Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-08-21

they would talk over their prospects.
Strange as II may seem each Of these
men was willing that tho other should
win. Here were a modern David and
Jonathan. To show how substantial
wal tho feeling, each did his best to
bring out all the speed in the other.
Smaley had been teaching Fastleigh
quite u little sprint and Fastleigh Ia
bored long with Smaley getting his
stamina to tho sticking point.
In q row Of cottnges between the
homes Of both young men there lived
two sisters, to whom both were much
attached. II was here that the eventide
was spent, and you may DO sure that the
race was not forgotten. In the home Of
the sisters was n toddler Of some three
years, who took its greatest pleasure in
riding OH n carrier on the head Of Fast
leigh's machine. 1t was IN easy task
for the big machinist to carry the tot up
the stiifest Of hills, while his little com
panion Smaley rode alongside. Here IL
was hat the d-isparngement in their
sizes was FIRST noted, when the boys
commenced distinguishing them as the
Little Un" and the big Un." You
see Plumbettville had rend that in
Sports sporting parlance should prevail.
so absorbed were the cyclers that by
The timo Of the rnce they had quite for
gotten about tho prospective raid Of the
soldiers. There was considerable delay
in getting the men off. At the last mo-
ment the handicapper-new in the po-
Acknowledgement that he had gotten
mixed in the measurements, and there
was so long a delay that it became ap-
parent there was great danger Of meet
ing the military. When the men started
on their journey, thoughtful onlookers,
with watches and calculating minds,
foresaw that q collision was imminent,
but the racers themselves had no watches
and never thought Of anything but to
get off.
Three miles from the starting point
there was q slight descent in the course.
Here was the half road, half lane that
led into the second part Of the course,
and here was located tho home Of the
young Indies at whose gate two wheels
were SO often seen. From the start, as
was expected, Fastleigh took the lead,
with Smaley tagged right on behind
and the bunch close after them. The
race had progressed so far that handi-
caps had been forgotten. From the top
of the decline nothing vas seen of the
soldiers, and it was thought now that
the other road and safety would DO
reached before they appeared. This was
a vain hope, for before two pedals had
been turned OH the down hill a line Of
skirmishers spread over the face of the
country, and 1t seemed that the fui'
regiment was right behind them, charg-
ing at double time. At least there was
an ominous looking fieldpiece, hauled
by four horses. Down the road charged
the cyclers and up tho road charged 4 }
soldiers, and both wero too excited TO
think of stopping for the other. Just
before the junction with the turn off
road was reached the big cannon was
whirled into place, and instantly there
was a huge roll Of smoke, hiding for a
time the operations Of the military.
Then came a laundering report. A
Texan pony carrying an officer became
frightened at this, dumped his rider in
to n ditch and came flying up the road.
Just before no reached the wheelmen he
swerved, jumped a fence and va off
over the field. Wheelmen were yelling,
officers shouting and guns cracking on
every side now, and it seemed real war.
Suddenly, as the heavy white smoke
curled mp, right in front Of charging
wheelmen and advancing troops, stood
the little tot who rode, only yesterday,
so gleefully on the handle bars Of the
very wheel which Fastleigh was riding
in advance, and which, IL seemed,
would now be her death, II tho soldiers
did not reach and crush her first. 1t WINS
a question Of seconds. Would the line of
g%alloping horsemen reach the u off
road first, shut Off the wheelmen, crush
the child and bring ON a calamity? j.
was more than probable that the smoko
would hide the child from them rs it
had from tho wheelmen.
Then il was that FastleiRh spurted
and all the others after him. 1t was
Flashlights first squirt, and he drew ahef =
Of the others as though they were an
chorod, making the pedals Of his high
gear hum. Down the road he came with
q magnificent swoop ON the child, and a
swirl into the of road; with the swoop
tuoIb uhu Dccu a lctdlluB AIOm tho buu-
die and a giants clutch at a little white
dress. The child was snatched from the
dust and death by the cycler's arm. B t
the feat WIS too much for him. The
sharp turn. the furious pace, and the
side weight threw Fastleigh out Of bal
ance, and he came down heavily into a
ditch at the very gate Of his friends, but
he held aloft in his unconscious hands
the rescued child. He was picked from
the wreck Of his wheel and carried into
the house, where he suffered for many
weeks from broken bones. Smaley,
when he saw the intent Of his compan-
ion, spurted right after him, and when
he fell quickly jumped from his wheel
and brought assistance. Both had lost
the race, but both had become local
heroes loaded with glory, with two Of
the prettiest girls In the county for
s~weetheaTts when they say the word
W. @. Watkins in Bearings
Dean ektn.