The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-09-12

had passed. He was half mile bs-
yond them when il flashed into his
mind that it was his own horse and vo.
hicle he had met. He got OF his bi.
cycle and looked after them. The
girl was urging the horse to great
er speed, and at that moment the
young man was looking over his
shoulder up the lane. Instantly the
truth of the situation was borne in
upon old Scu1amore. The advantages
and Disadvantages Of the position
passed before him. IL was useless t)
go back and get another horse, for
they would he in Scotland long be-
fore he could hope to overtake them.
On the other hand his already sharp
ride had tired him, while their horse
was fresh. The road to Scotland was
anything but level. 1t was mp hill and
down dale all the way, and old Scuba.
more knew that going up hill they
would ont t-distnnce him, for he would
have to get off and walk, but going
down hill AT full speed and risking
everything, he would very likely over
take them. Then he remembered with
JOY that the last three miles of the
race was long incline to the bridge
at the border II he could not over.
take them before. he was sure TO do 50
at that stage of the race.
"By all the gods" cried young
Sherwin at that moment, "he's after
us. Give me the rcins and the whip,
Edna, we must get over the bridge
first, it we kill the horse in doing 50. ,"
Tho young girl, with a cry OF fear,
gave the rens into her lovers hands.
In spite of all efforts Of the horse they
could not once shake of old Scuba
more, nor yet could he overtakc them,
but young Shcrwin realized, as did old
Scudamorc, that on the long decline
to the bridge he would come up with
them, even if they kept their horse on
the gallop.
When the eloping couple reached
the top of the hill where the Border
er's Arms stand, three miles from tho
bridge that leads into Scotland. the
old man was but mile behind them
trudging up the hill rs stubbornly,
and apparently as fresh "a ever.
The young man stopped the horse
at the door OF the public house.
"Gool graciousw said the girl,
''you are not going to stop here?'
"Yes," said young Sherwin. Don't
say word will explain it all later"
and lac dashed into the public house,
where he astOnishel the bar-maid by
asking ii she sold empty bottles.
eyes, sir, she said.
"rheH give me an armful quickly"
he cried, finging down a gold piece.
Three arm loads the young man
took ont to the trap and flung under
the seat The girl not knowing the
bottles were empty, thought the criti-
cal situation had turned her lovers
brain, but he sprang into the cart,
and looking over his shoulder saw that
the old man was only half way up the
hill.
"Now. my darling" he said, "you
take the reins and drive as fast as you
can.
When they we're above 800 yar,is
from the tavern, Sherwin took bot
tie by the neck and smashed it against
the road, then another, aud another,
and another.
"Why, my poor Reginald, what are
you doing chat for?" cried the girl.
"This is for the benefit of the old
mans pneumatic tires, answered Reg
inald, Gs with crash after crash the
broken glass scattered over the queens
highway.
The girl continued driving, while
Reginald, looking backward, had the
full benefit of the old mans disaster.
He did not stop Mt the top of the hill,
but sprany Mt once on his machine,
and came down the incline like light.
ning express. Reginald gaze1 anx.
! iously at the area If broken glass
which, he knew, began at the mile
stone on the northern side OF the
hotel. The old man came sweeping
on without seeming to notice any
thing, and Reginald's heart stood still,
as he saw how the infuriated cyclist
was gaining on them.
"The tires must he cut to pieces by
this time" he muttered through his
clinched teeth, aud he began again
vigorously to smash bottles. No
pneumatic tire that was ever made can
stand roadway of broken glass very
long, and Reginald, with a sigh of re-
lief, saw the old man wobble first from
one side of the road and then TO the
other, and at last slow up and dis
mount.
The excited young man gave a yell
of triumph and waved an empty bottle
over his head as he saw old SCUBA.
more let his machine drop in despair
to the ground. while he himself sat
down on the second milestone to mop
| his heated brow.
They had been married more than
half an hour when the detected man,
trundling q bicycle whose tires hung
in ribbons, entered the Scottish vii.
lage. A smiling young man went
forth to meet him.
4 1