Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-10-15


heart of the rural district.
Gerald loved the country and this
anticipated whirl brought gladstone
refrain to his lips as he descended the
steps of his hotel, trusty cycle in
hand.
Altogether it was just the evening
for spin into ruralistic scenes.
II am little late," he said to a
friend standing by, "but must go to
Sterling Place this evening. The
Glenside route is the nearest, is it
not?"
Stanley Ruthven tapped his sleeve,
''Don't do it," he said, myster1ously,
''don't take the grove roadl There's
an uncanny story connected with it
and l wouldn't, If I were in your
place, go through there alone"
Young Stuart laughed heartily.
''You have reference to the ridiculous
yarns spun by that silly little fresh
man Sted. Nichols, l presume" he
replied. Pooh! that story isn't
true"
He elevated his brows in supreme
disdain of Nichols ''spoOk, and Ruth
ven made no reply; he only looked
anxious.
''Wellw exclaimed Gerald, "I'll adj
nit, then, that there is a phantom
something out there, just to please
you and Nichols. But just for that
very reason / will take the Glenside
road tonight"
''You see," said he, "I've never had
an opportunity of dipping into the
unfathomable, so here is my chance
Fancy, il you please, Harvard senior
frightened at a Mortified spook."
With this remark of bravado, Stuart
vaulted into his seat and wishing his
friend a cherry 'good evening"
whirled away in the direction of Glen
side.
The full moon rode high in the pure
heavens and mellowed up the land
scape.
The cycles rim glinted like silver
in her rays as it sped along with sub
dued hum over the grassy way.
"Ah! this is romantic, indeed, 4"
Gerald tOle himself exuberantly. IT
shall enjoy the spin immensely. AS
if Ruthven or any other spook-loving
creature could make coward of me
i'm this delicious weather."
The spook, the ridiculous yarn and
the silly freshman were soon forgot
ten altogether in the enchanting
beauty of the scene.
However, as one wakes from a
heavenly dream by restless circum-
stance, young Stuart suddenly became
aware that some one was following
him. He looked over his shoulder
and surely enough, not many rods to
the rear, he saw man on bicycle
coming at a good rate Of speed.
''Some one belated as well as N.Y.
SELF" murmured he; 'or else it may
be Ruthyen intent on making that
story dead certainty for my benefit. {"
Nevertheless as he spoke he felt
himself sciAcd with n norunns chill,
and he shiyered as he noticed the
strange looking wheelman gaining on
him.
And, could it be the trick of the
moonlight or the Imagination, or a
combination of both which presented
the approaching cyclist in such a
curious indistinct outline?
Gerald could not answer; he stepped
quickly from his wheel and retreated
to the roadside in order to avoid
proximity to this-this--.
A sensation as Of being exposed to
a wintery gale came over him, and
the mysterious cycler glided by.
I'm the brief moment in which Ger
aid Stuart came face to face with the
stranger he noticed that his eyes
W@re wide open and wore an I'M
natural stare; also he saw on his
shirt front cleaning pin of curious
workmanship, such as he had never
seen before.
Helplessly Stuart gazed after the
figure which seemed speeding on and
on, although it failed to disappear
around the bend i'm the road few
rods ahead. What did it all mean?
Gerald had again asked an unan-
swerable question as he stood looking
after the misty wheelman. just
then something happened which
made the hair stand erect on the
head of the brave Harvard senior; his
feet refused to move.
The mysterious man threw up his
hands as il in extreme agony, the
bicycle sWerved little and the next
moment lay prone and still together
with its rider on the white road.
Stuart felt a great wave OF helpful
pity come over him and all dread van
lished; he was about to move forward
to the assistance Of the prostrate