The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-09
PART III.

PART III.
Josephine had been working up to
a pitch of excitement all the after
noon, and as the time for the handicap
arrived she was conscious of a nervous
tremor running through her in spite
OF herself. Only a few moments be-
fore the race was called note was
handed her by a messenger, saying;
DO not leave after the races until l
see you. / have found your wheel and
will give it to you myself, provided I
win the handicap race. In that event,
i will hold you to your promise; if I
do not. will say nothing about it. Re.
member that you promised to be my
mascot. Nelson"
1t was impossible for her to con-
ceal her delight at the recovery of her
lost wheel. "Oh, have good news"
she said, in reply to the inquiring
glances of her friends. "Mr. Scott has
foundTmy bicycle and will give it to
me after the races. 1t is almost too
g9od to believer" 90
Hastily borrowing pencil, she
wrote in reply: "A thousand thanks for
my Wheel If / am a mascot you are
wizard-you shall win the race. Jo-
sephine." f.
The girls Fin the box exchanged
glances. He is fine-looking man."
said the girl in the buff topcoat, criti-
cally surveying Scott through her field
glasses. II heard the other day that
he is going to Australia with that rae
ing team that goes out soon. Do you
know about It, Josephine, but of course
you do, when you are UP In everything
about cycling?".
II have a cousin out in Australia" :"
said the girl in the red roses, land he
likes 1t awfully. Il have an invitation
to go out there and visit him, but I
don't know about it, How do you
thing you would like such a trip, jose
phine?"
Josephine was spared the reply that
did not rise readily to her lips. The
bell rang, The. track was clear, save
for the men who" were lined up in
the long, ladder-like line that stretch
ed from the tape to a point four hun
dred yards in advance and for the
men who carefully held the wheels
with tense muscles, waiting for the
sharp crack of a pistol that should
announce the critical heat of the han
dicap, and Scott was on the scratch,
while before him a variegatei line of
men showed what he must meet and
pass. is he would qualify in the final
You seem to be nervous, Scott"
said his trainer. This will never do
Brace up-your better than any other
man on the ladder. Lay low till the
last mile and then ride your best
The only man you need fear is Baird,
and he isn't in the best condition to-
day. All you have to do is TO hang
to the bunch in the lead and look out
for the man who is getting ready to
sprint on the home stretch"
There was a long, broken line of
color on the track where the racing
colors of the rlen were stretched out
for the contest. The excitement OF
the grand stand was stilled for the sig
nal. The man on scratch threw up his
head and gave one swift glance in the
direction. of the boxes and then low
cred it over his wheel with such an al,
as ar ancient gladiator might have
awaited the rush of his foe in the are
ns- In the boxes one girl was oblivious
to the subdued buzz of voices about
her, and say only one man of all the
group. There was Il final instant OF
silence, them the timers in the stand
stepped to one side, the starter raised
his arm. and a second later a pisto
rang out sharply on the autumn still
ness. The men We're OFF like flash
their wheels rocking for a momen
with the uncertain vibration Of tho
start. and then a race for a prize and
ore than a prize was on. A roar Of
applause from the grand stand and the
boxes, the bard broke into a popular
march. The ladder wavered and ther
broke before Josephine's eyes-she saw
nothing clearly until the line OF racer.
passed directly in front Of the judges
stand, and she saw by the relativ,
position of the men that the real strug
gle had not yet commenced, although
she did not feel certain whether tht
riders had been once or twice around
The men were strung out in straigh
line and were running easily, watching
one another closely and on their guarC
for the final mile. 1t was an interest
ing but not altogether exciting heat
although at the end of the fourth mill
TIE cheers of the multitudes in favol
Of Baird, the clever local faYorite, ere
eted a decided stir. Men and womeI