Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-05
Tht Stnry Teller.
BARKER'S BICYCLE.
SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDI-
NARY RUN.

Barker is an old friend of mine, and
this story is not told with any mali,
cious intention. Not for the world
would 1 do anything to rupture the
bond of friendship which has existed
between us for many years.
I have had talk with Barker about
it any way, and he says he doesn't
mind, provided I handle the thing in q
neat and intelligent way, and do not
exaggerate, which I shall certainly be
very careful not to do.
Barker is employed in 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 be-
tween the hours of 10 and 8, seated on
a high stool and waving long black
ruler. I am informed that he uses
the ruler once in q while to draw
lines with, and even puts down an
occasional figure in large book that
is always open in front of him; but
this is only hearsay, and as l have
promised to confne this narrative
strictly to facts, I would rather not
make any positive statement about 1t.
But while it may be well to give
some short insight into the nature Of
Barker's daily pursuits and the gener'
al tenor or his existence, it is by nc
means essential to the full comprehen-
sion of the events with which this story
has to deal, as the scene is laid entirely
after the set of sun, at which time
Barker ceases so he an ordinary indi-
vidual and becomes bicycle fend OF
the most desperate description. AS a
matter of fact, it is entirely probable
that such would have been his habitu.
al 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 secur-
ing speed, safety and grace. There
was one point, however, on which ne
experienced great annoyance. He
could never find a device which would
exercise a sufficiently startling effect
on pedestrians, and make them jump
out of his way in as lively a manner as
he would like.
"a bell amt worth cent, you
know" he would say to me. "People
are getting 30 used to hearing them
that they don't pay any attention to
them. I ran over three little boys, a
dog and an old lady last week, and it's
getting to be a nuisance"
I said I thought it was, and that L
had no doubt three little boys, the dog
and the old lady also thought so.
otis 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 law against
it. Now, what want on my bicycle
is some sort of thing that will show
people who 20 rushing around the
streets at night that they don't own
the whole town. =,
"I 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
to be something out of the ordinary
run. The only way I can make them
move now is to yell at them, and
there's too much work about that" "
"Well, Barker" said I, 81 am not
an extraordinary smart man, but il
yelling at them will make them move,
I can fix you"
GLOW ?" said Barker.
"Carry a phonograph," said I.
Barker stood for few moments in
profound meditation. Then he slap
ped me on the back with every ap'
pearance of great enthusiasm.
"Perkins," said he, "you're an inven'
tive genius. Now, here I've been
puzzling my brains for month about
this thing, and couldn't hit on a single
little scheme like that. I'll 60 and
get phonograph right away"
"There's one thing about it, Barker"
said I, "and that Is that Photographs
cost a good deal of money"
"What do I care for that ?" said be-
"I'd rather pay a hundred dollars
than be constantly in danger from
those reckless people"
One or two evenings after this l
was crossing Howard avenue, when |
heard a voice-Barker's voice, but
with an unfamiliar nasal twang about
it-hallooing at me:
"Look out there"
Involuntarily I started. There was
an uncanniness about it-a weird and
unnatural emphasis. 1t was a voice
pregnant with the ring of authority,
and as stepped quickly to one side,
there shot by me vision of great gclf
stockings, sweater and cycling cap
with which I was pretty we'll ac-
ouainted. So he had actually rigged
up his wheel with a phonograph
Darling into nearby bicycle agency,
l hired a wheel in feverish haste, and
sped up the avenue in pursuit of the
feeting figure in gray. In the dim
distance could hear the howl of the
I.