The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-10-24

y
road ahead of me, AMI attached
dynamo and battery. But forgot one
thing, and that was that the Macquirc
storage battery increased the E. NJ
f. OF the electricity ,.rl-ped into it.
Well, jumped on the bicycle and ran
it down the road for mile or so, lis
tening to the dynamo purring beauti-
fully; then put my two feet on the
front rests and let her spin. She spun
to the queens taste. We went along
for about ten miles and l knew then
the little battery ought to be giving
out, but she didn't give out. The ma
chine was running faster than ever. ]
reduced speed a bit with the brake
and have no doubt at that time l
could have stopped the machine, but,
as tell you, didn't realize the situa-
ton. AS we went on and on l noticed
the bicycle was going faster and
faster. l became just little scared,
for l remembered l had no way of
stopping except by the brake. 1 put
that on hard, but it seemed to have no
effect on the wheel. 1t began to
smoke and finally snapped off. Then
| was helpless"
Couldn't you have kicked off the
battery or the dynamo?"
Have you ever ridden bicycle?"
Yes"
We'll, then, you know that if you
are going down a steep hill on the
keen jump, you have all you can do to
sit there and steer the machine That
was the way with me. was not GO
ing down hill, but along a smooth,
level road at greater rate of speed
than any wheel ever went down any
hill. flashed through villages faster
than lightning express, ringing my
bell like mad, but I'll bet you no one
ever heard sound till was mile
away. Well, it struck me all at once
just what the trouble was. The more
that the little dynamo showed electric
ity into that battery the more the
battery increased the E. NJ. f. and the
faster went the machine, and the faster
the machine went the more electricity
the dynamo produced"
But, my dear Macguire, don't you
| see if that happened it would be per-
petual motion?"
That's it. You're not so dull after
all. That's just the point, and there's
where I'm going to paralyze the
world. 1t isn't what this invention
will do on a mere bicycle that's the
| great thing. That is mere trife COM
pared with the vast possibilities of the
discovery"
But what sd you do on the bike?"
What did l do? There was only
one thing to do. If kept on l would
run smack through Marseilles and go
| plump into the Mediterranean. If l
ran the machine against a wall or
building l would smash myself into a
thousand pieces. l thought over the
situation for about hundred miles
and then saw that my only chance
was to make for the Alps. l knew by
take long to reach there, and so
breathing prayer that people would
keep to their own side of the road,
turned toward the east and made for
Switzerland. Ipassed the Paris Berne
express near Dion and left her as if
she were standing still. l tell you l
was happy man when l saw the Jura
| mountains loom up ahead of me. | saw
this hotel away up among the clouds
and knew there must be road up to
it, so pointed for the tall mountain,
You see couldn't stop and inquire the
way; was on through express, and
had quite enough of riding for one
trip"
And did the mountain stop the ma
chine?"
well, not perceptibly for the first
thousand feet. was afraid l would
have to go clear over Mt. Blanc. The
second thousand feet she slowed quite
noticeably; the third thousand feet
still more. The fourth thousand feet
saw could get off with safety, but
was so stiff with riding could hardly
move. At last, when nearing the top
l saw the brute actually wasn't going
to stop, so l made an effort just at the
summit and threw myself backward
over the hind wheel, nearly breaking
my neck. But got off, thank good
| ness"
And where is this wonderful bicycle
now?"
Heaven only knows; the Swiss gov
eminent doesn't, for I've telegraphed
them to find out. AS l sat helpless on
the summit, saw the machine give a
wobble or two and thought it was go
ing to fall, but it didn't 1t got on the
down grade and went at rate that
seemed to be good for another ter
thousand miles. telegraphed al
down the road from this hotel, asking
the authorities to be on the lookout fol
it, but I've heard nothing from it since
| expect it took dash off the road a.
one of the turns and is lying in the for
est somewhere. Perhaps it has crossed
the Gemmi and the Simplon and is il
Italy by this time. Next machine
fit up you bet I'll put on controlling
gear"
II think that would be an improve
ment."
Yes. Well, now you see my objcc
in telling you all this is to give you ;
chance of making your everlasting for
tune. left Paris, as l told you, in !;
hurry, not expecting to take trip t.
Switzerland, and SO brought no money
If you let me have fifty or hundred
mounds now I'll give YOU a ouarte1