The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-08-29

sprang out from beneath my whirling tires
and whizzed about me like missiles. The
dust was like grit between my teeth, and
the perspiration was pouring off of me in
streams.
But not moment stopped or stayed I.
My breath came in gasps; my muscles be-
gan to ache, and bounced over ruts and
stones.
But those demons were behind me, COM
ing on, faster and faster, and losing no
breath in conversation. 1t was the hottest
chase l had ever known, and | thought
of Indians chasing the white man ON the
plain, and all sorts of narrowing things
that l enjoyed reading about, but which
were so different in reality.
was approaching steep hill-a hill
that had never ridden up in my life, and
which some of the men, even, walked. l
never dreamed of giving in 1 urged my
steed forward, stood bold upright in the
pedals, and | worked as | never knew it
was in me to work.
Painting breaths were behind me.
An inward hope that could distance
them here, rose up within me.
My weight in all my own heavy garments
was only hundred and five pounds, and
the wheel l was riding was 10 pound
racer Surely, 1 thought, no man could be
as light as that.
And l was right 1 did lengthen the
distance trife. l never felt so light in
my life, and so unburdensome were my
garments that there was absolutely nothing
to hinder me.
l should just like some one to see that
hill sometime, and to think of me riding it
for my life!
When l reached the top didn't seem to
have particle of breath in my body, and
my mouth was so dry that my tongue could
not moisten it.
l had scarcely reached the level ground
when heard the dreadful ringing of the
other machines.
A little house stood on the crest of the
hill, and a man put his head out of win
dow as the bicycles were coming along
"What's up?' he called
Then one of my pursuers in voice that
was well-nigh spent, shouted out his cruel
lie:
"Stop him! Its Billy, the boy-bicycle
burglar!"
Monster! 1t was probably his own choice
sobriquet! l shot ahead. Beyond the hill
was steep declivity. 1t looked straight
up and down in the moonlight and at any
other time the sight would have appalled,
me.
But it never for moment daunted me
then.
showed off with utter recklessness drew
my feet up on the fork, and proceeded to
coast
How the wheel flew
Everything swan before me from the
rapidness of my flight, and every moment
| expected to be dashed to destruction.
But was mercifully spared, and nothing
could have been more restoring or refresh
ing to me than that long coast. My
straiaed muscles relaxed, the perspiration
dried coolly on my brow, and the moisture
came back to my lips.
But although my strength was renewed,
my agony was in no wise abated, and l
could see no way out of the terrible situa-
ton. l could not ride on forever, and
sooner or later should be overtaken.
Presently another horror confronted me.
At the foot of the declivity lay the railroad
crossing, and as l was nearing it, heard
the shrill, warning cry Of an approaching
locomotive.
Everything turned black for minute,
and l saw myself an inert and mangled
something lying on the rails, to be picked
up by strange hands and shuddered at.
With this hideous picture in my mind,
still kept on. 1t was like person rushing
headlong to his doom, and yet could MOI
help it. Doom stared ME in the face OF
both sides, and it was only question O
which.
Horrible as it was, the locomotive seemed
preferable. Just as l reached the rails
around the rock-bound curve came tn,
midnight train. A dark, looming, culver