The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-07-02


not cold, and he had some thought of
| remaining till daylight under the shell
ter of the trees. He smoked a pipe or
| two, and rested for perhaps an hour,
when, with sigh, he made up his mind
| that anything was better than this.
even the pitiless storm, which showed
no sign of abating. So still trundling
| his machine, he tramped on in the
slush along the lane until he came out
| in the open once more where half an
| hour in the pelting rain made him
wish he had remained under the shell
| ter of the trees. Another grove pres
| emily gave him the shelter he had aban-
doned, and there he relit his pipe and
| smoked glOOmily 1t seemed to him
that daylight would soon reappear, but,
on striking a match and looking at his
watch he found that the night was not
| yet half over, it being hut little after
twelve o'clock. He was hungry, wet,
tired and thoroughly miserable, in a
! condition of mind to welcome the
toughest fare.
AS he stood under the trees Rogers
noticed that the rain slackened, and
| finally it ceased. The moon now poured
out titfully from among the clouds,
and, yearning for the comforts of
nome, the young man pushed off with
determination to make a final eff
fort to reach civilization of some sort.
| Shortly after leaving the grove he
came to a gateway that evidently led
10 a house. AS there was no porter's
lodge beside the gateway, he came to
| the conclusion that the house could not
be very important one, and that per-
laps the inmates would not resent be-
ing aroused at that untimely hour TO
give shelter to 4 weary fellow creature.
Pushing open the gate he wheeled his
machine into the avenue and after a
ten minutes tramp along the winding
road saw before him the bulk of large
country house with numerous out
buildings, and, what was more to the
purpose, a light still burning in the
windows of what was apparently a
kitchen. He was checred by the
thought that perhaps some of the serv-
ants were sitting up late.
kitchen door, he entered it. Passing a
shed he saw, partly by the watery
moonlight and partly by their own
lights, which were still burning, two
bicycles in corner of the shed. He
placed his own beside them, and, tired
as he was, he looked with an experts
| eye at the two other machines. They
Of. old i 1. l
pneumatic tires. He was astonished
that such machines should belong to
house so pretentious as the one he
was about to enter, but gave no par
ticular thought to he matter at the
time. a moment later he knocked at
the kitchen door. He thought he heard
voices within Just before he knocked,
but now there was intense silence, and
no response was made to his demand
for admittance. After waiting a rea-
sonable time he raised his hand to knock
once again, when the door was cautious
ly opened few inches and man peeped
out at him.
"What do you want?" said the man
in hoarse whisper and seeing Rogers
hand still on the knocker, added:
Don't wake up everybody, it's late,
you know" .....
Rogers apologized, and said that all
he wanted was shelter and something
to eat.
Wait a minute" said the man. and
he partially closed the door Rogers
heard a whispered consultation inside,
then the door opened, and the man
said. quietly: "Come in
Rogers entered, and saw there were
two occupants of the kitchen. One man
sat by the table, on which there was
huge joint of cold meat, bread and but
ter, and foaming fagons of beer. This
evidence of good cheer was most CRATE
full to the feelings of the cyclist
Come in whispered the man, "but
don't make a noise. We don't want
master Weakened at this hour of the
night, He'd make trouble if he was"
III be very quiet" whispered Rog-
ers, but want a cut of that beef, and if
Sou can give me a place to Steep I'll
make it all right with you in the morn
=
The man at the table had not spoken,
but he now made q motion toward the
cold meat, as if he invited the cyclist
to help himself.
While Rogers ate and drank with the
energy of healthy, hungry man, moth
ing was said. The other two sat look
ing at each other, seemingly in some
dismay. At last the younger of the
two men rose, opened door cautiously,
went up a stone paved passage and
opened another door. He returned with
lighted candle in his hand and nodded
to the elder man.
"Now," he said to Rogers, 'if you have
finished your meal, come this way, and
I'll find you bed"
He led the tired cyclist up the stone
passage, and to a small opening off, in
which was small cot bed. ...|G"
That's the best we can do for you to-
night said the man, setting down the
candle. If you had come earlier, we
could have found you a better place"
"Oh, that's all right" said Rogers.
81 couldn't ask for anything better,
and / hope l shan't get you into any
trouble by coming late" Saying which
he slipped some money into the hand of
l