The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-03
NOT so BADLY wnoEp.
An Ambitious Wheelmzn Becomes Awar'
of His Error.

of His Error.
A kerosene bicycle certainly has lis
faults and at present the price is unsat'
isfactory, but had sport enough with
mine the first afternoon took the road
Ito balance the account.
It was the first one seen in that part
of the country, and as the young fell
lows called it 1.-The lazy mans wheel"
told none of them about my purchase.
Next day, in the afternoon, filed the
little tank with oil, lighted the '.igni-
ton lamp" and set of at about four
o'clock for trial trip.
On that hot summer evening there
was certain indolent pleasure and
comfort in sitting back and allowing
the little kerosene engine furnish the
motive power, while / steered. The
contrivance worked fairly well. OF
course there was little odor, but not
more than comes from q kerosene
lantern, and it did not puff loud enough
to brighten horses.
After about ten miles, southbound,
made a call on an acquaintance and
then rode back. 1t had grown quite
dark along the unlighted country
highway when 1 drew near the village
where 1 lived, but az 1 was in no haste
shut the oil of to about the last degree
of speed possible and was jogging slow
ly forward when toot, toot, toot, went
q mellow little bugle behind, and a fell
low-bicyclist trundled up abreast Of me
on the other side Of the road.
1t was too dark for me to recognize
him, even if he had been an acquaint-
ance and not an entire stranger. He
said Good evening" and passed me
rapidly, for he was evidently ''scorch-
err" who liked to show speed.
'Good evening"" 1 replied, and let on
a little more oil; for no one enjoys be-
ing left behind in a summary manner.
Ny new machine quickened, and hung
on his quarter.
On observing this, he also quickened.
and 1 let on little moro oil, keeping
close in his rear.
My machine now pulled audibly, and
wns aware that my fellow-trayeler
turned his head in an effort to scruti-
nize me more closely. 1t was quite
dark, however. and apparently he con.
cluded that was doing the putting and
exerting myself injudiciously to race
him.
"Your wind seems little sprung, my
friend" he remarked, pleasantly.
Il do have the phthisic slightly in
hay-fever time" 1 replied, moving up
abreast Of him, and even passing him
little.
Thereupon he put up his racing
humpl 1t was to be race, I saw So,
not to be outdone in good form, put
up hump, too, and also opened up the
feed pipe of my kerosene works.
In consequence, I appeared to puff
terribly, but by this time the other fel-
low was doing good deal Of putting
for he had come to long
stretch OF ascending ground, where the
road was decidedly heavy.
I maintained my hump and went up
the hill in good shape, and will do my
rival the justice to say that he followed
my lead in good style. His pride was evil
IDENTIFY touched and he was exertine
himself to the utmost.
lead him by an easy 20 yards, how
ever, and i knew that he must be.suffer-
ing. Human muscle cannot compete
properly on a long, hard hill with steam
or kerosene. He struck to the race
pluclily, however, thinking that a
man must needs collapse
ere long, or else, perhaps, that he could
yet come in on the downhill stretch be.
yond.
The village lay on the other side of |
the hill, and emerging from the shadows
Of pine grove we passed the cemetery
and glided swiftly into the main street, |
under the bright glare of an arc light. |
now slowed suddenly preparatory to
turning into the cross-street where ] |
lived, and my friend of the uphill race
glided alongside.
Fora hay-feverman you area good"
he began to say. but stopped short, for
now for the first time he got a good
view of my wheel and saw that my feet
were on the rests. Then many i'm
petuous words, low, but emphatic,
burst from his lips.
ayes, hay fever is very disagreeable,
put It is not dangerous to life" snid.
Good night
The muttered response of my new
road acquaintance l will not repeat
Youths COMPANION.