The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-16

you both homer not to start minute before
the hour set You have mile the start Of
him, but he is about two degrees east Of you
which obYiates this handicap. I have written
these facts to him, and viii mail both Of your
letters together. Neither will dare to start be-
fore the time mentioned. as anything that re-
semblss treachery VIII cause q forfeiture of All
claims.
If either Of you gentlemen do not consider
the prize worth the trial, shall be all the hap
pier with the other. and I can { think this fair
and impartisl test will cause me to lose both
Lovingly and ezpeotantly, Bessie.
Twas shocked and beEidered at the con
tents Of the letter Finally resolved to
win Bessie fairly or die.
spent an hour looking over such maps
as I could find in my library and studying
Bessie's diagram
An hour before sunrise sailed away in
the dim twilight Of that fated morning.
got the first 90 miles without serious
check or interruption.
Dogs ard children then poured out Of
open gates and followed me, yelping and
bowling like imps of the pit Before I
reached the end of the burg at least 20 dogs
of all sizes and varieties were bounding
me. At last an unusually active meal
hound" caught me by the ankle. tried
to kick him, the effort causing my wheel
to wabble frightfully. Before could re
cover balance q wretched looking animal
got in front, and my leader knocked it
down and ran over it.
fell so feet, with the wheel of course
on top. The entire bowling pack sur
rounded me ike 50 many wolves, snaFling
and swapping. scrambled up, and pulling
out a revolver began shooting right and
left.
The canine mob quickly scampered off.
picked up my safety, and finding that
the wheel was all right I was about to
mount when I began to realize that my
was rubbing it four or i've men and
dozen boys gathered to the spot and regard
ed me with gaping curiosity.
Despite my many bruises was in
mood to fight the whole village, dogs and
all I suddenly thought of Bessie Boole,
and forgetting my injuries mounted and
rode OF. AS left the village I heard
hoarse yell behind me. I now struck
rolling section, and the hills rose in con
tinuOus undulations The roads were
rocky and groved with winding gulleys.
My progress was fearful
At the end of this squirt the road sud
denly forked, and in the absence of a sign
board was brought to an abrupt halt, not
having the slightest idea which prong Of
the fork led to my goal
L decided to 60 to the neighboring farm
house and inquire.
Leaving my wheel in q fence corner, I
struck across the fields in q trot. I found
the farmer in his barnyard and after he
had with difficulty subdued a pair of saw
age bulldogs that wanted to eat me with
out seasoning, I elected the information
that the road to the right led to Feeder.
Arriving at the Jerks, I was Mortified to
find that my wheel was gone Casting a
hasty look around, I saw q fellow mounted
on it and riding for dear life about 200
yards to the westward L snatched my re-
vO1ver from my pocket and rushed madly
after the thief, shouting an agglomeration
of threats, broken inprecations and alb
breviated prayers. I fred shot at inter
walls. The fellow gave q nervous look be-
hind, lost his gravity and minute later
took an awful header. Gathering himself
up, he abandoned the wheel, scaled the
fence and disappeared.
Arriving at the spot where he fell,
found the faithful safety still uninj ured
and was soon On my way.
1t was now 10 o'clock and I q little
over 20 miles away. " began to feel
alarm at the aspect Of the heavens. In q
quarter Of an hour the big drops began tC
fall, and presently the rain was pouring
down veritable dcluge.
I went plulging on through mud and
rivulet. half blinded by the rain, which
the fltful southeast wind blew into my eyes
with q pitiless fury. There was but one
consoling thought-that the storm had
probably struck my rival first judging
I was as wet as q human 6otsam washed
up by the seq. D." My wheel threw mud IN
a way that was dreadful, hecking my sod
den clothes till might have been taken
for a winged hog.
At last just as the rain began to slack
en-, caught sight Of a church spire less
thar a mile ahead and knew that was
abDut to enter Feeder Station. My heart
thumped with a new excitement.
AS I entered the town struck the first
street at right angles and did not know
whether to turn to the right or the left. I
met man and asked him TO locate Flight
street (the one marked on Bessie S diagram
II had forgotten its relative positiOn).
The citizen said he lived four miles in
the kentry, but guessed Flight street was
to the left didn't hang a second on
the rustic uncertainty, but swung around
in the direction indicated The next cross
ing was supposed to be Flight street, and
Bessie residence was supposed to be in
the middle of the north side. I reached
the spot but the only building in that
square was a red stable At the sight OF
this I nearly tainted, but without permit
ting myself to indulge in foolish wrath I