The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-05-29
ADVENTURE AWHEEL.

"You can talk all you want to, Vic,
about your 81 wheel, with it's so gear,
three-point bearings, quick repair
tires and what not, but my '95 is all
right, and won't be in the rear on club
runs by a long shot,"
At the same time Jack Roberts,
bright-looking chap of athletic build,
gazed admiringly ut his companions
new bicycle, with all its Improvements.
"Oh, you'll beat out some Of the
boys" replied Vic Nichols, patronizing-
~, "but your CO gear and Anticipated
omnibus, Jack, put you in the rear di-
vision"
Some of Vic's cronies laughed with
him. They were assembled this April
evening at their clubhouse in one of
the upper wards of Brooklyn. No one
thought of going out for ride, as it
was windy and threatened rain.
$50 you think you've got cinch,
Vic?" said Jack, his gray eyes flashing
little.
swell, l can't figure you in it with
that wheel, old fellow
Jack was somewhat nettled. Vic's
father presented his son with new
wheel every year, and the boy was en-
nbled thereby to set the pace for most
of the members of the club, fact that
made him rather boastful. Jacks pa
rents couldn't afford such luxury, but
he felt pretty sure he could beat his
rival on anything like even terms.
well, won't call you better MAJ
till you've beaten me-" Jack asserted,
defiantly.
whats the matter with racing to
Browns, at Valley Stream, and back to-
night?" asked Vic, craftily.
IN go you if you think it won't rain"
"Hold on. Triflcs like rain and pune
lures won't count. They'll be no ex-
cuse. Wen have the wind at our backs
going out, and we'll buck it coming
back. A25-mile race like that ought to
prove something. What do you say?"
I'm with you"-and Jack began
some hasty preparations.
Some of the boys tried to discourage
the rivals from racing at such a time
on such a night.
Don't you know there's been wheel
men held up nights out in those
woods?" cried little Will Jenkins, with
q white face.
Newspaper Stories" laughed Jack.
1t was $3.50 p. m. before the boys got
their wheels in trim, the chains lubri-
Gated, the tires inflated, the bearings
oiled and the lamps filled. But they
started promptly at that time.
For few minutes they pedaled over
some roughly-paved streets, and the
raw wind made both begin to repent
their rash venture. But soon they
struck fair turf and macadam roads
and sped along at great speed, the wind
at their backs.
Slowly, but surely, Vic drew away
from Jack, though his legs were not
moving as fast as his rivals.
Their road wound along through
sleepy villages, past fields and farms.
into dark patches of cool woods, which
brought wildly to the boys minds the
stories of wheelmen waylaid and robbed
by men who sprang suddenly from the
leafy coverts. Vic was considerably in
the lead now. Looking ahead, Jack
could see but the faint streak of light
thrown on the ground by his rivals Ian
tern.
That's all right" muttered Jack. |
His high gear and the wind favor
him now, but I'll hold him coming
back. Give me low gear for MEDAL. |
ling against the wind"
The faint, ghost-like light now dis
appeared around bend in the road. |
and Jack began to feel lonely.
1T might be better for Us to keen
together coming home, anyway"
thought Jack, as cracking noise
reached his ears, as If some one were
moving among the trees and under
brush on his right. The wind moaned
dismally as it swept through the
branches. and more than once Jack
thought in his excited state. that he
detected fiery eyes in the dark depths,
which glsred at him a. be swept by,