They started down til
steep grade, Ashley leading slight.
, Fred was admiring his perfect col
troll over the delicate semi-racer, whe
: he heard a.sharp snap, instantly fc
lowed by a short, girlish cry from IL
! boys lips. AS the machine shot 70
|, ward. Fred saw the shining brak
spoon on the road, and realized VIII
t had happened. Atthe bottom mi
/ down, lay the ford, now swollen al
aIiilled with broken ice. In q secol
his brake was released, and with
' strong squirt, he dashed after the II
n wary machine. In q few momer
e the speed was too great for pedallil
/ SO with legs over handles he flew aft
> the now helpless boy-yes, and gain
It upon him rapidly, first tapping his ]
e tie and then getting fast. In /
s tones that Fred never forgot, @Sa
e, mel" he begged, and Fred was aw,
W When about two hundred yards alle
d he suddenly dropped both legs off I
r handle bar and put his toe on the St
Imam instant he was standing upon
r. and the brake, almost red-hot, '
i. scorching the rubber, as it brought
,e machine to a standstill by the terri
t. strain. As he jumped to the groui
o. the runaway bicycle whizzed towl
e. him, the boy watching him with. ca
fSFt..x,..s l.o Il ~ ell.