Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-03-07

atiHcIGU, II NitH mere mat tilS eNen(1U6
was spent, and you may bo sure that the
race was net forgotten. In the home of
the sisters N&H a toddlCr Of some three
years, who tooli its greatest pleasure i'll
riding on Il carrier On The head of Fast
leigh's machine. It was an easy task
for the big machinist to carry the tot up
the sitfc>t Of hills, While his little com
pauion simalcy rode alongside Here it
was that the disparagcmcnt in their
sizes WAS first noted, when the boys
commenced distinguishing them as the
Little Un" and the Big Un." You
see PlumhCttville had read that in
sports sporting parlance should prevail.
SO absorbed WcIc the cyClors that by
the time Of the raco they had quite for
gotten about the prospective raid of the
fUldjers, ThCre Was considerable delay
in getting the r9Cu off At the last mo-
ment tho h&nd:c"pper--new in the po-
sition--discovcrcd that he had gotten
mixed i'll the measurements, and there
was SO long u delay that it became APP
parent there was great danger Of meet
ing the military. When the men started
on their journey, thoughtful onloollers,
with wat hes and calculating minds,
foresaW that collision was imminent,
but the racers themselves had no watches
and never thought Of anything bat to
get off.
Three miles from the starting point
there was q slight descent i'll the course
Here was the half road, half lane that
led into the second part Of the course,
and here WAS located the home of the
young lad os at whose gate two wheels
were so often seen. From the start, as
was expected, Ta&tlcigh took the lead,
with Smaley tagged right on behind
and the bunch close after them. The
race had progressed so far that handi-
caps had Eeen forgotten From the top
Of the decline nothing was seen of the
soldiers and ii was thought now that
the other road and safety would be
reached before they appeared. This was
Il vain hope, for before two pedals had
been TUNED On the down hill Il line Of
skirmishers spread over the face Of the
country, and it seemed that the full
regiment WAS right behind them, charg-
ing at dOuhlc time. At least there was
al omincua locking fieldpiece, hauled
by four horses. Down the road charged
the cyclers and up the road charged tho
soldiers, and both were too excited to
think Of stopping for the other. Just
before the junction with the turn off
road was reached the big cannon was
Whirlod into place, and instantly thero
Was huge roll Of smoke, hiding for q
time the operations Of tho military.
Then came Il laundering report A
Texan pony carrying an officer became
frightened at this, dumped his rider i'll
to ditch and came flying up the road.
Just before he reached the whtelmen he
swerved, jumped Il fence and was Off
over the field. WhCelmen We're yelling,
officers shouting and guns cracking ON
every side roW, and it seemed real war.
Suddenly as the heavy white smoke
curled up, right in front of charging
Whcclmen and advancing troops, stood
the little tot who rode, Cnly yesterday,
so gleefully Gil the handle bars of the
very wheel which Fastleigh was riding
III advance, and which, it seemed,
would now be her death, if the soldiers
did not reach and crush her first. 1t was
q question Of seconds. Would the line Of
gallopirS h3rsemen reach the turn off
road first, shut off the Wheelmen, crush
the child and bring on Il calamity? 1t
was more than probable that the smoke
would hide the child from them as it
had from the WhGelmCn.
Then it was that Fastloigh spurted
o1tl II no Gt hon. oft hi n
Fustlc gh 5 first squirt and he drew ahead
of the others as though they We're an
chored, making the pedals of his high
gear hum. Down the road he came with
Il magnificent SWO0p on the child, and
swirl into the off road; with the swOop
there had been leaning from the sad
die and !. giant S clutch at Il little white
dress. The child WAS snatched from the
dust and death by the cycler's arm. But
the feat was too much for him. The
sharp turn, the furious pace, and the
side weight threw Fastleigh out of bal
aEcc, AM he came down heavily into
ditch at the very gate of his friends, but
he he'd aluft i'll his unconscious hands
the rescued child. He was picked from
the wreck of his wheel and carried into
the house, where he suffered for many
weeks from broken bones. Smaley,
when he saw the intent Of his compan-
ion, spurted right after him, and when
he fell quickly jumped from his wheel
and brought assistance. Both had lost
the race, bat both had become local
heroes loaded with glory, with two Of
the pre.tl2st girls i'll the county for
sweetheu.ts when they say the word
W. c. Watkins i'll Bearings.
Dean Swift.