Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-07-08
INVISIBLE FRIEND.

The members around tho clubhouse
FIRE wore talking Of the prospects o. tao
spring road races, and tfom that tho
conversation turned to road racing in
general, and every momber had somo
experience to tell. Only tho whcelnan
who had Travelled was silent, as was his
wont until stirred to sell aonio tale Of
wild adventure by the questions Of his
companions. who seemed not mere than
60 half believe his stories 0nd YET TO
feel that they wero really true, such in
disputablo proofs did the travelled oaa
always present. On this occasion it was
the clubs road race champion. a mem
her who wore a string of century bars
throo yards long, who said sa-oastically.
81 suppose you've been tho greatest read
racer Of all Of us, haven't you?'
II won't say that exactly, " replied
the wheellnan who had Travelled, "but
there was n time when 1 would have
backed myself against tho best man in
Che business. That tino las passed and
will never return, bit if l should tell
you the story You wouldn't believe it,
50 what's tho user"
Como On, tell It," broke in tho
bugler. Don't mind him. Ho thinks
los tho only tame tho orchestra can
play just because hos got . few bars. -
The whoolman who had Travelled Put
his hand in his pocket and drew out q
p.ain leather pipe case. Without a word
no opened It and passed it to the club
captain, who examined IL obviously. for
tho travelled ones presagcd q
story.
81 don't SEQ anything about road rae
ing in that, " remarked the captain.
whats in it," asked the champion
liar.
"Notbing apparently, " responded the
captain, aud. in fact, the case appeared
70 be empty.
Feel Of tho inside" suggested the
wheelman who had travelled. The cap
tain obeyed the suggestion and started
as though be had been struck.
"Why, there's q pipe there, but l
can't sec il, /" no exclaimed.
Tho other members felt Of the inside
Of tho case, and, sure enough, plain TO
the touch, but ut tho same timo absolute.
" invisible, was n pipe. The wheelman
who had travelled took the case, lifted
something out Of it apparently and held
it up. His hand appeared to be empty.
"What is tia fine piece Of Plass?'
asked tho member with tho pink go1
socks.
"Not a bit Of it, " answered the pos
sescor of tho wonderful pipe. THAT
Pipe is o relic of tho most faithful
friend 1 ever had and ono who saved my
lifo on moro than n occasion. l never
near road racing spoken Of without
thinking Of him. Give me some tobacco,
some one, and I'll tell you why l priz5
this pipe so highly"
The other members watched him
ouriously az no rammed tho tobacco
down into tho empty air apparently,
aud they shrank away from him as
though he were something uncanny az
they saw tho smoke rise from q distance
Of several inches from the smokers
mouth, but tho momber who had tray
oled settled back IN his chair and be-
gan:
at was in tho winter following ms
disastrous experience az ostrich farming
in Africa that / decided O change Of 0iI
would DO necessary, and | consequently
went to Australia, where IL was then
slmmer, Of course. ! had an idea that
there might DO somo good touring in
that country, and l took my wheel
along ms a matter of course, ! landed Al
Melbourne aud found the town very
dali. l wheeled along near the coast to
sydney and found It no l~iyeliar there,
go 1 made up my mind to strike for thc
interior Of New South Wales. / was
warned that it would be dangerous C
venture far into tho bush alone, but
had plenty Of nerve in those days and
started out feeling better than 1 had
ever felt in my life.
1.-THE trip was wild enough TO sui
the liveliest imagination, and l thor
oughly enjoyed myself. l passed
through the heart Of tho kangaroo dis
trict and often stopped to watch the
amusing antics Of those clever animals
which can leap 40 feet at a jump anC
are as strong IS a horse.
Zone day l was standing by my
wheel watching a herd Of them wheI
all of a sudden they seemed to becomr
alarmed at something and went of to
ward tho horizon in great leaps unit
every n of them had vanished. ! wa
wondering what had scared them wheI
l felt a hot breath ON the back Of m.
head. 1 looked around with a start, bu
saw nothing. 1 heard, however, wha
sounded like an animal painting 70
breath directly in front Of me, and
will confess that / was thorough.
frightened. 7 attempted TO show ID
signs Of fear however, although me-.
hail rose So saat &c threw my CAP on
md 1 stood there perfectly mouonless