Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-18

hind him. And so it was this time. In
a minute or tive he again took up his
old position, and from his easy breath
ing was apparently al fresh as ever.
Not SO the scorcher, for used as he was
to speedy shifting, the terrific pace at
which they had ridden was telling upon
him. Suddenly a thought struck him,
and as he realized it he almost fell
from his saddle. He remembered now
what had hitherto escaped his memory,
that this road led, with no turning
whatever, straight into Standwell and
right past the club headquarters. He to
be beaten before their eyes and by one
of their own riders! 1t would be eter-
nal degradation to him who had made
it his boast that he was faster than
their fastest. What would he not give
to escape the humiliation which seemed
in store for him, and for the first time
in his life he longed for a p%uncture.
The headquarters Of the club were
now but half a mile distant. On fly the
pair and in a few seconds the building
is in sight. The scorcher's heart sinks
within him as he feels his opponent
draw up level with him and to all ap-
pearances as fresh as at the start. Until
now his eyes have been fixed to his front
wheel, but now he chances ahead, and,
oh, horror, sees a crowd of members as.
sembled round the entrance of the club.
Oh, the degradation Of tito him, who
had SO boasted Of his powers! In anoth.
or second comes the climax, for his op-
ponent shoots ahead, and, flying past
the club, leading by lengths, sits up,
and, turning round, lifts his hat grace
fully, revealing the features Of the Flea.
He, that yeungster Of all others, to de-
feat the hitherto unbeaten scorcher)
The defeated Il stays not, but with
the derisive laughter Of the club ring
ing in his ears pedals home a sadder
and a wiser scorcher.
There was another supper that night,
this time at the clubrooms, and if the
scorcher could have been present his
feelings would have puzzled an analyst.
AT the end Of the long apartment
were stacked six bicycles, light road
racers, and OH their saddles were hung
six white wide awakes. At the head OF
the table sat six figures, all clad in
white and all Of very similar build.
With these six lay the explanation Of
the scorcher's defeat, and now to his
eliminates, who up to the present had
been in ignorance as to the method m
ployed, knowing only that he who had
scoffed at them so often had been over.
come, Pat Armstrong was holding forth;
"Well, you see, boys, we devised this
little business about a week ago and,
knowing which way he was riding, put
it into force this evening. Fact is, each
of us took a mile apiece, SO don't give
me all the honor. We took up our posi-
tions with our jiggers all the way along
the road, either behind trees or gates,
and as one of us dropped out another
took the beggar on and went all out
until he came to the next man, who did
ditto. I tell you it was fun-grand fun.
OF course we all looked alike to him,
and he's run off with the idea that !
took him on for six solid miles and then
licked him. Poor chap!'
And amid a general roar Of laughter
he sat down, but they picked him and
the rest of his crew up and carried them
shoulder high round the room, cheering
till all were blue. Then the whole club
swore eternal secrecy, and no whisper
Of the unholy scheme by which he was
defeated ever reached the ears Of the
speed boaster. But he scorches now no
more, and the Standwell Wheelers are
avenged.-Cycle.