Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-01-11

NY eVniut;OnS ard anxiety about the
lamp / had forgotten the existence Of
that ditch, but it was there Just the
same, lying low and saying nothing
found it without the least trouble The
lamp went out again, of course, and l
began to fear that would not have
matches enough to last until l got into
tie radius Of street lamps. crawled
out of the ditch, righted the machine
and once more applied a match to the
wick. l had lost the handkerchief, but 1
tied the lamp down with the oiling
cloth. was bowling along at rapid
and satisfactory pace through the bright
circle of light in front of me, when all
at once, within an incredibly short dis
tancc. 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
was coming. Of course, if l had had
presence of mind, could have steered
around them and passed OH, 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 a 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 l shouted
out:
"What III the name of the prince Of
darkness arc you two dawdlihg along
this lane i'll tie 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
less mood l sprang upon it without ex-
amining it to see if anything were bro
ken or not, though l knew that no Or
dinary fall would injure that machine,
and away l went and left them there. l
did not see that any explanation OH my
part would help matters, so thought it
best to leave we'll enough alone, which
I did Lite In fhn 1o1n,, 7
found it had its advantages, because the
lane turned short distance ahead. In
fact, it was always turning, even in the
daylight, although l had never noticed
that particularly before, and this time l
ran square into the hedge on the side
opposite the ditch. l 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 1 knew
there was bridge some distance ahead
that had no parapets and l did rot want
to enter into an encounter with it. AS
walked along beside the bicycle saw
something move on the side of the road
ard 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 a match?'
eyes, | can," said climbing upon
my machine and putting the wheels in
motion. "Get on your bicycle and We'll
have Il match. Come along!" He mere
ly stood up and cursed me in loud and
forcible language.
L 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, aud having re-
spect for the law l stopped and got off
the machine. "What are you doing"
he demanded, travelling with your
lamp out?"
Good gracious, said, "my lamp
isn't outn' but OH looking around 1
found, alas, it was, and | had not no.
ticed the fact, so we'll was the street
lighted. assured him that it had been
lighted q moment before, and that it
must have logged out.
eff you Will put your hand on the
lamp" 1 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 l do), and, would
you believe it, it was as cold as rich
relation from whom you want to borrow
money.
"You will have to como with me-"
he said.
"Wun't cash payment down save me
the trouble of appearing before magis-
trate:"
"No, it WON'T" said the policeman.
81 must do my duty
his duty, so l said:
"Oh, very well l 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 a bit, The policeman kindly helped
me to look for the coins, but when his
back was bent | pushed my machine
forward Il bit and sprang ON it, My
lamp WAS 1t. He blew his whistle hut
| ntiluC, i tn turn Gown il side street,
then down another, and so managed to
get safely home. But, much as like
the bicycle, | have made up my mind
that night rides are too exciting for me
until get lamp that, like that police