Wichita eagle., 1889-08-11
OUR TANDEM.

II say, Ben" cried Mel Howard, springing
into my room at the academy, ''get on your
clothes quick, there's"-
The slam of the door drowned the rest of
the sentence, and his footsteps could be heard
retreating rapidly down the hall
There's fire around herei" was my hasty
thought.
With vest on wrong side out, hat hanging
on one ear, collar swapping, like the Star
Spangled Banner on a windy day, and my
coat sticking straight out behind, l fell half
way down the stairs, tore out the front door
to find my chum contentedly chewing gum
on the gate post, while waiting for my ap-
pearance.
''Takes you an awful long timel" he
srowled
where's the fire7 Whose is it9" gasped.
Nobody said anything about fire" was
the cool reply "How much money have
you got"
stopped, appalled, at this question. Was
this what he wanted when he called me in
Ghch hasty manners
looked at him closely to see if he was
clothed in his right mind, and, finding be
was, mechanically thrust my hand into my
pocket and drew forth dime.
SIS that all you've got left out of your
quarters allowancef' he inquired, in tones Of
nstonishment
81 forgot had that, or"-
YOU'D have bought that jointed fish pole
of Davis yesterday" he finished well, l
know you can put up twenty-five, and I've
got twenty-five fifty. think we can rake
up two and half among the boys"
but what's it all about2" l asked, in be-
wilderment.
Didn't 1 tell you when called you that
there's a fellow over at the hotel with a
tandem for saleP'
"a tandem!" 1 repeated, in dismay.
Now, Mel, WHAT
"Oh, yes; what do we want with a tan
demf Maybe we want it for scrap ironl l
am informed that it is a device like tricy-
Gle, designed to carry two persons-you and
], for instance. You said last week you
wished you had something to make the fell
lows envious Now, here's your chance"
Did l go into the schemel To be sure /
did, head over heels.
While he started out to "rake upn two dol
lars and a half, returned to my room to
finish my hasty toilet.
care you sure he'll take fifty dollars7"
asked, as joined him few moments later.
He'll have to, if he sells it to u.s." was the
wise rely. "Here, you take charge of the
chink and I'll do the talking"
Mr. Morton's not up yet" replied the Off
cious clerk in response to Mel's inquiry for
the gentleman who possessed such wonder
full piece of mechanism tandem.
After tedious wait of fifteen minutes, he
called to Mel and pointed to a gentleman
bo tla
party we wished to see.
''Well, yes; I've got a tandem for SALE"
be said slowly, after a few preliminary re-
marks had been exchanged, eying US with a
view of making certain calculations on our
combined capital.
1t was on the top floor.
There it is" remarked Mr.. Morton, eau
tiously, as he threw open the door of a small
room and pointed 10 a five foot concern
standing in one corner, the light from the
window glistening on its polished nickel and
enamel
Its ball bearing all around, with auto
matte steering bicycle handles, forty-two
inch drivers twenty inch steering wheel, !"
he went on glibly, Axle is driven from
the center by two detachable link chains and
sprocket wheels, fitted with an automatic
balance gear, composed of three bevel wheels
and a shaft by which the power is equally
transmitted TO both wheels.n pause for
breathl at has been used but few times;
original cost two hundred ard fifty; will
take one fifty. What do you think OF the
bargains"
We had been examining the machine, but
at the mention Of his price our hands came
of simultaneously. One hundred and fifty
dollarsl If he had said 81, 800 our surprise
could not have been greater.
HEMP said Mel, cautiously, looking very
comically at me over the machine. SIS that
the least you'll taleg'
'Oh. couldn't take less than that" re-
piled Mr.. Morton, decidedly.
What's the reasons for selling" l in
auired, running my hands over the tires to
keep up appearances, seeing he looked at us
rather astonished
They were cut in q great many places
showing it had been run rather recklesSly, if
used but few times.
Never mind the reasons fcr selling" an
swered Mr. Morton, sharply. 1T has moth
ing to do with the sale"
Neither noticed the short reply, or perhaps
we would have thought twice before proceed
ing.
Wen give you $50; that the best we can
do" was Mel's offer
Oh, he couldn't DO it Why it cost two
fifty; but after twenty minutes arguing. and
numerous false starts for the door, he sud
denly changed his mind, accepted the $50.
and we became the happy possessors Of q
tandem.
Mr. Brooks, the proprietor, strenuously