San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-27
,in,e's that when YOU sea MN, r.

ing"
| Mr.. Hicks bad nov heard enough,
and the two soon afterwards separated.
| Hicks slowly retreated home, meditating an
idea which had struck him. He particularly
loathed bicycles and bicyclistS There was
something so irritating about that supercil.
| ious ease with which they ran past him and
his cart horses.
"Why," he would sometimes declare, "a
| man dursn't leave his cart across the road on
a hill, but what one of them bicycle chaps
comes flying down; and if he do get by With
out breaking his neck lie must needs storm
away, as if we weren't going to take up as
much of road as we precious well please"
The next morning saw him on Furnall hill
at twenty minutes to s. Barely ten minutes
had elapsed when the fash of the sun among
theplated spokes of fifty-two inch bicycle
wheel caught his eye; and down the long.
smooth hillside sped its rider, the hated
young Axell He had thrown up each leg
over the handles, and was leaning back, his
coat, confined by one button alone flying
open to the rushing air, and every line of his
countenance and figure expressive of his half
intoxicated delight in the motion, periloue
and yet secure from its very speed
The machine flashed byNthe farmer, and
was at the bottom of the descent in mo
ment. Hicks grunted with satisfaction
Here was way towards revenge! Any OBJ
stacle would be enough to throw into over
whelminS confusion a bicycle travelling at
that pace. There was a cross lane intersect
ing the main road about half way down the
bin From this lane he meant to bring a
cart, as if by accident, across the road in the
very path of the bicyclist, and see what hap
peued.
Yes, see what happeIs!" He repeated his
thought, and quite Ghuakled at the humorous
idea.
Upon the next morning Farmer Hicks har-
messed his heaviest cart horse to o substantial
wagon, and proceeded towards the scene of this
intended experiment. a strong wind was
blowing down Furnall hill
so much the BETTER thought be, hell
come down all the faster"
When within few yards of the main road
the farmer drew up, disnounted and through
an opening in the hedge, eagerly scanned the
summit of the hill. Yes, there was the fash
of the nickel! AXel had just thrown up his
legs in his accustomed attitude. Hicks leaped
back into his cart and drove it on quickly tC
the entry to the main road Then he slack
ened speed ONCE more, meaning to cross the
road more slowly. He was little too soon,
however He waited until the whirring
sound of the approaching wheels fell on his
ear, and then urged his horse forward again.
Axel was tearing down the hill, his swift
course accelerated to more than his usual
speed by the stiff breeze at his back At the
very height of bicyclist's happiness he was
suddenly thrown into the keenest apprehen
cinD hN ba Sicrht ~ q
ders slowly emerging from the lane on the
right of the road in such a way Us to threaten
to block his path The machine was travel
ing too fast to bear the shock of the brake:
he must fly on and Craze past in front of the
horses very nose.
No-too late! The horse and cart are now
clean across the road; he must inevitably
dash into the obstacle, to be precipitated over
the handles, who should say whitherl All,
there is still passage, a bare foot in. breadth,
into the cross lane on the other sidel But
what curve to venture on at that pacei
But there was no time for hesitation he
leaned hard over to the left and jammed the
handles round. At the fash and whir Of the
wheels the startled horse reared up; the BIZ
cycle rushed by beneath its uplifted forefeet,
escaping an upset al the curve as If by
miracle, and then dashed down the rough
lane, but still carrying its rider Greco, exult-
ing and triumphant
But the horse, at the rush and fash of the
wheels at such close quarters, wheeled round
LII terror, and, taking the bit in its teeth,
broke away at q furious gallop down the hill.
At the sharp corner at the foot the heavy
cart was overturned, arresting the progress
of the frightened animal and hurting out its
driver so violently as to leave him lying in
the roadside ditch, helpless and unconscious,
with rib and arm fractured.
The ponderous rumble of the runaway had
been heard by young Axel He quickly
checked his course, dismounted, and, leaving
his machine, ran back to see how horse and
cart had Jared. At the bottom of Furnal
hill he found the horse endeavoring to strug-
gle to its feet from among the debris Of the
shattered vehicle, and the motionless body of
the lusty Hicks lying in a heap in the ditch.
He stretched the unconscious farmer in an
easier position, and ran off for help.
Well. during the period of his recovery,
Farmer Hicks gave up the idea Of vengeance
upon the head of his former foe. Did not
young Axel visit him, help to nurse him, and
even show some eagerness to pay the doctors
bill. affirming the whole thing to be entirely
his own faultl The worthy Hicks was not
one to deny the latter sentiment with any
vigor, but he was sensible to the kindness
shown towards him during his illness, and
was glad to be reconciled. He has now lost
all interest in experiments upon bicycles run
ming down hill.-A. B. Tyro in The Argosy.
An Electrical Course.
In view of the prodigious strides which