The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-08-05
A BICYCLE STORY.

man as he dashed into the small grocery
store of Middle Fork.
1t was the same stranger who had
been in town for over a week. His days
were spent in the mountains, and in the
evening he kept himself closeted in his
room at the hotel. What his business
was no one knew; indeed, they would
scarcely have found our had they asked,
for he was a quiet, reserved sort of a
man who talked but little, and never
about his own immediate affairs.
"Phew! There's no horse that could
get over the road now. The roads are
flooded four feet deep in places by this
time" said one of the men in the store.
zone thousand dollars is good price,
men," said the stranger taking we'll
filled wallet from his pocket and tossing
it upon the counter.
"But there haint no man living that
can get to Mllbury with all this water
coming down the valley"
Here's a boy that can," spoke up
clear voice, and Dick Rogers came
from behind the desk and presented
himself to the crowd
Nonsense. do not want any boy
business about this affair" The strang
er's face was puzzle; he wanted some
thing done, had money to pay for the
service; no one seemed ready to earn
the goodly sum-that is, no one but
mere slip of a boy.
'Mlster, if I say will take your mes
sage to Milbury that settles it. I've
got the only wheel in Middle Fork. If
the road was clear l could do it in
thirty minutes. So bad as the roads
are, can get your message there in an
hour
There was something about the gro
GERS son that impressed the stranger.
There was nothing boastful In the lads
manner-he simply meant what he said,
that was ALL
"But the men say it is dangerous"
81 can go there and back without
harmlug hair in my head"
'Let me speak to your father boy"
said the stranger.
Dick called his father from the second
floor. When he entered the stranger
told him of his proposition and Disks
desire to earn it.
"Bad road, Dick"
81 can do It,"
stranger" said the boys father, 81
know Dick; if he says he can do it that
settles it. He will get there and don't
you doubt it,"
Here, boy, is the message. Place it
carefully about your person, and when
you reach Milbury take it to the tele-
graph office at once and have the oper.
ator rush 1t. Here is the money to pre-
pay charges. You shall have the thou
sand dollars for the ten mile ride. Mr.
Rogers, place that wallet in your safe
and keep the key in your pocket Upon
the return of your son take from it one
thousand dollars and give it to him for
his services. The wallet contains over
two thousand. Now, boy, as soon a.
possible"
Dick looked his wheel over carefully
to see that it was all in good order TO,
the run. He knew he had a difficult
task before him. The spring floods wert
heavy and the ride was a dangerou
one TO him, but the boy knew thing o,
two about the lay of the land between
Middle Fork end Milbury The precious
message was pinned in his inside vest
pocket. His cap was pulled down ant
his stout jacket well buttoned about hi.
sturdy-built figure.
"Good bye" yelled Dick as he spur
away, made the turn and was out o
sight.
The valley was below him. 1t wa
one sheet of water, with here and Their,
dark masses of tree stumps and fence
rails tossing upon its surface.
"Not much show down there. Their
isn't one sign of a road left. 1t wa
as thought. I'll have to take the trai
along the mountain" said Dick to him
self.
The trail was merely a pathwa
along the steep side of the mountain
made years ago by the Indians an
early settlers. 1t was seldom used now
excepting by hunters or pleasure-seel
ers. Dick knew every inch of the trail
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