The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-12-20

on the eth night air. I darted around
the corner OF the building 100 season TO
escape their bullets. The next mome1t
was beside my bicycle in tho shed.
10 was quite dark inside the build
Ing. but / managed to got my hand
Upon The machine Just as my pursuors
came around tho corner OF the main
house. ! was In decidedly close quar-
tors. but / still believed that. once In
the saddle Of my silent atcod, I could
bid defiance TO my enemy, 80 ! Ignored
their hoarsc cries 10 surrender.
Then. aa I pulled the machine out OF
tho shed and prepared to mount, I
made a discovery that for a moment
dashed my hopes to the earth.
"Thc handle Of my bicycle had been
removed
you may Imagine that I had no timc
for reflection ns to the reason Of this
condition Of the machine. Shouting
mrlously. one Ia another. the outlaws
were rushing forward TO intercept my
night.
Disabled as II was. I felt that my BIZ
cycle was my only means Of escape.
and ! yaultoi into the eat without
stopping TO consider what might follow.
The next Instant | was wheeling away
Tor dear life.
In the excitement OF the occasion.
with the shots Of my enemies whizzlug
about my head. I simply stocrcd for the
road. guiding the machine as best I
could by the action Of my feet. without
stopping 10 think that II mattorod 10
nc whether I kept on down the road
ahead or returned BY the way I had
como.
"'Onto yor bosses an give hlmchaser
! heard tho leader Of the gang shout,
Don't let him get away alive"
Balancing back. / saw three horsea
hltchcd to the rear OF the house. and rs
many Of the outlaws rushing toward
thom. Then the clattor OF hoois rang
out with the report OF firearms as |
turned to ind myself speeding with
llghtnlng-liko velocity down the sharp
descent leading on farther than | could
geo.
1t was fortunate for mo that the
moon rode high In tho clear sky, light.
lng my pathway 10 almost midday brill
lancy. for by that time / had begun 10
realize that my only danger did not lIo
behind me. Under the furious Impetus
| had given Il at the outset. and gaining
greater speed at every revolution OF
the wheels. my bicycle was already be-
yond my control.
Il ma longer paid any heed to my
noisy %purauers. but gave an Of my at
tcontion to that wild nlght OF which /
had barely begun TO get a foretastc.
The descent was growing sharper every
moment. and, expecting to be nung
headlong from my seat NJ any Instant,
! was carried on and on. faster aud
faster. until I seemed to lose my breath.
and | saw only a whir and glitter be-
fore my eyes,
Il had boosted OF swift riding before
that oyentful evening. but all palod be-
fore that startling experience. I seemed
to be nying. I don't know how | kept
my scat. how the machine kept on It's
course. Twice 1 found myself NOI'r
borne around PERCEPTIONS curS dnNu
atil sharper dcsccnts-still 1n 900
whole the course must have been r.
markedly straight and smooth. Two or
three times / fanclcd ! saw tho out
lines OF n team approaching. when my
heart fairly came into my mouth. but
time | was happily deceived. Then
looacd mp In the narrow road the
figure OF a horsomnn, which proyof o
be no Illusion Of my Imagination.
Fortunately the rider was hugging
the inside OF the way. while his animal
was YEARLY climbing the tedious as
cent. sleeper here n possible than at
any place | had found before. I was
following In the middle Of the road. On
my right hand yawnod a deep gully.
Il have often wondered what that
thought M | sped past him like a
lash. my leg actually brushing against
his horse. which gave a snort OF terror
and barely missed leapIng against me.
After that | had a clear course.
continually ~descending. until Il
seemed to me II was without end. /
felt weak and dizzy and liable to fall
from my seat at any moment. Then a
darkness began to settle over the scene.
lighted at intervals by bars OF silycry
light. across which | sped like a specter.
| was entering a more heavily timbored
district. and whore the gloom hung
deepest over me | suddenly found my
self being carried up u sharp ascent
and | knew that the worst OF my Wild
was over,
al tho very top Of this long rise.
carried hlther by the momentum II had
previously gained. the bicycle came TO
an abrupt stop, | dropped upon the
ground in a swoon, unable to bear up
when / recovered my consciousness
I found that | had barely escaped being
borne down a second descent OF moro
than a mile In extent. | was 80 weak
that / was Obliged to rest under the
shadow OF the forest for half an hour or
more before | could muster sufficient
strength TO resume my 0ight,
81 could hear nothing OF my pursuors.
and. judging that they had abandoned
the chase. | moved lelsurely away on
foot. not caring to remount my wheel.
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