The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-08

cent face, and Scott Instantly decided
that, no matter by what means she
had come into possession of it, she was
not to blame. II see you ride Zeno,"
he said, carelessly. Did you ever try
any other?"
mo, and not this one very long, 1t
is not my wheel; 1 am on it for the
first time. i rented it for an hour at
shop down on the boulevard.
"The story was out. Scott under
stood it all. He explained the circum-
stances of the case, and the girl, who
was deeply mortified at being innocent
ly riding on a stolen wheel, rapidly
consented to accompany him to the
shop. The proprietor was slightly ac-
quainted with the boy who had sold it
to him, and had considered him trust
worthy. The enterprising youth did not
put in an appearance for some time,
but before midnight Scott had the sat
isfaction of seeing him arrested and
of giving his promise to appear against
him at 8 o'clock the next morning.
"The pretty girl was promptly fur
nished with another wheel, and as
Scott headed homeward he reflected
that If he won the race the next day
tandem that had been given him a day
or two since.
1t was the day of the race meet
Clear and brilliant skies, q balmy air
and a gentle breeze made most auspi-
cious conditions for the races. Down
at the Beach, from early morning, there
were evident the preparations for the
events of the day. In and about the
t,.ai i,,it,
table hustle and confusion of the final
efforts of the men to appear in the pink
of condition. Trainers. track managers
and some of the officials began to ar
rive early, and by eleven o'clock the
scene was an animated one, and one
of interest even to the uninitiated. The
hard, white track, on which the battles
were to be fought out so soon, lay in
broad, ribbon-like oval in the bright
sunlight. and over it now and then
there speeded some of the flyers in a
preliminary warming-up for the strug-
gle for prizes we'll worth the winning.
There was at least one prize not sched-
uled on the programme, but no one
knew that, save the man who deter
mined as he shot his wheel over the
shining course in trial spin, that that
prize must be his ere the sun should
| set.
| The unusual interest in the meet
caused the early arrival of many at
the track, and, although the races were
not scheduled to start before half-past
two o'clock, nearly all the officials We're
on hand by noon. Judges, timers,
scorers, umpires, the referee, the clerk
of the course, the starter, the chairman
] % he nj, otooit nf ha la ie
Wheelmen, and the official Handicapped
all put in an appearance at phenome-
nally early hour.
| Looks as if we were in for a great
day, doesn't it?" said Van Dyke, the
chairman of the racing committee, tc
one of the judges, as they met in the
training quarters. "The boys are al
full of the spirit of the thing. and every
one Of them is out for the prizes
There's going to be some good sport
here this afternoon"
That's right. Who's your choice?"
swell, for once, I'm not risking a
guess. The men are pretty evenly
matched, you know, and what one
lacks in speed another may make up in
endurance. They're all anxious about
that Australian trip; everybody wants
to go out"
Good stuff up for somebody today
| Walter" said Slater, one of the racing
men, as he critically examined his
wheel. by Jove, old fellow, you and
are friends off the track, but 1 give
you fair warning, shall go in to beat
you in that handicap, If l never dc
again"
Good luck to you, my boy, good
|
now. Hello, Nelson" as Scott entered
here already! How are you on speed
today? 1 suppose you're liable to gel
off that famous sprint OF yours, thai
winds in and out of other fellows