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

which was characteristic of him:
Gentlemen, beg to excuse me. /
have an enga cement 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 enlarging cone of light, like one
of those advertising devices then so
popular in London.
rs there plenty of oil in the lamp?'
"Yezzer."
1.-The repair kit and all the tools are
in the toolbag?"
"Yezzer"
"The machine is well oiled and the
tires pumped tight?"
HYeZzer."
"Well, / hope, for your sake, that
everything is right, for if it is not /
shall puncture you with my pistol and
Dictate you of life"
"Yezzer."
Richard flung the man 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 1G2, and swiftly disappeared into the
night. At the first street corner po-
liceman was waiting for him.
Turn it up! shouted the officer, en-
deavoring 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
replied:
"If you are referring to the light, 1
have pleasure in informing you that it
already complies with all the regula-
| tions."
The word had gone forth that at all
| hazards Dick Turpin was to be arrest
ed that night, so the policeman, bafied
| in attempting to stop him, shrilly blew
| his whistle, which had the immediate
effect of causing all the hanson cabs
| within hearing to concentrate rapidly
on the spot, and by the time the har-
assed officer had disentangled the traf-
fic Dick was we'll 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), and
| twelve of the record breakers were
| bending over handle bars in hot pursuit
of the fugitive. This superb body OF
men were astride the celebrated Klon-
| dixie bikes ('worth their weight in
gold;'' see ADVERTISEMENT, and the bet
ting was about even, although those in
the know freely offered two to one on
Dick.
The police rode Clincher tires, of
course. for clinching was their busi-
ness, while Dick preferred a Palmer,
for he had ever made his living by
the dropping of gold into his palm,
although he preferred single tube pis-
tol when taking up collection.
II shall break the record or my
peci.," muttered Dick as he sped
through the darkness. AS he glanced
over his shoulder at the foot of a hill
he saw dozen twinkling lights COM
ing over the brow behind him like a
constellation. Il hope every one l meet
will have a bright lamp and keep to his
own side of the road," and for the frsT
fime IN his bold life tremor of fear
thrilled the stalwart frame of the high
wayman, who well knew the predilec-
tion of the touring cyclist for racing
down part of the thoroughfare that
should be kept sacred for those going
in contrary direction.
Over the top of the next hill only
eleven lights glimmeFed. falling stead
lily to the rear; then but ten were yisi-
BILE, then nine, then eight.
81 knew those cops couldn't stand
that pace" muttered Turpin. sit re-
minds one of the rhyme of the nine lit
tie, eight little, seven little Injuns.'" +"
And he began to trill merrily the re-
fraIn, experiencing that exalted exhila-
ration which a true cyclist feels when
he is astride perfect silent wheel
spinning through the pure air of a
peaceful co1ntry. Since midnight only
one light followed him. but that hung
Cd with great persistence. Dick for a
moment thought of putting out his own
lamp. waiting for his lone pursuer and
pistollng him as he went by, but he re-
tiected that, after all, this was a mean
trick TO play on brother cyclist, for
Dick was not without that feeling of
fraternity which all genuine wheelmen
possess. So, wishing to do as he would
be done by, the .nerciful man dis
mounted. shipped asunder a strand OF
barbed wire that lined one side of the
road. pulled out staples until suffi-
cient length of the wire was set free,
drew it taught across the thoroughfare