Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-07-25

Rogers fell a victim to his enthusi-
asm for the new wheel. Added to the
ecstasy OF the devoted cyclist was also
the passion of the inventor. Rogers
lad plenty Of money. and so could in
duIge 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 be was now
mounted was practically his own In
venrion. 1t was exceedingly light and
strong, the frame work being made OF
aluminium. and its pneumatic tire had
a covering which he was positive
would make il positively non-slip-
ping. The ordinary geometrical raised
work on the average non-slipping tire.
he held was inarfistie. and so he drew
q design for non-slipping tire which
would leave his autograph. as it were.
along the roads, and which would pre-
vent the wheel from going sideways
on turning d muddy corner. A eele-
brated rubber manufacturing compa-
uy had constructed a tire. faithfully
following Rogers designs. az trenlend-
olis' eosI. and now the young man was,
TOR tbs tirst time mounted on his new
machine. finding. 10 his delight, that II
worked beautifully.
Ins his eagerness 10 test the machine
fuIlv he went further atield than he
had intended. and was somewhat tired
when he came to the forSing of the
road where il branched on in three
directions with never a finger-post 70
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,
and the weather scented threatening.
Rogers had come too far to return
home that night He knew. in a vague
and general way, that Saddiesbury
was ahead of him. and he thought he
must he within ten miles of the place;
fJr1 which Of the three reads led TO II
was tbs question he could not answer
and there was no one abroad that low
efing evening from whom he coTiic
uiakc inquiries. After a moments hes
ita;ion he again mounted his wheel
and took the road which appeared q
- he most travelled. but after follow
iuxtga mile in increasing darkness
tiiiSFoad again branched. and neitlIe
III lle new ways seemed particular.
irvFing.
II was now 50 dark that he resolves
- light his lamp. and he then discoy
aged rhaf in his intense absorption re
g;4rsiing the improved qualities OF hi
newSwheel he had neglected minor d.
tailS-iie had no oil with him. and hi
iImp. anew one, was entirely empty
He concluded to risk arrest by the Il
caQanfhorities. so he once more noun
Ell his. wheel and drove ahead. In
rain now began 10 come down stead
IT, and the moon. which he knew ba
risen. was entirely obsctIred by tn
clouds. 1.-THE roads became wet an
Slippery and he found that his me-
Invention was still capable Of improve
meHt. for. on turning an unexpecte
copper somewhat suddenly. the wheel
slipped from under him. and
sprawled on his hands and knees
flle, mud. Nothing that human ingenl
It's has yet concocted IL 80 treacheror
rs the absolutely Don-slipping tire Q
a slusby corner. Rogers picked hin
self up and struck the mud from h
ciDthlBg as well as he could, gropir
arouAi In the rain and darkness II
iiis machine. put il on it's wheels on
more, and trundled 1t along, trudgiI
by its side. He longed for a habitatiC
~ any sort, but the road seemed abs
lutely deserted.
Tranping gloomiiy in the downpou