The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-05-23

pu lle ioitu. EefudpS you nave purse
/ shall be happy to relieve you of the
care which it causes you"
After a good deal of searching about
the folds of her dress the young wo.
man at last found her pocket and drew
from it a purse, which she handed to
Dick, saying, with sigh:
''It contains f21."
81 accept it with as much gratitude
believe me, madam, as if it contained a
thousand. The bicycle you ride I will
leave with you, as would not be found
in the possession of such machine al
any price"
SIR she cried, and for the first time
during their colloquy there was trace
of indignation in her voice. II would
have you know that this is a Sweet
Violet machine, the very best in the
market. The agent who sold it to me
himself assured me of that"
"You should pay no attention to the
ridiculous statements of interested par
ties. There is only one machine made
in England, and that is the renowned
White Wings, made by a Coventry com.
pany Qimited) of that name, formed
last season, highly overcapitaliZed, by
my respected fellow worker Howley.
Alas that l took to the road instead of
going into the company promoting busi-
ness! Where l take a pound he loots
thousands. Still have the proud con-
sciousness of being in the more honest
line of trade. After all, clear con-
science is worth something"
is that White Wings you are rid
ing?'
sit is, madam, and to its perfection ]
owe the pleasure of this privileged in
terview. Last night outrode twelve
Klondikes"
'T should have thought you would
have gone in for a chainless safety
nurmured the girl dreamily.
'Whatp roared Dick, forgetting for
the time that he stood in the presence
of a lady and for a moment losing his
temper. 81 thought you were young
person of some sense, even if you did
ride a Sweet Violet, but such an incon-
siderate remark shows
"I am afraid, sir, you do not quite
comprehend me. If you are caught,
you will be hung in chains. Therefore
l should suppose that you would pre-
fer the safety of chainless life to the
ignomy Of a death in chains"
ooh, ha, haw laughed Dick. ''I didn't
see that. Very good, indeed. must
remember that joke and tell it to the
boys in the club"
"It is a perfectly lovely machine,
that White Wings of yours" the lady
continued, regarding Dicks mount
with enhancing eyes, while he stood
aside from it and held it at arms
length that she might the better ad-
mire it's proportions. II would get one
for myself if they weren't so dear"
ooh, the first cost of an article Is
nothing when you get just what you
want. If the police are ever after you,
you will not regret the initial expendi-
ture."
81 would have you know" replied
the young lady, drawing herself up
proudly, that I have 40 followers
among the force"
II wish I could say as much," said
Turpin bitterly.
"What did you pay for your most ex-
cellent wheelw
"This stood me in at f21. At least
that's what the man from whom took
it said it cost"
III / had that f21 you are taking
care of for me, 1 would go at once and
invest it in White Wings"
"Would you?" cried Dick, with en-
thusiasm, for his weakest point was
always his gallantry and his next
weakest his loyalty to his own make
of wheel. "Then allow me to have the
pleasure of handing back your money"
''Thank you kindly" said the girl
sweetly as she put her purse in her
pocket. She sprang on her wheel and
cried over her shoulder, II think those
are two policemen approaching down
the road; better not follow me, but do
some scorchipg toward York"
Dick saw that he had already lost
too much time, yet he stood there hesi-
tating, wondering if, after all, he had
not been befooled somehow. 1t was al
ways thus with the tender hearted
man. His honesty was forever being
taken advantage Of by the unscrupu-
lous of the opposite sex. He mounted
his machine and finished his journey
to York, poorer man by f21 than he
had been at one point on the journey.