Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-12-24
BY ROBERT BARR
Copyright, 1902, by Robert Barr
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

have an engagement elsewhere.
Mr.. Turpin then slipped out by the
back exit, where a hostler, true and
trusty, awaited him, holding the high
wayman's favorite mount, White
Wings. The night was pitch dark, but
the lamp of the machine threw forward
an ever charging cone of light, like one
of those advertising devices then SO
popular in London.
SIS there plenty Of oil in the lamp?'
"Yezzer."
"The repair kit and all the tools are
in the toolbag?"
"Yezzer."
"The machine is well oiled and the
tires pumped tight?"
"Yezzer."
"Well, 1 hope, for your sake. that
everything is right, for if it is not I
shall puncture you with my pistol and
debate you of life"
"Yezzer."
Richard flung the man q sovereign,
because, being a loyal man, he never
dealt in any coin under the rank that
designated the ruler Of the realm. He
mounted the wheel, which was geared
TO 162. and swiftly disappeared into the
| night. At the first street corner po-
liceman was waiting for him.
"Turn 1t up" shouted the officer, en-
deayorinp to perform for the intrepid
cyclist the action so tersely expressed
by the slang phrase he had just given
utterance to, but Dick, who had been
there before. deftly avoided him and
renlied:
OFF Won are referring to the light. 1
have pleasure in informing YOU that 1t
already complies with nil the reguIa-
tions,,
The word had gone forth that at all
hazards Dick Turpin was to be arrest
ed that night. so the policeman. baffled
in attempting to stop him. shrilly blew
his whistle. which had the immediate
effect of causing NIL the hanson cabs
within hearing to concentrate rapidly
on the SPOT. and by the time the har.
nssed officer had disentangled the traf
fic Dick was well on his way to the
Great North road.
But the shrill whistle had effect on
others than the cabbies. 1t was the
signal to the metropolitan brigade of
mounted police (cycle corps), an6
twelve of the record breakers were
bending over handle bars in hot pursuit
Of the fugitive. This superb body OF
men were astrlde the celebrated Klon
dixie bikes ("worth their weight il
gold;" see advertisement, and the bet
ting was about even, although those II
the know freely offered two to one OF
Dick.
The police rode Clincher tires, d
course, for clinching was their busi
ness, While Dick preferred Palmer
for he had ever made his living by
the dropping of gold into his palm
although he preferred a single tube PTS
tol when taking up collection.
Il shall break the record or m!
neck" muttered DICK as he spet
through the darkness. AS ne glanced
over his shoulder at the foot of hill
he saw dozen twlnkllng lights com
ing over the brow behind him like
constellation. Il hope every one ! NEE
will have bright lamp and keep to hi
own side of the road" and for the frs
time in his bold life tremor OF fea
thrilled the stalwart frame of the higt
wayman, who well knew the predilee
ton of the touring cyclist for racin
down-a part of the thoroughfare tina
should be kept sacred for those goin
in a contrary direction.
| Over the top of the next hill onl
eleven lights glimmered, falling stead
lily to the rear; then but ten We're Wis
~ ,.nan, t,,osn cons ao,,5n,+ s+on
,,o+ Aaoon n,,,ttoraI 1,,,rrin ..I+ -
n 20 .,,a ,,,,,,,,,o - ILL., .,,;,,o II,
na a;nht S;t+,a sava1, lit+ia Ininns
~, ,sa ,,onar ~ +r;ii r,ar,,,r tho -.
foot, oxna,iar,;,,r +i,o+ aro,tod a,hi,,
,,,tio, ,r,i,;e,,, , two ovo1;s+ FOOLS ,yI,o
No ;s os.t,.;do norfao+ s;,on+ Who,
sn;rninn +hro,ah tho nnra dir of
,,nnaaf,,7 ,,s+.., s;n ,;d,;o,+ ~,
- es,,' 80. - - -
~ -.,i.,, .noat ,,oa,istanoo n,a,, fan
anant t,,o,'a,,t 80 ,,,,tt;ns, o,,t h;s, Nv,
,amn ,raitina ron NC ,ana ,,,ms,,o,. = :,
; ,,;stni,no. h;n, nc ho ,,ant Nv ,,,,t ho =,
I pootod t,,o+ fton 81, +t,;s, 49, 80
,riol- 70 ,,,o, IN hrothor oro,;st e.
Mol. vos not without tba+ sealina :
, fratarn,tv Which olI gonn;no w,,aol,no
nossass So wishing 10 do a, no ,vonI
ha done Inv tha ,nercifrI man al
mountod sninnod ,sundar strond
J horhod VINO tbo+ ,inod ono s;do of ~
, road nnlled out st,nlas nntil a suf,
cient length of the wire was sat fro
drew # tourht across the thoronohfa,
}
ana tied the loose END OF the wire to
STAKE Oh the opposite SIDE OF the higl
way.
henouhting' ne Journeyed on towar