Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-08-06
TRACKED BY AIWHEEL

siasm for tho now wheel. Added
to the ecstasy of the devoted cyclist
was also tho passion of tho inventor.
Rogers had plenty of money and so
could indulge his fads. He had an
ingenious brain, and consequently
when his craze was photography he
invented several perfectly unworka-
bio cameras, and now that he had
taken to cycling with all the fervor
of youth he had naturally concocted
many improvements, so called, upon
tho machine.
The wheel upon which he was
now mounted was practically his
own invention. 1t was exceedingly
light and strong, tho framework be-
ing made of aluminium, and it's
pneumatic tire had covering which
he was positive would make it abso-
lutoly nonSlipping. The ordinary
geometriCal raised work on the aver
age nonslipping tire, he held, was
inartistic, and so he drew a design
for nonSlipping trio which would
leave his own autograph, as it were,
along tho roads, and which would
prevent the wheel from going side
ways on turning a muddy corner.
A celebrated rubber manufacturing
company had constructed tire,
faithfully following Rogers designs,
at tremendous cost, and now the
young man was for tho first time
mounted on his new machine, find
ing, to his delight, that it worked
beautifully.
In his eagcrness to test the ma
chino fully no went farther afield
than he had intended and was some
what tired when he came to the
forking of tho road, where it branch
ed off in three directions with never
a finger post to guido the bewf1dered
traveller.
Night was coming on rapidly and
earlier than the season called for,
because the clouds hung low in the
sky and the weather seemed threat
ening. Rogers had come too far to
return homo that night. He knew
in a vague and general way that
Saddlesbury was ahead of him, and
he thought no must be within ten
miles of the place, but which of the
three roads led to it was a question
he could not answer, and there WAS
none abroad that lowering evening
from whom he could make in
quiries. After a moments hesitation
he again mounted his wheel and
took the road which appeared to be
the most travelled, but after follow
ing it mile in increasing darkness
this road again branched, and neither
of the new ways seemed particular
ly inviting
1t was now so dark that he resolv-
ed to light his lamp, and then dis
covered that in his intense absorb
ton regarding the improved quail
ties of his new wheel he had neglect
ed minor details. He had no oil with
him, and his lamp, new one. was
entirely empty. He concluded to
risk arrest by the local authorities,
SO he once moro mounted his wheel
and drove ahead. The rain now be-
gan to come down steadily, and the
moon, which he knew had risen,
was entirely obscured by the clouds.
The roads became wet and slippery,
and he found that his new inven-
ton was still capable of improve
ment, for on turning an unexpected
corner somewhat suddenly the
wheels slipped from under him, and
he sprawled on his hands and knees
in the mud. Nothing that human
ingenuity has yet concooted is so
treacherous as the absolutely non.
slipping tire on slushy corner.
Rogers picked himself up and struck
the mud from his clothing as we'll
as he could, CROPPED about in the
rain and darkness for his machine,
put it on its wheels once more and
trundled it along, trudging by it's
side. He longed for habitation of
any sort, but the road seemed abso-
lutely deserted.
Tramping gloomily in the down
pour, he CURSED his inventive facul-
ties that had led him astray and the
bad weather which made his Jour
ney a misery. Once or twice he
mounted the machine and tried to
make quicker progress, but the dark
ness was so intense and the roads
80 bad that he finally abandoned all
thought of wheeling. At last he
came to an avenue of trees whose
thick, overhanging branches formed
a kind Of shelter from the storm.
He stood his machine up against one
of the tree trunks, filed his pipe.
and after many futile attempts suo-
decided in getting match to burn
long enough to light the tobacco.
Although it was a wet night, it
was not cold, and he had some
thought of remaining till daylight
under the shelter of the trees. He
smoked a pipe or two and rested for
perhaps an hour, when, with a sigh,
he made up his mind that anything
was better than this, even the pitt
less storm, which showed no sign of
abating. So, still trundling his ma
chine, 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
shelter of the trees. Another grove
presently gave him the shelter he
had abandoned, and there he relit
his pipe and smoked gloomily.
It seemed to him that daylight