The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-01-25

my figure with great clearness in the
opening, for I heard my pursuer say to
those behind him:
"'He's climbing out of the wlnder!
Quick-outside, and catch him as he
comes down!
81 was already swinging myself out
ward, and, regardless OF the distance to
the ground, let go my hold on the board
ing to drop to the earth in heap.
while I was regaining my feet,
somewhat stunned by my fall, but not.
injured seriously, the door opened
within less than dozen feet of me, and
the men rushed out pell-mell
"FHere he is! Don't let him get
away. Shoot himv
my first thought was to reach my
bicycle, and as the reports of the fire
arms rang out with unusual sharpness
on the still night air, I darted around
the corner of the building in season to
escape their bullets. The next moment
l was beside my bicycle in the shed.
1T was quite dark inside the build
ing, but I managed to get my hand
upon the machine just as my pursuers
came around the corner of the main
house. I was in decidedly close quar-
ters, but I still believed that, once in
the saddle of my silent steed, could
bid defiance to my enemy, so l ignored
| their hoarse cries to surrender.
"Then, as pulled the machine out of
the shed and prepared to mount,
made a discovery that for moment
dashed my hopes to the earth.
"The handle of my bicycle had been
| removed!
"You may imagine that had no time
for reflection as to the reason of this
condition of the machine. Shouting
furiously, one to another, the outlaws
were rushing forward to intercept my
flight.
Disabled as it was, 1 felt that my BIZ
cycle was my only means of escape,
and I vaulted into the seat without
stopping to consider what might follow
The next instant I was wheeling away
for dear life.
In the excitement of the occasion,
with the shots of my enemies whizzing
about my head, simply steered for the
road, guiding the machine as best 1
could by the action of my feet, without
stopping to think that it mattered to
me whether kept on down the road
ahead or returned by the way l had
come.
"'Onto yer hosses an give him chase!
I heard the leader of the gang shout.
Don't let him get away alive!'
a. 'Glancing back, I saw three horses
Ishiteheds to thehrear OF the house, and as
many of the outlaws rushing toward
them. Then the clatter of hoofs rang
out with the report of firearms as I
turned to find myself speeding with
lightning-like velocity down the sharp
descent leading on farther than could
see.
1T was fortunate for me that the
moon rode high in the clear sky, light
ing my pathway to almost midday bril-
1ancy, for by that time I had begun to
realize that my only danger did not lie
behind me. Under the furious impetus
I had given it at the outset, and gaining
greater speed at every revolution of
the wheels, my bicycle was already be-
yond my control
II no longer paid any heed to my
noisy pursuers, but gave all of my at
teention TO that wild fight of which I
had barely begun to get a foretaste.
The descent was growing sharper every
moment, and, expecting to be flung
headlong from my seat at any instant,
l was carried on and on, faster and
faster, until I seemed to lose my breath,
and I saw only whir and glitter be-
fore my eyes.
| II had boasted of swift riding before
that eventful evening, but all paled be-
fore that startling experience. seemed
to be flying: I don't know how I kept
my seat, how the machine kept on it's
course. Twice I found myself being
borne around precipitous curves down
still sharper descents-still on the
whole the course must have been re-
markably straight and smooth. Two or
three times I fancied I saw the out
lines of team approaching, when my
heart fairly came into my mouth, but
each time was happily deceived Then
there loomed up in the narrow road the
figure of a horseman, which prove7 20
be no illusion of my imagination.
Fortunately the rider was hugging
the inside of the way, while his animal
was wearily climbing the tedious as
cent, sleeper here if possible than at
any place I had found before I was
following in the middle of the road. On
my right hand yawned a deep gully.
II have often wondered what that
man thought as 1 sped past him like
flash, my leg actually brushing against
his horse, which gave snort of terror
and barely missed leaping against me.
after that I had clear course.
though continually descending, until it
seemed to me it was without end.
felt weak and dizzy and liable to fall
from my seat at any moment. Then a
darkness began to settle over the scene,
lighted at intervals by bars of silvery
light, across which7I sped like specter.
I was entering more heavily timbered
district, and where the gloom hung
| dooroct ouor mo sfo,~xl 49,.