Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-07-04

each get your notification about
O'Clock. Neither will dare TO start be-
fore the time mentioned, as anything
that resembles treachery will cause a
forfeiture of all claims. This may
seem hard and praetieal-eyen cruel;
but IL is my only way out OF this di-
lemma
eff either of you gentlemen do not
consider the prize worth the trial.
shall be all the happier with the other:
and | can't think this fair and impair
tial test will cause me to lose both.
| inclose diagram of our village,
showing the location of our street and
residence. the latter being designated
by a cross.
Lovingly and expectantly,
BESSIE"
was shocked and bewildered at the
contents of the letter. After partially
recovering my wits my first impulse
was TO take the midnight train, put
my wheel in the baggage car. stop at
some town near Feeder station, get
an early start. run in about 10 a. IN.
and claim my prize. Then | thought
what if my hated rival should basely
Impose upon me a Iifty-mile handicap
and | mentally denounced the treach-
cry of the thing. thus unwittingly
placing myself in very delicate at
titude My private sense of honor was
awakened. and l resolved to win Bes-
sic fairly or fail in the attempt.
spent an hour looking over such
maps as could lind in my library and
studied BeSsie's diagram. Theu. real
izing that | would need sleep, | got
everything in readiness for the start,
set my alarm clock to raise its clamor
at a. N. sharp. placed it on stand
within foot IF my pillow. and re-
tired with an involuntary prayer on
my tongues end | tossed some. but
about 10 o'clock | fell into sort of
pLantasmal stu nber. l dreamed Of
mounting a single wagon wheel and
riding the clumsy thing a thousand
miles on a telegraph wire for a prize.
the same being a beautiful princess,
HON | won against hundreds of coni-
petitors. But just as was about to
take her fair hand and lead her TO
the altar. there arose a hor1 ible CLAIM
or of opposition from my disappointed
rivals. who rushed at me in a fury
of jealousy and would have torn me
limb from limb. but | awoke just in
/ time 20 hear the lingering Utilization of
my alarm clock. l s.iang from my
bed and in nalf an hour was ready
+ foI the race.
Still punctilious in holding to my
point of honor, | waited till an hour
before sunrise. and then sailed away
( in the dim twilight and the bracing air
OF that fated morni 1g. on mission as
soul-thrilling as any that ever sent
knight 10 the arena or a political
martyr to Washington.
/ made my first two leagues before
the suns imminent glory had blancned
he sweet. unu-like faces of the morn
ing stars.
began to feel little uneasy about
the signs which the first rays Of
the sun pencilled on the 'heeey canvas
OF the dawn" Natures scenic artis
may sometimes use his brush without
definite purpose. but for one I au
Y superstitious to reef sails when I not'
as / did them a rather lavish touch o.
crimson on the edge of the morning
But | scudded along the dusty road
not exactly under bare poles" hui
un.ler the kind If stimulus that turns
burdens into pillows and obstacles in
To incentives
| made the first twenty miles with
out serious check or interruption. bar
ring the temporary annoyance Of be
ing at one time chased mile by :
ferocious dog. that persistently tries
TO fasten his fangs in my trousers
But when | finally slowed up and
sprang from my wheel to tender /;
sacrifice to Moloch. the coward,
whelp turned tail and literally out
stripped the boulder I sent after him
The twenty-mile station was Dingle
wood. a queerly-laid-out village bull
along the highway for half mile
with no cross streets The sun wa.
an hour high as I entered this place
As | skinned past the houses the in
mates came to the doors and win
dows, and an occasional glance at thei
distraught yisages showed that mos
Of them were enjoying their first view
Of bicycle. Dogs and children pour
ed out Of open gates and followed me
yelping and bowling like mad imps o
the pit. Other children and dogs, fur
Their on, attracted by the damor, an
ticipated me. and before reached tn
end Of the burg at least twenty dog
Of all sizes and varieties were hound
ing me with that familiar impudenc
Of which the village dog enjoys an un
shared monopoly. Their attempts I,
nip my heels exasperated me. and
yelled at them savageIy. but with poo
effect. At last an unusually activ
meat hound" caught me by the ankle