The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-21

der. with n machine with loose mud
guard and a speckled bell; he had a
very dirty suit of c. +. G. gray, and
perspiring red face with a STRIP of
damp hair across his forehead. And he
had the cheek to- speak to Mr. Cramp-
toni
Pretty Jigger," said the Bounder.
Mr.. Champion was so startled, he
wobbled and almost collided. II beg
your pardon" he said, in a repressive
tone.
Mice looking machine you've got"
Mr.. Champion was quite at a loss for
words. But he was determined to shut
the fellow UP promptly. I'm afraid
cannot say the same of yours" he
said at length.
mo, it isn't up to much" said the
Bounder, cheerfully. Are you going
far? Because IL So"
Two Girls POSSIBLY Nice Girls) ap-
peared riding down toward them. They
might think that he and the Bounder
were travelling together! IT'S no bus
mess Of yours" said Mr.. Champion,
where I'm going" And something in
distinct about damned impertinence."
"Lord!' said the Bounder. mo Of
fense." It took him a minute to digest
Then he said something over his shoul-
der to Mr.. Champion that was lost, and
putting his head down below his shoul-
ders, went clanking off at a great pace,
his shoulders moving with his feet in
manner entirely despicable.
Mr.. Champion rode quite erect, and
with only one hand on the handle, to
show that he was not racing, until the
girls were well past him, and then he
dismounted This eternal hill was
tiresome and he did not want to over
take the Bounder. Walking, one could
notice the fine growth of green with
which the hedges were speckled, and
the gum-exuding chestnut buds: and
the dead nettles were all in flower. In
fact, it was pleasant change from
the saddle for a man who was not
scorcher.
And at last he came to Burgh
Heath. AS this seemed to be a sort of
village green, he mounted again. Some
way along was little sweetstuff shop,
and outside was the Bounder's ma
| chine. The Bounder was in the door
way. with his hands in his pockets,
eating. He looked round at Mr..
Champion and Immediately looked
| self-eSteem.
And away down a hill Mr.. Champion
was passed by a tandem bicycle. He
overlook its riders, a girl and a man,
walking the next ascent. They seemed
to be father and daughter, the father
a sturdy, red-bearded man with very
fat legs, and the daughter decidedly
| pretty. She was dressed in greenish
L.
was very glad indeed that he had got
rid Of the Bounder forthwith. He had
to set his teeth to get up the hill, but
| of course it was impossible to dis
| mount, and then came a run down,
| and then a long gentle slope that was
| rather trying, with a pretty girl on a
| tandem behind, that is, to keep one in
the saddle. Reigate Hill came none
too soon to give Mr.. Champion a de-
cent excuse for dismounting. So he
put the machine carefully where it
| looked well on the turf. and took out
his silver cigarette case, and was in
his attitude ready. looking over the
clustering town and broad blue Weald,
as the tandem couple came walking
down the hill So far the ride had been
| very pleasant.
After that the Bounder, hot and
painting. He came toward the turf as
if contemplating a lounge, and his eye
caught the chocolate bicycle. He
glanced swiftly up at Mr.. Crompton,
and went incontently down the hill to-
ward the town. visibly discounted.
Mr.. Champion lunched in Reigate. 1t
was in the afternoon that his adven-
lures really began--as he rode toward
| Crawley. The mornings ride had told
on him, and three gates had the honor
of supporting him for leisurely inter-
walls between Reigate and Horley. Cy-
clists became frequent, and as they
went by during his sessions on the
gate, he smoked ostentatiously or (af-
ter he had smoked sufficiently sketch
ed in a little morocco-bo bound sketch
| book-just to show he was not simply
resting. And among others a very
! pretty girl flashed by-unaccompanied
Now, Mr.. Champion, in spite of his
regard for Madge was not averse to
dreams of casual romance And the
bicycle in its earlier phases has a pe-
culiar influence upon the imagination.
To ride out from the familiar locality.
! into strange roads stretching away
into the unknown, to be free to stop
or go on, irrespective of hour or conf
panion, inevitably brings the adven-
| turous side uppermost. And Mr..
| Champion, descending from his gate
and mounting, not two minutes after
she had passed, presently overlook her
near the crossroad to Horley, wheeling
her machine.
She had a charminglv cut costume
and her hair was a pleasant brown
and her ear as one came riding up be-
hind her. was nOticeably pretty. She
had punctured the tire of her hind
wheel; ii ran fiat and flaccid-the case
was legible a hundred yards off.
Now this is the secret desire of all
lone men who go down into the coun.
try on wheels. The proffered helm, the
charming talk, the idyllic incident
Who knows what delightful develop
ments? So that a great joy came tc
Mr. Champion. He dismounted a little
way behind her. advanced gracefully
profferCd the repair OUTFIT in his wallet
He had never attempted to repair q
tire before, and so he felt confident OF
his ability. The young lady was in.
clined TO be distant at first (Which wos
perfectly correct of herr, but seeing
that il was four miles to Crawford, and
Mr.. Champion mere boy and evil
IDENTIFY Of a superior class, she present
ly accepted his services. So coming tC
convenient grassy place at the cross
road, Mr.. CHAMPION turned the ma
chine over on its saddle and handles
severely bruising his knee as he did so
and went quietly and methodically t.
work, it being then about 3 o'clock II
the afternoon and the sun very brigh