The Monitor-register., 1897-08-20
THE LAUREATE OF THE CYCLE
CLUB.

CLUB.
Come along! Who's afraid ?" II
am" said Molly Elliot, promptly.
sand so is Gertrude"
"Not exactly afraid, Molly. only the
water makes me dizzy, it rushes 3d."
said Gertrude, pale and distressed.
The Chester Cycle Club stood on the
hither side of narrow ohasm spanne d
by single plank, beyond which was the
goal of their four mile run. An old
mill, built, so tradition said, In Indian
times, and so long disused that few
ever explored its dusty recesses; but the
G. G. CPS belonged to an enthusiastic
history class in the Chester Academy
and were taking notes of all the places
of historic interest in the vicinity, with
graduation essays in view.
And now, within stones throw of
their destination, the Elliot girls were
backing out" as Ralph said; and that
meant losing the brightest scholars of
the party, and spelling the excursion,
which had been more work than fun so
far. over the uphill wood road.
1t was a decisive moment. Already
the other girls were beginning to waver
as they looked down into the foaming
torrent dashing toward the fall. Ralph
shook his head impatiently.
''Let all the plueky ones follow their
leader, and leave the 'fraid cats of the
club!' he cried, and sprang across the
plank, closely followed by Ned and
Harry Brown.
THAT'S right, Kittyp' as a bright
eyed girl ran lightly over. You are as
good as boy any day. Who next9''
After moments hesitation, another
girl followed. and another, until all had
crossed but Molly and Gertrude.
Nov, 'fraid cats ~ called K:tty's
clear voice, "Aren't you coming? It's
as easy as anything"
Gertrude flashed and stepped doubt
fully forward, but her older sister laid a
OBTAINING hand on her arm.
81 would not try it, Gertie," she
whispered.
"But 1 hate to be called 'fraid cat I"
$50 do /, but think it is sometimes
just as brave not to do things. You
know we both have dizzy heads, and
think what it would be to mother is"
"pll steer you over all right,
Gertrude" shouted Harry, good-natured.
ly returning. Put your hands on my
shoulder"
"You ale ever 30 good, Harry" said
the girl, gratefully. But had better
not. If should sway / might topple
you in too, Pm such great broom.
handle!'
"That's prudent MolIy's doingp' and
the boy shrugged his shoulders disgust
eddy.
| leave her at home next time. You
have pluck enough when she is not
around" And he hurried to Join the
Others.
Molly's eyes flashed, but with an
effort she fought back tn eangry rejoinder
l
console her disappointed sister.
"Never mind, Gertie, there is plenty to
interest us in these lovely wild woods;
l am almost sure l saw some m aidenhair
fern little way back; let us go and see.''
The two wondered off together, and
were soon delightedly collecting treas
ures of ferns and 9owers in the bota nical
box which, Molly always carried on the
Cycle Club runs
An hour quickly passed, and then
voices from the. direction of the mill
made them turn toward the stream
again, thinking the others were return
ing to their wheels and packages of
luncheon.
Gertrude. who was in advance, sud
denly hurried back to her sister, whis-
periDg excitedly.
| "Oh, Molly, there is man there, and
he is talking SO queeriy p A few steps
brought them where they peer unseen
through the bushes upon a powerfully
built young fellow kneeIing by the slen-
der bridge and vehsmently threatening
to overturn it if any one should try to
cross.
At the other end, huddled together in
a pale faced group, were the valiant
members of the &C. c., while Ralph
attempted to argue with the man, sue
| ceeding only in rousing him to higher
pitch of frenzy.
sit must be John Peyton," whispered
Molly. II remember hearing that he
lived with his keeper somewhere in this
vicinity. Perhaps it is in that big white
house near the turning into the woods"
'He's anfully crazy" sobbed Ger
trade. 'Do you suppose he would,
hurt us ?'' ..t.7-'- -.
"Poor John ! don't know; he used
to be very good to me when was lit;
tie girl, before his dreadful accident.
wonder" She broke off as Peyton
rose to his feet shouting:
advance at your peril, o Tuscan
| host am Horatius
Sand, underneath Is written.
lnletters all ofgold,
How valiantly he kept the bridge
In the brave days of oldr
81 can keep the bridge; can guard
the pass with my vanguard, while the
main body Of my forces ransacks the
baggage train of the enemy"
The girls crouched lower, scarcely dar-
ing to breathe as he turned toward them;
but it was only for a moment, and then
he was among the wheels which leaned
against the bank by the roadside, open
ing boxes ard tossing their contents upon
the ground, all the while warily alert
for the slightest motion of the group by
| the mill.
Suddenly with wild cry, he seized
large jack knife, and brandishing the
open knife, took a threatening step for
| ward.
This will not do, Gertie p said
Molly, quickly. "We must stop it ''
"But we can't p
"Yes, we can. I believe he would
know me. Anyway, must try. While
distract his attention, do you mount