Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-11-27

| lug. asa observed IOu-rieS L@uu Tho
other card and something that looked
about the size of half a crown before
they parted and his victim imped
away down the street.
Podgeley watched him safely round
the next corner before he picked up his
bicycle TO rcmount. Then he shouted TO
me and returned.
81 don't think he's much hurt, =" said
Podgeley, 'but il cost me five bob and
he's coming for more if it still pains
him by tomorrow. What on earth made
the blamed thing behave like that?'
| / told Podgeley that he had lost his
head and leaned over on the wrong side,
but he didn't believe me Of course. Ac-
cording to him the machine went one
way because he tried to steer il he other
and because ii was possessed Of the
devil
Then we met horscman. l could not
help rejecting what a very unfortunate
young fellow that horseman must be 20
have met ii Podgeley in the way, and,
knowing what must happen, l rode rap
idly on. The horse had already begun 10
dance around on its tiptoes when passed
it, and as | looked over my shoulder |
perceived the inevitable already in
process Of coming about-that is, | saw
Podgeley and his bicycle heading
| straight for the nervous steed and his
| pallid rider.
never heard for certain whether
| there was any actual collision on this
occasion, for Podgeley is ever modestly
reticent about his achievements, but
! know that couple of minutes later
| there was "a very great Gathering Of
| hoofs behind me, and as l escaped to
the side of the road horse and rider hur-
tied past me at full gallop, evidently
routed by Podgeley, who pursued them
as far as my hind wheel, into which he
ran, for want, | suppose, of anything
better to run into. / don't know what
became of the horseman, but l gather
he must have gone round another way
if he desired TO reach the place he was
originally making for.
When Podgeley had finished explain
ing how wrong it was of me to have got
in his way, since he was only begin
ner, he remounted and so did l. / hoped
that he would now turn and ride back
the way he had come, but Podgeley, un-
satisfied with his triumphs, was resolved
to ride into High street.
Whats the good, Podgeley?" said.
you'll only ride in at the first shop
window.
But Podgeley would have it his own
way, and there was nothing for it but
to go home and leave him to his fate or
hurry along i'll front OF him and watch
his movements from distance so great
that no one would suspect me of being
III any way connected with him. de-
cided to adopt the latter alternative, be-
| Cause, as ! explained to podgeley, it
would be interesting IN mournful way
to see which lamppost the Infatuated
crowd lynched him TO. His people would
like TO know il and perhaps might find
comfort i'll buying the lamppost and
burying 1t with him or something of
that sort. After this illumination rode
on.
was not quite right, nor yet quite
wrong, III my prediction as to what
would be Podgeley's first proceeding on
reaching High street. | had said that
be would ride III at the first shop win
dow, but he just missed it and shot in
at the second, which, luckily for him,
was "a greengroCer's and had no glass
in it. had turned when l observed
that Podgeley really did intend to ride
in at window Che said afterward that
he did not intend anything of the sort,
h,,t l H.. 4. L.
nervous, and as soon as he saw the win.
dow he was obliged, malgre Podgeley,
TO go straight for lt-of course it was
really his demon machine that over
heard and took the hint), and / was
just III time TO see Podgeley lying ON
his stomach among the vegetables, his
waistcoat III basket of brussels sprouts
and his nose deeply imbedded in a dish |
OF tomatoes, while his bicycle and two
little girls lay together on the pavement
below, and somebody with a parcel
stood over them and rubbed his shin. l !
did not stop TO take Podgeley out of the .
vegetables, but rode past, and when, |
five minutes later, | repassed the scene |
OF the tragedy Podgeley was conversing
III heated manner with the green
grocer within, while policeman led .
his steaming bicycle, which looked bro
ken kneed and aged up and down out
side and the two little girls and the
parcel man waited about TO be paid.
Then l went home.
Alter this experience Podgeley elected
to ride no more down town" for the
present He headed the other way and
tried daily to get into the country. But
the change Of tactics didn' do him any
good Podgeley could never learn 70
ride like an ordinary person or else his
bicycle could never forgive him for his
short legs and kick treadle style of rid
ing, or, again, Podgeley is one of those
men who are pursued 10y an evil destiny
and never have any luck, how much
soever they may court the favor of
Dame Fortune.
For whenever Podgeley rode ont he
met an puptnv in tho 1vov nf co,rso |