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

paused on they went like the wind.
A hoarse roar greeted them as they APP
preached the grand stand for the last
time-criek and counter cries mingled
In Wild confusion. Scott was in q
pocket, deliberately made by the men
of the second group, who had caught
up with him and surrou unled him with
their wheels In such 4 manner that he
could not get out,
Baird was rapidly leaving the lead
ing group. Wild and determined to
win at any cost, Scott broke away,
and, with a dangerous but brilliant
burst OF speed, he broke through the
pocket with his famous corkscrew
sprint that sent his wheel rocking from
side to side as though In a heavy wind.
Breaking away from the bunch of rid
ers he caught UP with Baird and hung
on his rear wheel for a moment. Then
he made jump that passed his op-
ponent. 1t was for a moment only.
The tape was but a few yards away
the grand stand seemed to explode.
scott rode as IL possessed and came
down the home stretch like the wind.
he heard a confused roar and knew
oimly that he had won the race hut all
he thought OF was a girls promise;
and in one of the boxes sat the girl,
pale from excitement, with emotions
she did not clearly analyze.
THAT was the closest finish of the
whole season." said a florid gentleman
In the next box to Josephine. "Py
Jove! l haven't seen anything that
stirred my blood so much for year"
What a fine appearance Mr.. Scott
makes on his wheel" said the girl
with the red roses. Il never dreamed
that there could be so much excite
ment about a bicycle race. IId love
to go to race every day in the week,
and then one learns so much, too.
Josephine, you are really pale. ! won
der If the man who was thrown was
much hurt"
The girl made some commonplace re-
joinder; her thoughts were elsewhere
just then.
The meet was over, and the crowd in
the grand stand had at last consented
to disintegrate itself and get ready to
go home. People were scattering in
every direction, and in the universal
confusion Josephines friends were
discovered by an admiring contingent
whose formal invitations to join them
easily gave Josephine the opportunity
she longed for to slip quietly away.
She had gone no further than the end
Of the boxes when she met Scott, his
face aglow.
"Your were my mascot" he said,
eagerly. Are you ready to go? Your
wheel is safely stored here under the
stand, will get it for you at once, and
We will go home"
BY the time they were under way,
the early twilight had fallen and the
CLEAN of lights here and there pierced
| the light gloom. The animation of their
early conversation died away. Side by
side they wheeled on in the mellow
| light. The faint crescent on the young
moon hung her bow in the sky and
cast scarcely discernable radiance
| through the trees by the roadway. They
had left the crowded cycle path, and
had turned into a quiet road that made
a considerable detour through frag-
rant ways where the glow of the gold
en- rod enlivened the landscape. Some
thing warmer than the life of the soft
air stirred in Scotts pulses. The girl
by his side sat on her wheel in an easy
attitude that revealed the flexile grace
| Of her form. He reached forward and
touched her tenderly. She startled, and
| her wheel swerved slightly. Scott
sprang lightly from his own and drew
her from her seat ere she could re-
monstrate.
Listen" he said. his eager arms al
most embracing her, "at last 1 have
you where you shall not jest with me
again, You promised to help me lay my
/ plans to go to Australia If i won the
race. l have won it, and 1 want your
answer-will you go to Australia with
meas my wife?"
Something like CULVER ran through