The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-23

Highway Robbcr.
BY 2. Y. Black.
l.
Weldon and May came down to the
breakfast room Of the little hotel at al
most the same moment and together rev
eled in the cool fragrance OF the early
morning
II vote we start right off said Weldon.
I'm this bracng air We should make Cape
Town easily by Lunch time"
Il don't know about that" May. who
knew the land, answered. 'Its not more
than forty miles, but. you know, as we
near the bay the roads are pretty rough
| traveling-any amount OF hills, ana our
South African roads are not laid out like
your roads round New York ana other big
cities, to tempt wheelmen. Wen be doing
well if we get in in time for bath be-
fore supper"
"Whew' You must expect to walk half
the way?"
That's about It," said May, "but never
mind, it's the finest scenery in the world"
HIN, wait until you come to America.
I suppose, now. you couldn't scare up
lion or something to make the scene more
interesting. This is my last days ride,
you know and, really. you ought TO dig
| out something sensational something
| South African"
Far too far south for lions or big
| game, old man." said the Afrikandor.
| I'VE may sight a deer or SO, but ! can
| promise nothing more hair-raising unless
you care for balloons. There are few
hands of them between us and Cape Town,
| l believe"
! Monkeys? Pshaw." said Weldon
they're beneath notice. I did hope to
| meet lion in the path. All breakfast"
| The young Afrikander and his visitor
! the American, were quickly out after a
! good meal to overhaul like experienced
riders, their bicycles before starting on
! their last days ride Of their holiday. May
! frowned when he discovered a big KafHr
! bus.ly cleaning his wheel without orders
/ A Kaffr is not usually skilled in cycles
ana more apt to mar than mend when
| he ignorantly NEEDLES with them May
! pushed him aside roughly, and the next'
instant, as the Kaffir faced him, made a
| dash for him.
Hold him, Weldon" he cried, and at
! the shout there came running the Dutch
| landlady and other black servants from
the roadside inn. The Kaffir, however.
was slippery as a snake, twisted out of
| Mays hands, and dashed into the woods
about the hotel like a fox.
What was the matter?" cried the sur
! prised spectators.
"The rascalr cried May "That fellow
worked in my fathers store in Cape
Town, and is wanted for theft. don't
! suppose he Will come back, but, If he
does there's a reward offered for him az
| police headquarters. What was he doing
with the bicycles?"
He clean for baas," a servant volun-
tered but May examined their machines
with some anxiety. IL Is not good thing
| to have one $ wheel cleaned by rascals
when a long lonely ride on rough little
| Travelled road is in front. But the young
men could find nothing wrong.
He had no time" said the landady re-
assuringly. He only knew this morning
the baas was here. and asked me which
| way thesbaas was going. He went to the
/ baas wheels to clean them, but l sent him
! to his own work, and that was only ten
/ minutes ago. So the rascal had no time
! TO hurt them"
"Oh! He knew I was here. did he?"
May asked. did he see us last night?"
"When the baas paid the bill before GO
ing to breakfast this morning"
There's something funny about that"
| said May to Weldon as they rode away to-
! gether in the glorious morning. "If the
/ beggar saw me he must have recognized
me, and one would think would keep out
of my road His was daring robbery with
| assault on the Waterman, and I'd certain
! ly hand him over to the police If / caught
him. Fancy his impudence Starting to
| clean my WHEEL"
ITO tamper with it," said May. THAT
was his game. l guess-perhaps to be re-
venRed on you, but more likely"
'FWhat?" "Well, you say it is a lonely
rough road. Perhaps your Kaflr would
! have liked us to walk when our wheels
| broke down, especially as he saw you pay
the bill, and knew you had money on
you"
Il didn't think Of that" said Weldon.
However, no harm is done-he didn't have
time"
They sped away, their knapsacks on
| their backs, at a good pace across a lovely
country. and. in the bright morning air Of
that wonderful climate, soon forgot all
| about the Kaffir thief. For while. after
leaving the inn, the road ran smoothly and
on fairly level grade round the broad
shoulder of the mountain.
Fairly good road" said May, but II
makes our way much longer. Across the
mountain would shorten 1t by two-thirds."
"The usual path for foot passengers, 1
suppose, but rather impossible for wheel
men," said the other. Now we're COM
ing to a bad piece"
As one approaches Table bay from the
inland, great mountains guard the water.
Through these are numerous passes call
ed "Kloofs." and, while the scenery along
them IS Of the grandest they arc hard
roads for cyclists to tackle. The riders
were now well into the hills, and the
American found, to his disgust, that he
had to spend as much time pushing his
wheel as In the saddle, The sun, also, was
now noon high, and the friends grew 81
lent mopping their brows, as they climb
ed the winding roads Of the Kloof. At one
OF these ascents. May dragged a long way
behind, and Weldon reached the top far IN
advance OF his chum. He sat down to rest
and enjoy the shade Of tree, and, as he
threw himself on his back, he glanced at
the surrounding country It was a COM
paratively bare spot he was on. The woods
| ceased for a space, and a stretch of moor
land spread broadly out. This was dotted
with big back and gray, fungus
| speckled boulders. and seemed
/ dreary waste. Weldon cast his eyes over
il before he lay down, lighting his pipe.
and saw no manner OF living thing