The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-05-28
Ee.'' saying wlnich Ii

Slipped some money into the hand Of
[ the servant, who took 1t Without &c n
ment, babe him good-nig hit and retired.
Rogers took off his wet clothes,
spread them out so that they might be
reasonably dry by the time he needed
them in the morning and fell asleep as
soon as he had thrown himself down
on the cot bed. . {ss
| His awakening in the morning was
someWhat.aof a surprise to him He
found himself rudely shaken by the
shoulder, and on opening his eyes be.
held an elderly man Of gentlemanly
appearance standing over him with d
pistol in his hand. Two cQuntrymen,
one evidently a groom. stood near the
door regarding him with every appear
ance Of fear and horror. They both
held cudgels, and were eappa rently
ready to attack him =. should he make
a dash for the door
why, my man. said the elderly
gentleman hope your sleep has been
refreshing #258 s
TT has, indeed, sir, thank you,
Warlike preparations? Am / a prison
er?" as 1sAz
Well, something Of that sort, re-
piled the old gentleman, astonished at
the language and GOODNESS Of his guest.
'"You are the master Of the house
Il take it, ss5a
Isl" You are quite correct Is that your
bicycle out in the yard?''
Yes answered Rogers cat least
I placed it in the shed last night. 80
''Oh, did you? We found the wretch-
ed machine there this morning, and it
led to orr sea rob for Won ',fy&&+7s' t$5 5G
Wretched machine!' cried Rogers
sitting up in bed. ooh, come now, I'll
stand rudeness to myself, but I'll be
hanged it I'll allow the bicycle to be
slandered. | want you to know, sir,
that this is probably the finest and
most expensive bicycle that exists in.
this country. Its frame is aluminium,
and the cost Of it is as great as if it
were made of silver. and I datter my
self that the non-slipping tire, although
1T sids rather badly in the mud, is a
unique Invention, if I do say it myself.
want you to know that I am the in
ventor of that bicycle. It was CON
structed under my supervision, and
II you will allow me to show you it's
merits, I fancy you will change your
opinion Of it,
''That may be So rejoined the old
man, putting his pistol in his pocket,
for he saw that this was not the crim-
lnal he thought he had captured. II
don't know very much about bicycles,
SO perhaps you will be so good as to
dress and give me some explanation
OF how you came to be here.''
"Oh, that's very simple" said Rog-
ers. L lost my way last night, and
came up your lane sometime after u.
There was a light in the kitchen end
found two of your servants having
q late supper, asked them for shelter
and they put me in here
All, l see," said the old man. ssWell.
those two were burglars, and have
made off with all they could lay their
hands on that was valuable and at
the same time porta BILE NV son has
gone to town for the police and has
not yet returned. Perhaps you can aid
us by giving a description of the men.
/ thought at first that you were one
of the gang who had perhaps taken
too much to drink and oversight YOUR
self, but I see you are nothing Of the.
kind -@S
Il shall be glad to give You every as
sistance in my power" said Rogers.
In few minutes he was up and
dressed, and on going outside saw
that the burglars had keen appracia-
ton of his invention, and had taken
away his new machine, leaving one of
their own in it's place
3, II am sorry" said the old man cour
teously, 'fhat in seeking our hospital
ity you should have been robbed of
a valuab BILE cycle. Let us hope we NAV