The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-10-10

C0aG OlGCus UuC ~ was tuoIc Just Cu0
same, lying low and saying nothing. I
found it without the least trouble. The
lamp went out again, of course, and I
began to fear that would not have
matches enough to last until / got into
the radius of street lamps. crawled
out of the ditch, righted the machine
and once more applied match to the
wick I had lost the handkerchief, but
tied the lamp down with the oiling
cloth. was bowling along at a rapid
and satisfactory pace through the bright
circle Of light in front of me, when all
at once, within an incredibly short dis
lance, there appeared before me young
man and young woman, strolling
along together with their arms about
each others waists. Their backs were
toward me, and the lamp did not shine
far enough ahead to let them know I
was coming. Of course, if I 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 magic
lantern picture is thrown upon 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 heap in that silent
lane before any of us knew what had
happened, and Of course the lamp went
out. By way Of excusing myself and
saying something conciliatory 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, l found my ma
chine first, and being in an utterly reck
less mood l sprang upon it without ex
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. I
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 it's advantages, because the
lane turned short distance ahead. In
fact, it was always turning, even in the
daylight, although I had never noticed
that particularly before, and this time I
ran square into the hedge on the side
opposite the ditch. I extricated the ma
chine and once more lit the lamp. l
thought perhaps it was safer not to at
tempt to ride any more, and so.walked
along, trundling the wheel, for I 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. "Get on your bicycle and We'll
have a match. Come alongr' He mere
~ stood up and cursed me in loud and
forcible language.
I 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 ont into the middle of the road.
"Stop!" he cried, and having re-
spect for the law I stopped and got off
the machine "What are you doing, F"
he demanded, travelling with your
lamp out?"
'Good gracious" said, "my lamp
isn't out 7" but on looking around
found, alas, it was, and I had not no.
ticed the fact, so we'll was the street
lighted I assured him that it had been
lighted moment before, and that it
must have logged out.
eff you will put your hand on the
lamp" said, "you will find it is quite
hot. /"
He did so and shook his head ]
touched the lamp myself, for it, when
lighted, becomes uncomfortably hot (it
smokes worse than I do), and, would
you believe it, it was as cold as rich
relation from whom you want to borrow
money
"You will have to come with me, y
he said.
won't cash payment down save me
the trouble of appearing before magis
trate?'
"No, it won't said the policeman.
II must do my duty
detest policeman who has to dc
his duty, SO said:
sob, very we'll I joggled some mon
ey out Of my pocket as dropped off.
You took me 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 looE for the coins, but when hi
back was bent pushed my machine