Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-08-06

you"
"Wretohed maohinel" cried Rog-
ers, sitting up in bed. "Oh, come
now, I'll stand rudeness to myself,
but I'll be- hanged if Ill allow the
bicycle to be slandered. l want you
to know, sir, that this is probably
the finest and most expensive BIZ
cycle that exists in this country. Its
frame Is aluminium, and tho cost of
it is as great as if it were made of
silver, and hatter myself that the
nonslipping tire, although it skids
rather badly III tho mud, is n unique
invention, if l do say it myself. /
want you to know that l am the in
ventor of that bicycle. 1t was con-
struCtod under my supervision, and
if you will allow mo to show you its
merits l fancy you will change your
opinion of it"
THAT may bo so," rejoinod tho
old man, putting his pistol i'll his
pocket, for no saw that this was not
the criminal he thought he had cap
tured. Il don't know worry much
about bicycles, so perhaps you will
be so good as to dress and give mo
somo explanation of how you came
to DO here"
"Oh, that's very simple said
Rogers. Il lost my way last night
and came up your lane some time
after II. There was n light in tho
kitchen, and 1 found two of your
servants having n late supper. l
asked them for shelter and they put
me in here.
"Ah, l see," said the old man.
well, those two were burglars, and
have made off with all they could
lay their hands on that was valua-
bic and at the Same timo porta BILE.
My son has gone to town for the po-
lice and has not yet returned. Per
haps you can aid us by giving u de-
scription of the mon. l thought at
first that you were one of the gang
who had perhaps taken too much
drink and overslopt yourself, but l
SEQ you are nothing of the kind. "
Il shall be glad to give you every
assistance in my power, said Rog-
ers.
In few minutes he was up and
dressed, and on going outside saw
that tho burglars had keen appre-
oiation of his invention, and had
taken away his new machine, leav-
ing one of their own in its place.
Il am sorry" said the old man
oourteously, that in seeking our
hospitality you should have been
robbed of valuable cycle. Let US
hope we may catch the rascals. Here
is my son and two policemen.
Rogers went out to the lane and
walked a short distance from the
house, critically examining the
ground as he did so.
Look herer he cried to the old
gentleman as he came hurredly back.
"These men have taken what they
didn't know was All autograph bioy
Gle. Here you see the name in the
mud, Rogers, marked quite dis
timothy. That was little idea of my
own. In making a nonslipping tire /
had the name written, as it were, in
raised letters ali around the circum-
ference of the wheel. If we are rea-
sonably active, there will be no trou-
bic Ill tracing the thieves. l shall
mount this wheel they have loft be.
hind, and J.: your son and the off GERS
will follow me 1 think we can track
them. l had my name on the tires
largely to identify my machine if il
happened to be stolen, but it never
struck me that it might write my
name all along the road.
Rogers, after hasty breakfast,
sprang on the burglars bike, and
put in his best ticks along the lane
and down the byroad he had Travelled
the night before. Even when they
came to the main road ten miles
away he could still descry his name
in many of the soft spots of the road.
Before noon they had run down the
burglars, much to their surprise,
and Rogers, pointing out the merits
OF his machine to the captured man
who had ridden it. explained to him
in the most kindly manner that il
he had not stolen that particular bi.
cycle he would very likely not Mt that
moment be in custody. Whcreupor
the burglars loudly cursed the auto,
matte autograph registering bicycle,
which conduct the indignant Mr..
Rogers resented. All of which goes
to show that burglars have no real
appreciation of talent.-Detroit Free
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