Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-12

Inc incident lett q strongly I'M
pleasant impression upon Edward
Fosters mind. The presidents author
sly over all aquatic matters connected
With tho Slowe had 30 long been I'M
questioned that the strangers asser.
iion of Independence came as a shock
He felt that he had been "set down"
and called to order over an element
cry law regulating the traffic Of the
riNer-actually told by implication to
keep on the right side.
For a while Edward Foster let
things drift, fervently hoping that the
tricycle. might come to a smash and
the river be freed Of a nuisance that
he could not see his way to check.
Then people began to make a griev-
ance OF the presidents inaction. The
finest regatta that they had had for
years was rapidly drawing nigh.
everybody knew that the attendance
would be exceptional owing to an I'M
usually valuable prize list and the
country crowd that would be attracted
ior the menagerie and circus adver-
Used to arrive in Salsey upon the
rame date. 1t would be intolerable IL
the man, Davis, were allowed to tri-
cycle here, there. and everywhere
over the river as he affirmed that he
intended to do. There would be an
rccident There must be an accident.
Mr.. Foster should really move in the
matter.
"All very fnel But howl What
can | do?' the president grumbled.
The man does not care a tinkers
curse for you, or me, or anybody"
People, being irresponsible. were
not satisfied The president, being
president, ought to move somehow in
The matter At length Edward Foster
determined to send an official letter
10 the delinquent. An answer came
Jack by return of post.
Mr.. Davis was of the opinion that
people we're envious of his novelty,
and that they exaggerated. If Mr.,
Foster was not aware Of the fact, as
MS letter would seem to imply, and
would refer to the Regatta Subscrip-
ton List he would fird that Mr.. Davis
was q subscriber, and so had a moral
right to be present at the regatta
The president of the Salsey Rowing
Club brooded over this reply for two
days. Then he went to Bonsors and
called one of the watermen aside.
Bill" he said, Il am hiring the Jane
for regatta day. l shall want you Just
before the Salsey's Schools race
comes of to row Miss Foster in her
away from this part of the river
down to the first lock"
The Schools race is, for local
reasons always the great event OF
q salsey Regatta It attracts the atten.
tion Of the crowd more than any other
.1rfnfn - In A
citing moment when the course op-
posite 10 Bonsors was about to be
cleared for the great race the presi.
dent intended to foul Mr. Davis's tri.
cycle with a dinghy. so skillfully that
the c0okney would be covered with
public ohloquy as a careless, reckless
fool who has at last received what be
deservcd-a wellmcrited upset and
duchng.
A gray stone bridge, VITA several
arches, crosses tho river hundred
yards below Bonsors boatyard The
stream widens beyond the bridge. run
mig by a fne promenade upon the left
20 q terminal lock Halfway between
che bridge and the latter another side
lock on the right gives access to a
lower river Il was toward this side
began TO row Miss Foster upon the
day Of the regatta. just before the
course was cleared for the Salscy
Schools race. The river was crowd
I'd with pleasure boats Their pro
gress was slow as Edward Foster
watched them from the midst Of 3
gayly-dTessed crowd at Bonsors. Al
length they disar feared out Of sigh
under an arch Of ne bridge and. Ed
ward Foster Immediately stepped into
q dinghy that was being held ready
for him at the wharf by a waterman
"Shall I shove yer off, sir?" the man
asked.
The brass band Of a circus and me
nagerie was playing noisily and in g
feld behind BonsOr's yaru. What
no, not yet. Hold On bit, the pres
iient replied.
A minute passed. Suddenly, Mr.
Davis's motor-tricycie rolled fortl
rom an arch of the distant bridge
trumpeting discordaat staccatO warn
ings TO the crowd OF boats and begaI
90 dodge its way in and out of then
toward Bonsor's. "Ail right. Shov,
outl" said the president, sharply
catching sight of Il.
The waterman obeyed, pressin'
hard upon the outrigger, and after
ward hand over hand along the lengtl
II a scull. The light craft yielde,
steadily outward til there was waite
enough for the president to talk
a stroke. A glance over his shoulde
Lold him that the tricycle. was ad
gancing rapidly. We must be quick
He began to head the boat hastil,
round into position that would en-
able him, after taking a few strokes
TO deliver a slanting blow into tn
wheel OF the tricycle. as it passed
Presently another glance behind toll
him that the reyolut on was satisfaC
torily completed. 4 weak man woul
now have dashed forward. But tn
presidents nerves were of STEEL HI
saw that he must wait five second
or more for the advance of a heav,
, family boat The blow, delivere
from behind this, would make the tn
cyclist appear mere plausibly in tn
wrong. One, two, three seconds ha
, passed. The president leaned for
ward. His blue eyes cleaned
But the stroke vas never take,
that would have launched him at tn
tricyolist The PRESIDENT purpose wa
! suddenly distracted by an outburst O