The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-05-28

Rogers fell victim to his enthusi-
assn for the new wheel. Added to the
ecstasy of the devoted cyclist was also
the passion Of the inventor. Rogers
had plenty of money, and SO could in
dulge his fads. He had an ingenious
brain, and consequently, when his
craze was photography, he invented
several perfectly unavoidable cameras;
and now that he had taken up cycling
With all the fervOr of youth, he had
naturally concocted several improve
ments, so-called, upon the machine.
The wheel upon which he was now
mounted was practically his own in
vention. 1t was exceedingly light and
strong, the frame work being made OF
alIminum, and its pneumatic tire had
a covering which he was positive
would make it positively non-slp-
ping. The ordinary geometrical raised
WORK Oh the average non-slipping tire,
he held, was inartistic, and so he drew
a design for a non-slipping tire which
would leave his autograph, as it were,
vent the wheel from going sideways
on turning a muddy corner. a cele-
DRAFTED rubber manufacturing compa-
ny had constructed a tire, faithfully
following Rogers designs, at tremend-
GUS cost, and now the young man was,
for the first time, mounted on his new
machine, finding, to his delight, that it
worked beautifully
In his tn toSt bo chino
fully he went further atield than he
had Intended. and was somewhat tired
when he came to the forking of the
road, where it branched off in three
directions with never a tinger-post to
guide the beWildered traveller.
Night was coming on rapidly and
earlier than the season called for, be-
cause the clouds hung low in the sky,
AID the weather seemed threatening.
Nto2crs had come too far to return
home that night. He knew, in vague
ara general way, that Saddlesbury
WAS ahead of him, and he thought he
must be within ten miles of the place;
but which of the three roads led to it
WAS the question he could not answer,
al'tl there was no one abroad that low
erlEg evening from whom he could
maze Inquiries After moments hes
itatiOn he again mounted his wheel,
and took the road which appeared to
be the most Travelled, but after follow
Ing it q mile in increasing darkness,
this road again branched. and neither
OF the new ways seemed particularly
inviting.
1t was now so dark that he resolved
to light his lamp, and he then discov-
cred that in his intense absorption re-
garding the improved qualities OF his
new wheel he had neglected minor de-
tails; he had no Oil with him. and his
lamp, new one, was entirely empty.
lie concluded to risk arrest by the To-
cal authorities, SO he once more mount
ed his wheel and drove ahead. The
rain now began to come down steadi-
ly. and the moon, which he knew had
risen, was entirely obscured by the
clouds. The roads became wet and
SLIPPERY. and he found that his new
Invention was still capable Of improve
mcnt, for, on turning an unexpected
corner somewhat suddenly, the wheels
slipped from under him, and he
spl;iNled on his hands and knees in
the mud. Nothing that human ingenu-
ltS las yet cOncocted is so treacherOus
as tie absolutely non-slipping tire on
a s!ushy corner. Rogers picked him.
self UP and struck the mud from his
clothing as well as he could, cropping
around in the rain and darkness for
his machine. put it on it's wheels once
more, and trundled it along, trudging
by it's side. He longed for habitation
of any sort, but the road seemed abso-
lutely deserted.
Tramping gloomily in the downpour,