Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-07-04

BeSsie's Diagram
mood to fight the whole village. dogs
and all. Strengthening up pointed 10
the struggling cur and said:
IF any of you chaps own that dog
you are at liberty TO take his price out
of my hide"
They all looked at the cur and then
az one another, but not word was
spoken in reply 10 my challenge. Pres
emily two of the men walked slowly
away, and most Of the youngsters fol
lowed their example. Those who re-
manned still gazed at me in a sort OF
expressionless suspense, as II waiting
to be kicked or shot.
! suddenly thought of Bessie BOOle.
and forgetting my injuries, | mounted
and moved of, carefully at first. being
admonished by the sharp pain In my
ankle. As | left the village I heard a
hoarse yell behind me. species Of
coon hunters clarion. quite familiar In
the wooded districts Of Southern In
diana. IL was note of defiance, al
though the fellow who uttered IL prob
ably took immediate strides In the d.
rection Of his back yard.
Finding my sprain growing easier /
took great squirt and passed another
ten miles in less than an hour without
noteworthy accident. But | soon found
that my troubles were not over. The
roads up to this point had been re-
markably good, and most OF the way
smooth and level. | now struck a roll
ing section. and the hills rose In con
tinueus undulations. The roads were
rocky and grooved with winding gull
lies. describing tire wash-onts Of form
er rains My progress was very labor
ious. and so frequent were the checks
and hindrances that when the fourth
hour had gone | had not made foot
over five miles.
About this time. however. the coun-
try became leyeler. and | had run Of
FIVE or six miles that did not occupy
more than half an hour. Al the end ~
this squirt the road suddenly fOrked
ard in the absence Of a sign-board
was brought TO an abrupt halt, not
having the slightest idea which prong
Of the fork led 10 my goal
I looked about. The only farm
house in sight was quarter Of n mile
to the left. across broken meadows
and wind-swept corn field | strain
ed my eyes up and down the three
highways. but not human being was
TO be seen. The two roads ahead.
which diverged at an angle Of about
q degrees. were equally Travelled. The
one TO the right seemd TO turn of n
couple Of miles away. while the other
was straight so far as I could see.
I was inclined to take the latter. but
as had no time to waste experiment
ing. ] decided TO go TO the house
and inquire which road led TO Munger.
a small town twenty-five miles west
Of Feeder Station. This I had ascer-
tained by means Of maps and inquiries
when first contemplating the trip.
Leaving my wheel In fence corner
half hidden by elump Of alder bushes
I struck across the fields in trot.
found the farmer In his BARNARD, and
after he had with difficulty sibdued a
pair Of savage bull dogs that wanted
to eat me without seasoning, ELECTED
/ the information that the road to the
/ right led to Munger. Thanking him,
/ ! hurried back In great sweat. warn.
4 ed by my chronometer that had lost
4 just twenty minutes. which might
change my destiny.
Arriving at the forks I was hOrri
| fed to find that my wheel was gone!
Casting a hasty look around I saw q
fellow mounted ON II and riding for
dear life. about two hundred yards II
the westward Without waiting To-
swear accurately and smoothly,
snatcbed my revolver from my pocket
and rushed madly after the thief
shouting an agglomeration Of threats
entreatles. broken imprecafions and
abbreviated prayers. fired q shot nj
intervals, when | could do 80 without
perforating my legs. The fellow gave
nervous look behind. lost his gravity
and minute later took an awful head
4 or. Gathering himself up he aban
dOned the wheel, scaled the fence anf
quickly disappeared IN the adJOiniDl
woods
Arriving ut he spot where he fell
found the faithful safety still unin
Jurcd. and was soon on my way II
Munger The road was level and
made the run Ia twenty-five minutes
found Munger goOd-sIzed town
and got through IL without any notable
adventure. Just before leaving il
stopped ut restaurant and took f,
hasiy lunch. including goblet Of '.lIOt
scotch Feeling quite refreshed re
sumed the road with rejuycnafe'
hopes.
II was now 10 O'Clock. and 7 It'll
over twenty miles away" The cguI
try was maryelonsy Lowell ard III
To2ds excellent. spurted the first lei
miles In about thirty minutes. but
began 10 feel alarm at the aspect ~ III
heavens. Heavy clouds were gather
Ing and n storm was threatening. II
quarter Of an hour the big drop
began 10 fall. and presently the rail-