Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-19
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4 WILD RIDE AwHEEL UNDER MOST
PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES.


For several days West Enders have
been trying TO solve the mystery OF
bicycle ride which occurred one night
last week, and that portion OF the town
has been filled with strange stories OF
the affair. Almost every theory except
the correct one has been advanced ~ Z
solution Of the matter, and these theo-
ries have been that Il was an elopement,
4 swift ride for the doctor, g0-as-you-
please race, and . chase after female
bicycle thief. This latter comes very
near hitting the mark.
Wheels are 30 common 10 the West
Eud that they are used on nearly every
occasion, and therefore II was not
strange that when certain young man
aud hls intended decided 10 call on q
mutual friend they should ride on their
wheels. He rode over to her house, and
then the two rode out to their friends
house, which Ii near Forest Park. There
they rested their wheels against the
porch, where two others stood, and
went 10.
On the same block lives comely little
miss, whose bicycle suit consists OF a
derby hat and bloomers, and some other
things. She had been over to see her
girl chum, and, 1t happened, had on her
wheeling clothes. As she passed the
house where the young people were call
ing che saw the wheels leaning against
the porch, and believing that the dis-
mond frame belonged to l6.year-old
young man who lived there, she decided
to surprise him by taking ride on his
wheel.
HE will think some one has stolen
It." she said to herself. as she led the
wheel over the lawn and mounted 1t.
The young man and his sweetheart
had been talking In the psrlor, and he,
knowing they had girlish condolences to
exchange, said he would go into the "
brary where he could smoke. As he
crossed the hall he looked out just In
time TO see some one wheeling his bi-
cycle across the lawn. For n moment he
hesltsted. Then he saw this person
mount and ride away. Hastily picking
up his hat, he j,mmed I, down on nj.
head and rushed out Of the house. Seiz-
ing the frat wheel he saw, his sweet
hearts, ne dropped on the drop machine
and pedsled away.
His girl. however, had heard the
wheels rattle outside, and she looked
ont Of the window just In time to see 3
strange msn--she didn't recognize him
In SLOUGH hat--jumpipg on her wheel.
She IL a girl OF determination. She did
not hesitate 10 call TO her husband that
IL To be. She ran out Of doors, seized
what she supposed was his wheel, and
started In pursuit.
The wheel really belonged, however,
10 the lG-year-old brother Of the girl on
whom she was calling, and ne, hearing
the door slam, went 10 the window just
10 time to see a woman IN long skirts
mounting his wheel. He came down the
stairs, three steps at time, and In an-
other minute was In pursuit Of "a female
bicvcle thief"
By this time the girl In bloomers had
found she was being pursued. She
looked back and caught the CLEAN OF
her pursuer's wstch chain az he passed
under an electric light, and thinking II
was badge and he an officer who had
seen her take the wheel, she redoubled
her efforts.
The man behind was mt disadvsn-
tsRe on drop frame. but he pushed
brsvely on. Once he looked back and
saw some one riding "a fast "a he, a
block behind. but he thought nothing Of
Il. And his girl behind was pushing
the pedals hard, regardless OF the lin
gerie and hose which the diamond frame
exposed. and determined to catch the
man who stole her wheel, while, equally
set on capturing the "female bicycle
thief" the boy behind rode as u In a
race.
Bravely the,girl In the bloomers kept
On, although she was painting aud her
hair flying in the wind. Twice she
turned and tried TO lose her pur-uer,
bat he chung on but did not gain, IA the
difference In wheels m, de the race near
" even between all four people. The
bloomer girls object was to circle
around so "a TO reach the starting
point, where she knew she could ex-
plain matters. So she turned west on
Lindell Boulevard and south on Taylor,
and after hard half hours ride she
brought up st the starting point. She
had barely reached there when her pur-
suer arrived, and close behind him the
two others.
Painting and bresthless, each tried TO
explain, but after few words every one
began TO laugh. Aud the young man
hid 10 Jake the whole party over 10
huy Ice cream soda In an effort to hus
the matter up. But IL Il still to be de.
cided who the laugh L. on.-St. Louis
Globe Democrat.