The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-29
A BICYCLE PUZZLE.


in the eyes, but that gentlemen returned
the inquisitive and defiant glare of his bet
ter half with perfect composure
ssNo, my dear. I have not been riding
your wheel, - said Mr.. Harris calmly. Il
have enough trouble with my own and
have no ambition to become familiar with
any other. Why do you ask?''
ssWell, it is curious" remarked that
good woman, still somewhat suspicious.
sIf you have not been using it, am sure
don't know who has"
What's the matter with your precious
wheel" asked Mr.. Harris. Busted again,
I suppose You have more trouble with
that bike than do with my money"
1.-THE last time went riding my cy-
clometer Registered 237 miles,, said Mrs.
Harris Look at it nOwl The cyclometer
SAYS 261 miles. Some one has ridden that
wheel "a miles Why, John, you were
with me the last time. You remember
that we rode 10 miles, and that you looked
at the cyclometer when we arrived home. -
f'That's right ;" said Mr.. Harris after
moments thought II remmeber that it
showed 237 and remarked that you had to
ride only 10 miles to reach the $50 mark.
Probably one of the children has been
amusing himself by revolving that front
wheel. -
But Mrs Harris dismissed that theory
with scorn. The children knew better than
to touch the wheel MI. Harris smoked in
silence for few minutes and was deep in
thought.
yours" asked Mr.. Harris. q Do you know
whether she rides wheel or not?"
What question: exclaimed Mrs. Har-
ris "You don't suppose for a moment
that May would dare ride my wheel?'
May was the new servant girl Mr.. Har-
ris had no opinion to offer on that PROPOSE
ton and closed the incident for the day
the mysterious record of the cyclometer
and suggested that perhaps the ghost of a
former tenant, now dead, might have tax
en- a night spin.
The mystery deepened the following
day. When Mrs Harris looked at her
wheel, the cyolOmeter registered 27s miles,
an increase of II miles over the preceding
day. More than that, Mr.. Harris bicycle
lamp was on the mysterious wheel Upon
investigation it was found that Mr.. Har-
irs' lamp had been transferred to the other
wheel, and that it was in a badly damaged
condition.
''This beats anything I ever heard Of, -
said Mrs. Harris. ''Do you suppose May
would dare to take this wheel out after we
have retired? She told me today that she
was afraid to go out on the streets after
dark. She asked me to go out the back
porch with her, as she was afraid to go
alone
''That looks suspicious" unused Mr..
Harris.
Miss Olive contributed a clew. Miss 1,
Olive is about years old and has but one
ambition-to own bicycle
May said to me today said Miss
Olive, THAT she wished it would stop rain
ing, as she wanted to go out on her wheel.
Then she laughed and laughed as hard as
she could" "
'In make her laugh if I catch her with
yVhaal -
TT is easy enough to catch her, said
Mr.. Harris We will try tonight Do not
say word, and we will solve this bicycle
puzzle. -
The erratie wheel occupied a room ad-
joining that of Mrs. Harris, and the con-
Meeting door was always open. All that
afternoon the lady of the house was in a
frenzy of excitement. May went demurely
about her work. There was never a more
bashfQl, retiring servant girl than May,
with her timid blue eyes and abashed
manners. The more Mrs. Harris studied
the girl the more she became convinced |
that the suspicious of her husband were IN
founded When John came home, Mrs.
Harris told him it was shame to suspect !
the poor girl
That's all right, said the heartless
man of the house ''This bicycle mania |
does queer things. Let me alone, and I |
will sbraighten this thing out. -
About y O CLOCK that night Mr.. Harris |
fastened a black silk thread to the frame
of the wheel, unwound about 80 feet of it |
and tied the other end to a large tin pail, /
which he balanced carefully on the upper |
edge of a picture frame. He surveyed this !
trap with great satisfaction.
81 have given her enough rope, so that |
she viii be half way down the hall before |
the pail falls exclaimed Mr.. Harris. |
I'VE will turn down the gas, pretend to |
retire and await developments.
Mrs. Harris was in a tremble of excite |
ment, but remained quiet. The moments |
passed slowly, and John dropped into a |
doze, when crash in the adjoining room |
sounded through the fat.
You stay right here, - commanded Mrs.
Harris. you would scare the poor girl |
to death. Let me attend to her.
And Mrs. Harris ATTENDED to her. |
The guilty May was discovered half way
through the dining room, with the wheel
in her possession. For a girl who is afraid |
of the dark you have considerable nerve, "
said Mrs. Harris You march right back
heard of in my life! How dare you do such
clorneter is9 Did you not know that you
would be discovered The idea of your
stealing out at night and riding my /
wheeIF'
It took Mrs. Harris ten minutes to ex-
press her feelings properly, during which
time May said nothing. She had nothing
to say. The next day the following ad.
in morning paper:
bicycle, at 425 Sixty first place, Woodlawn.
Fvcba10a