Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-14

After going over the stone l saw that
l had to do something definite with the
lamp. | took out my handkerchief
and tied down the springs, so that the
disc of the light touched the front
wheel This wasn't so bad, as it
showed me plainly the stones in the
road, but hardly in time for me to
avoid them, although / did dodge some
by performing acrobatic feats that
usually led to the ditch. In my eyo-
lutions and anxiety about the lamp l
had forgotten the existence of that
ditch, but it was there just the same
lying low and saying nothing. I found
1t without the least trouble. The lamp
went out again, of course and [ began
tC fear that [ would not have matches
enough to last until | got into the
radius of street lamps l crawled out
of the ditch, righted the machine and
once more applied the match to the
wick. | had lost the handkerchief,
but | tied down the lamp with the oil
ing cloth.
[ was bowling along at a rapid and
satisfactory pace through the bright
circle of light - front of me, when all
at once, within an incredibly short dis
lance, there appeared before me
young man and young woman stroll
ling together with their arms about
each others waists. Their backs were
toward me, and the lamp did not shine
far enough ahead to let them know |
Pnn1inU Of I IaI Il
the presence of mind [ could have
steered around them and passed on,
but they had become so suddenly
silhouetted against the darkness, Just
as a magic lantern picture is thrown
upon a screen, that the unexpected
sight drove what little sense [ had clear
away from me, and 1 gave one terrific
yell fit to arouse any recently dead
man, and flung myself from the ma
chine. The girl complicated matters
by wildly throwing her arms around
the young mans neck and calling upon
him to protect her, which he had no
chance to do, because the next instant
the machine climbed his back. We
three were in a heap in that silent
lane before any Of us knew what had
happened, and of course the lamp
went out. By way of excusing myself
and saying something conciliatory, [
shouted out:
What in the name of the Prince Of
Darkness are you two dawdiing along
this lane in the middle of the night
for?"
The young man intimated 10 me in
rather harsh language that if [ would
be good enough tC wait there until he
found his stick, he would show me
what he was doing. However, I
found my machine first, and, being in
an utterly reckless mood, [ sprang
upon it, without examining it to see
if anything was broken or not, though
| knew that no ordinary fall would in
jure the machine, and | went and left
them there. | did not see that any ex-
PLANTATION on my part would help mat
terS, so [ thought it best to leave we'll
enough alone, which | did Little use
as the lamp was, [ found that it had
its advantages, because the lane turned
a short distance ahead; in fact, it was
always turning, even in daylight, al
though I had never noticed that par
ticularly before, and this time | ran
square into hedge on the side oppo-
site the ditch. [ eXtricated the ma
chine and once more lit the lamp. I
thought perhaps it was safer not to at
tempt to ride any more, and so walked
along, trundling the wheel, for | knew
there was bridge some distance ahead
that had no parapets, and [ did not
want to enter into an encounter with
it. AS | walked along beside the BIZ
cycle, | saw something move on the
side of the road, and within the circle
Of light. A stalwart, unkempt tramp,
who had been making the roadside his
bedroom, rose up on his elbow and
said menacingly:
with a match?"
Yes, [ can" | said, climbing up On
my machine, and putting the wheels in
motion. Get on your bicycle, and
we'll have match. Come along" He
merely stood up and cursed me in loud
and forcible language.
l thought my troubles we'll over OH
coming to the street lamps, l was
bowling along within half a mile of my
own house when suddenly a policeman
stepped out into the middle of the
road.
Stop he cried, and having a re-
spect for the law l stopped and got off
the machine.
What are you doing" he de-
mauded, travelling with your lamp
out?'
Good gracious!" 1 said, my lamp
isn't out" but on looking around 1
found, alas, it was, and l had not no
ticed the fact, so well was the street
| lighted. I assured him that it had
been lighted a moment before, and
that it must have joggled out.
eff you will put your hand on the
lamp" I said, you will find it is quite
/ hot"
He did so, and shook his head. l
/ touched the lamp myself, for it, when
/ lighted becomes uncomfortabIy hot Gt
! smokes worse than | do) and, would
/ you believe it, it was as cold as a rich
relation from whom you want to bor-
row money.
/ You will have to come with me, -
he said
+ Wont a cash payment down save
me the trouble of appearing before a
magistrate?"