The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-12-09

d IoOt, anu, diHiu IOlly SHrlekS, maze
straight for the wall at the bottom of
the field.
The jumps were now about four feet
high, and whenever the bicycle hit the
ground it seemed as though it would
jerk it's rider off; but he managed to
cling to the machine until it landed
against the wall, when the force of the
conclusion threw him several yards.
Falling on the soft ground, however, he
was but little hurt. He picked up the
machine, which was not at.all damaged,
and proceeded to explain to me that, if
it had not been for that boy he would
have done famously.
He then SAID he would try it on the
road, though we begged him to desist.
He said the hill was not long enough; he
found that what he wanted was not so
much a hill as a good long level run.
He also proposed that should get on
an ordinary bicycle, and accompany
him; SO left Polly, and mounted my
machine.
1t was now discovered that the Jump
ing apparatus had a tendency to work
automatically, and that when once it
was in action no power on earth could
stop it until all the compressed air was
exhausted. The genius started afresh
without much trouble, going straight
toward the village ito surprise the ma
tives," he remarked casually. He was
feeling very happy and contented, and
tried to sing, which he could not do with
comfort, as the conclusion after each
jump snapped his teeth together like
steel trap, and once when this occurred
noticed that his tongue happened to
be between them.
At this time the machine was acting
in very peculiar manner, and seemed
to have taken the bit in it's teeth, so to
speak. 1t began to tear along the road
with the speed of a runaway horse, shy
ing at every post, and making spas
modic jumps at the slightest obstacles.
BY the most furious riding l was able
to get alongside, and excitedly advised
the genius to hurl himself from the
demoniacal machine and risk the con-
sequences.
He didn't hear me, or, if he did, he
paid no attention. He had an intense,
far-away look in his eyes, and seemed
to have no interest in mere earthly mat
ters. The machine. rejoicing in it's new
ly-found power, put on an extra squirt,
and drew well ahead of me, making the
most extraordinary leaps from time to
time
We were now close to the village, and
the few people still lingering about
commenced to take lively interest in
the proceedings; especially the consta-
bic, who is very stubborn and officious
person, and seems to think that if it
were not for him the nation and the law
would fall to pieces; SO / cannot say
feel very sorry for him-he should at
tend more to his own business. When
he saw the bicycle coming, he shouted
to the rider to stop. To this the genius
gave no heed, and the constable pre-
pared for action. He ran out into the
middle of the road and clutched at the
genius as he few by. Unluckily for him
be missed completely. and the front
wheel of the machine smote him heavily
in the loose ribs, leaving him dusty
and disheveled wreck on the side of the
road. When | passed him he was slow
~ recovering, and l judged from his
expression that his emotions were vio-
lent and mingled. We fed along the
main street amid horrible clatter. At
the end of the village, the road makes
sharp turn to the left, and knew that
this would be the decisive point in the
genius furious career. If he could but
turn the corner, he would have nearly
straight road in front of him for three
miles. If he could not, there was the
ten-foot wall of the ladies' seminary
to be surmounted. confess l had no
hopes whatever, either of his turning
the corner, or of his forcing the bicycle
to take the jump. The machine now
seemed to be pulling itself together for
final struggle; which fact the genius
seemed to grasp, and he groaned audi
bly, as he tried to pull the handles round
in order to take the turn. But the
bicycle was too much for him.
1t was splendid effort; indeed.
never saw such a tremendous jump so
CALAMITY attempted. But, as it hap
pened, the plucky bicycle just landed
on the top of the wall; and with hor-
rid crash both machine and rider fell at
the feet of a procession of IA young
ladies who were about to take their
daily airing. The bicycle used the last
of the compressed air in the cylinder to
deliver several violent kicks at the
genius as he lay on the ground.
He will be carried down from his bed
room into the garden some time to-mor-
row afternoon; and the doctor says that
if his collar bone sets well, he will be
fairly sound in about another week.
When a Young Man Doesn't Like 1t.
GAS a general thing" said a fond ia