The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-30
BARKER'S BICYCLE.

Barker is an old friend of mine, and
this story is not told with any malicious
/ intention. Not for the world would l
do anything to rupture the bond of
friendship which has existed between
US for many years.
I have had a talk with Barker about
it anyway, and he says he doesn't mind
provided I handle the thing in a neat
and intelligent way, and do not exag-
gerate. which I shall certainly be very
careful not to do.
Barker is employed il a bank dur
| ing the day. He has never made it
very clear TO me just what the nature
of his occupation is in that institution,
| but he can be seen at any time between
the hours of 10 and seated on a high
stool and waving a long black ruler.
l am informed that he uses the rule
once in while to draw lines with, and
even pu1s down an occasional figure
/ in large book that is always open in
! front of him; but this iS only hearsay,
| and as 1 have promised to confine this
narrative strictly to facts 1 would "a
Their not make any positive statement
about it,
But while it may be we'll to give some
short insight into the nature of Bar
ker'S daily pursuits and the general
tenor of his existence, it is by no means
essential to the full comprehension of
| the events with which this story has to
deal, as the scene is laid entirely after
the set Of the sun, at which time Bar
ker ceases to be an ordinary individual
and becomes a bicycle fiend of the most
desperate description. AS a matter OF
fact it is entirely probable that such
would have been his habitual condition
at all hours, if he had not found it
| necessary for financial reasons to
waste his talents part of the time in
a bank
Barker's bicycle is a machine of the
most approved pattern and equipped
with all the latest appliances for Sc
curing speed, safety and grace. There
was one point, however, on which he
experienced great annoyance. He could
never find q device which would exer-
else a sufficiently startling effect on r.
destrians, and make them jump out of
his way in as lively a manner as he
would like
"A bell amt worth a cent, you
know" he would say to me. People
are getting SO used to hearing them
that they don't pay any attention to
them. 1 ran over three little boys,
dog and an old lady last week, and it's
getting to be a nuisance
l said I thought it was, and that I
had no doubt the three little boys, the
dog and the old lady also thought so.
It's an outrage" said Barker
when a man can't go along the street
without being tipped over by people
who don't look where they are going.
There ought to be a law against it.
Now, what I want on my bicycle is
some sort of a thing that will show
people who go rushing around the
streets at night that they don't own
the whole town.
L don't mind telling you. though"
added Barker, that it will take a
pretty smart man to invent something
that will fill the bill You see, it has
got to be. something out Of the ordi-
nary run. The only way L can make
them move now is to yell at them
and there's too much work about
that"
"Wen, Barker said I. 81 am not
an extraordinarily smart man, but II
yelling at them makes them move L
can fix you.
"How?" said Barker.
Garry a photograph" said I.
Barker stood for a few moments in
profound meditation. Then he slapped
me on the back with every appearance
of great enthusiasm.
Perkins" said he, you're an in
ventive genius. Now here I've been
puzzling my brains for a month about
this thing, and couldn't hit on simple
little scheme like that. I'll go and get
d photograph right away"
There's one thing about it, Barker, y
said I, "and that is that phonogharphs
cost a good deal of money
What do I care for that?' said he.
81 had rather pay a hundred dollars
than be constantly in danger from
those reckless people"