The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-09-25


each others waists. Their backs were
toward me, and the lamp did not shine
far enough ahead to let them know /
was coming OF course, if l had had
presence of mind, could have steered
around them and passed on, but they
had become SO suddenly silhouetted
against the darkness, Just as q magic
lantern picture is thrown upon a screen,
that the unexpected sight drove what
little sense had clear away from me,
and / gave one terrific yell fit to rouse
any recently dead man and flung myself
from the machine. The girl complicated
matters by wildly throwing her arms
around the young mans neck and call
ing upon him to protect her, which he
had no chance to do, because the next
instant the machine climbed his back.
We three were in a heap in that silent
lane before any Of us knew what had
happened, and of course tho lamp went
out BY way of excusing myself and
saying something oonciliatory shouted
out:
"What in the name of the prince of
darkness are you two dawdling along
this lane in the middle of the night for?"
The young man intimated to me in
rather harsh language that if would be
good enough to wait there until he found
his stick he would show me what he
was doing. However, found my ma
chine first, and being in an utterly reck-
less mood sprang upon it without OK
aiming it to see if anything were bro
ken or not, though / knew that no or
binary fall would injure that machine,
and away went and left them there. 1
did not see that any explanation ON my
part would help matters, so thought it
best to leave we'll enough alone, which
I did Little use as the lamp was l
found it had Its advantages, because the
lane turned short distance ahead. In
fact, 1t was always turning, even in the
daylight, although had never noticed
that particularly before, and this time
ran square into the hedge on the side
opposite the ditch extricated the ma
chine and once more lit tho lamp. /
thought perhaps it was safer not to ut
tempt to ride any more, and so walked
along, trundling the wheel, for knew
there was bridge some distance ahead
that had no parapets and did not want
to enter into an encounter with it. As
| walked along beside the bicycle / saw
something move on the side of the road
and within the circle of light. A stall
wart, unkempt tramp, who had been
making the roadside his bedroom, rose
up on his elbow and said menacingly:
"Say, marster, can you oblige me
with match?''
Eyes, cam" said climbing upon
my machine and putting the wheels in
motion. Sect ON your bicycle and well
have match. Come alongl' He mere
ly stood up and cursed mo i'll loud and
forcible language.
thought my troubles we'll over on
coming to the street lamps. Twas bowl
ing along within half mile of my own
house when suddenly policeman step
ped out into the middle Of the road.
"stopn,s. he cried, aud having re-
spect for tho law stopped and got off
the machine. "What are You doing, "
he demanded, travelling with your
lamp out?"
Good gracious, said, "my lamp
isn't outP' but on looking around 1
found, alas, it was, and | had not no.
ticed tho fact, so we'll was the street
lighted assured him that it had been
lighted moment before, and that it
must have logged out.
''H you will put your hand on the
lamp" l said, lyon will find it is quite
hot. "
He did so and shook his head. l
touched the lamp myself, for it, when
lighted, becomes uncomfortably hot (it
smokes worse than I do), and, would
you believe it, it was rs cold as rich
relation from whom you want to borrow
money.
"You will have to come with me"
he said
won't cash payment down save me
the trouble of appearing before a magis-
tratef''
"No, it won't" said tho policeman.
II must do my duty -
/ detest q policeman who has to do
his duty, so l said
ooh, very we'll joggled some mon
ey out Of my pocket as i dropped off.
You took mo SO by surprise. I'm going
to light my lamp and look for it..
lit the lamp and backed the machine
up bit. The policeman kindly helped
me to look for the coins, but when his
back was bent / pushed my machine
forward a bit and sprang on it, My
lamp was lit. He blew his whistle, but
managed to turn down side street,
then down another, and SO managed to
get safely home. But, much as like
the bicycle, 1 have made up my mind
that night rides are too exciting for me
until get lamp that, like that police
man, will do its duty New York Adj
Vertiser.