The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-12
A Borrowed Bicycle.

I
village of Winthrop. Tackled to the
schoolhouse door, in the postoffice and
on the guide-post, at the four corners
leading from the village, was the fol-
lowing notice:
BICYCLE RACEi
Bicycle race. next Saturday, from
Wolf Neck bridge TO Saunders hill.
First prize, $40; second prize, IS. Any
boy under 16, living at Winthrop, may
enter the contest. Bring out your
wheels for lively spin!
RICHARD HOLMAN.
"One of the new boarders at the
Willows!" exclaimed Carl Andrews,
reading the signature at the bottom Of
the plainly printed card,
Hes the one who offered the prize
for the best reader in the Wayne dis
trict, last fall" added Harold Dix by
way of explanation.
Anyhow, he's dandy!" and Carl
turned again to the posted notice
wonder who'll get it"
You will, of course-one of them, !"
replied Harold, throwing his arm
around his friends shoulders. you
are the best rider in town."
Il don't know about that, said Carl.
slowly There's Guy Wilson; he'll
give anyone, | don't care who it is, a
pretty hard push. But | tell you, ia
like to get that ten dollars, though!
With it I'd have almost enough to buy
the typewriter, and then | could get
lots to do down in the village, copying
for folks! My! I'll try it, and if Guy
Wilson gets it I won't be Carl An
drews' fault"
For the next two weeks the coming
bicycle race was the only talk of the
village. Morning, afternoon and even
ing the level stretch from Wolf Neck
bridge to Saunders hill was alive with
Winthrop boys, determined on winning
one of the prizes, if vigorous practice
could do it.
Wonder why Carl Andrews doesn't
come out; anyone know whether he in
tends to try for it?' and The little fat
grocer turned expectantly to group
Of boys who stood resting near by on
their handle-bars.
"Oh, think SO; guess he does his
practice over on the river road--it's
pretty level there"
And such was the case. An hour
every morning and evening Carl de-
voted to persistent practice where, as
he declared, he could furnish his own
criticism and advice.
How does your wheel work?" asked
Uncle Frank one evening, week be-
fore the race.
Fairly well. though it isn't the lat
est model by any means"
How'd you like to use mine on Sat
urday?"
Uncle Franks was a new chainless,
the envy and admiration of half the
boys in town.
"Yours!" Carl exclaimed incredu-
lously. "Myl I guess with that could
win, but of course it's out of the ques-
ton"
q don't know about that; I'm going
to offer it to you, anyway"
Really" and visions of typewrit-
ars began to present themselves in
rapid succession for Carts choice.
Yes, and from now on you can prac-
tice with it, only don't take it out in
the evening. There's plenty of time
during the day. AT night there's more
or less danger of running into some
thing and puncturing the tires"
1T goes just like a bird" declared
Carl to Harold, Friday afternoon, "and
I'm almost sure TO win. I've been
watching the boys for two or three
days. and they're way off-can't come
up with the chainless."
That evening Uncle Frank drove
over to Paris.
go to bed early, Carl, and be ready
for tomorrow" he called. as he drove
from the yard.
All right" and Carl went to take a
goodnight look at his chainless friend. |
1t was a beautiful moonlight even
ing
II must take just one more ride
Mullc uUDOuy lucISt Sdlu OtiIl W \
himself. Uncle Frank wouldn't care
t-this-once"
Late In the afternoon a load of rub
bish had been driven out to the dump, |
and bottia had fallen unnoticed from
the cart. A farm wagon going by had
passed over it, leaving ugly pieces of
glass scattered along the roadside.
The ar was cool. and the roads
lust perfect" thought Carl, as he spun
along on the borrowed" wheel.
What was that?" He stopped his
wheel almost instantly. Il thought /
IAN over some glass"
Carl breathed more easily on finding
he bicycle apparently uninjured.
Guess l won't go any farther-Un-
lie Frank wouldn't like it,, and Carl
hurried back to the house with a guilty
ceiling he couldn't throw off. wish |
hadn't done it." he said, as he leaned
he wheel in its accustomed rack.
They're a fne-looking line" de-