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

mer when necessary. The eyes OF
pasSers by seemed ironical.
Bicycles are odd things. He made
it look all right-except the gear case
which he had trodden on, but when he
stood it up, right way up, the chain
tapped about on the gear case and the
wheel would not go around.
He tried what a little force would
do, but it only produced curious clank-
ing noises.
1t was a most disappointing incl
dent, and although the girl was indis-
putably pretty, curiously devoid of
any real romantic quality. 1T doesn't
| seem right quite, yet" she said.
ly rather a difficult situation, and he
was trying to think what to do next.
1t came of being a gentleman, of
course, and chivalrous. Founders
would have ridden by in the first place,
without attempting to help. He want
ed very badly to swear and it was very
| clear indeed in his mind that heNought
| to be riding on.
| His self-control was admirable. I'm
! afraid it's no CO." he said, looking up
and smiling.
| She was looking quite straightly at
him. There was no appearance of an
| ger in her manner but she remarked
| quietly: II don't think you ought to
have touched my machine I'm afraid
you know very little about them"
Mr.. Champion perceived at once that
she was not a lady
All the more reason, he told: himself
| that he should assert himself gentle.
man. 1T seems to me- he said, that
l can do very little in this case"
1T seems so to me-" she said, an
noyed to find him not Inundated.
There came a rhythmic clanking on
the road, and the red, damp-haired
| BOunder, in gray, whom Crampton
had snubbed at Banstead going Lon
downward now, and riding laboriously,
drew near. "Ullo"' he said, softly, to
himself, and as he passed, Nothing
wrong?"
Positively she answered him. Mr..
| Champion did not notice it, because
| he was looking at the machine, but
she must have done so.
The Bounder was already some
| yards down the road, but he dismount-
ed with such alacrity that he almost
| tumbled over. He flung his machine
into the hedge i'm a fine, careless way,
an dcame back. What is it?" he
, said
Nothing" said Mr.. Champion. full Of
| angry shame.
Had a tumble Miss" said the Boun-
der, not at all abashed. with his eyes
on the bent mud guard
II can manage very well, thank YOU"
| said Mr. Champion.
Lets have a look at the iigger."
said the Bounder, advancing: and sud-
denly became aware that he had met
| this obstructive person in brown be-
fore. He looked at the girl.
please let the gentleman see," said
the young lady quietly.
At that Mr.. Crampton's temper gave
way entirely. Very we'll. he said,
| quite Grossly. 81 understood I was to
mend your machine. I've wasted an
hour on it,"
STEADY on" said the Bounder very
quietly, bending down and looking at
the machine.
II didn't know YOU wanted to stop
every man that came along" said Mr..
Champion suddenly eXasparated to
insult.
"Steady on" said the Bounder again.
Mr.. Champion replied with a look Of
freezing contempt.
When YOU were rude to me-" said
the Bounder, looking up. ~ let you
alone. But If you're going to be rude
to this young lady, l shall just punch
year cad. See? I'm an engine-fitter.
and it don't take that to see you're
been pretty near knocking all the
quality out of a vally-ble machine"
Mr.. Champion was breathless with
anger.
I'm quite prepared to pay for any
damage I've DONE" he said.
Neither of them had the manners TO
answer, though he stood quite a min
ute. Trembling with indignation Mr..
Champion picked up his machine
mounted a little clumsly, and rode off
He rode very fast until he was round
the bend-just TO show how angry he
was. For a space he was boiling with
rage. Then he laughed aloud in a sar-
donic fashion. "Of all possible expert
ences" he said. "Ia! ha! And this
comes of trying TO help a fellow crea-
/ ture"
The sardonic mood remained. He
hated every human being in Crawley
both on the right-hand side and on the
left, Most of them, from their man
ner, seemed TO be aware of his recent
I indignities, lie rested at Crawley ar
hour hating people quietly but stead,
lily, and thinking OF alternatives TO his
, sayings and doing with the Boundel
and the young lady. II was when he
rode on again, and the sun was setting
A mile out of Crawley he came TO q
long dark hill Twilight came as sur.
prise, and with il came an acute sense
OF fatigue. He dismounted. Presently
hd mounted again, 1t was difficult tc
decide which progress was most trims
-afoot or awheel. And this was pleas.
ure! An acute realization of the In,