The suburban citizen., 1902-05-03

paciAg machine. Carl's head was bent
low over the handle bars. The cab sud.
denly turned round a corner into an.
other street. The bicycle turned also,
but with disastrous results.
In his excitement Carl had forgotten
the slippery condition of the asphalt.
or he would not have tried to turn so
sharp. AS it was his bicycle wabbled
and slid and fell, and he and it to.
gether whirled. a heap Of wheels and
legs, up the avenue, leaving wide
swath like the path of a street sweeper.
Mr.. Barker heard the fall and leaned
back comfortably against the cushions,
mutterlng, "There, l guess that will
settle that lmpertnent young chapw
The horses We're checked and allowed
to continue at a gentle trot, for the
race was over
That is, Mr.. Barker and his man
thought so. As for Carl, he had not
rs yet. had an opportunity to think at
all At length, however, he and his
wheel came to a stop. The world
ceased spinning around, and he arose
with no bones broken, although he
was plastered and smeared from head
to foot, so that he looked like an ami.
mated clay model.
Here was a third excellent reason
to present for not serving the subpoena,
Surely he had done everything that
could be done. But even while rolling
along the street Carts determination
mad not wavered.
AS he rose to his feet he paused but
moment, then he dragged the bicy.
Gle TO a curb where he left and dashed
into n narrow passageway between the
buildings. He was familiar with the
place, and knew that the cab If 1t
kept straight on to the station, would,
after driving down the side of the
block, turn into another street and
pass the other end of the alley.
His guess as to its course was cor,
rect, for just before he reached the
end of the passage be saw the cab
trundle by at an easy pace. He
crouched close TO the wall until 1t was
safely past, and neither Mr.. Barker
nor his cabman noticed him.
Then he darted out, seized the rear
spring of the conveyance, threw his
legs over the axle, and hanging down
out of sight Of the occupant, rode safe.
ly along with Mr.. Barker and at his
expense.
Undignifed, uncomfortable! Yes,
but effective, and Carl was thinking
only OF results
On they went Mr.. Barker and his
man, ignorant OF the boy under the
cab, were quite at ease, and Carl, al.
though very much cramped and jolted,
was quite as contented as the others.
"Ha" thought Mr.. Barker, bouncing
comfortably on the cushions. Il
guess they will have to be a little
sharper than that. 1t will teach them
better than to send boy after me-"
"Ouchw calculated Carl, shifting his
weight to the other leg as an extra
jolt bumped the axle uncomfortably
under his knee, IL don't believe like
this kind of lower berth" Then, with
a smile, "but l couldn't think of leav-
ing Mr.. Barker"
At length the driver pulled up his
horses at the station Mr.. Barker,
well satisfied with himself, stepped out
Of the cab He closed the door, looked
up at the driver and smiled a knowing
smile. The driver smiled back at Mr..
Barker. A muddy, bedraggled scare
crow OF a boy got down from the run.
ming gear, stepped round the side of
the cab, and seeing the exchange of
glances between the two men, and
observing that smiling seemed to be
in order, also smiled.
From these smiles It might be in
ferred that everybody was perfectly
happy, and that everything had turned
out to the intense satisfaction of every
one concerned, but when the driver
saw the apparition in mud standing
behind his customer he nearly toppled
from his seat His eyes grew round
and the lines nearly fell from his
hands.
Mr. Barker turned to learn the
cause Of the mans dismay and found
himself confronted with a paper held
In an extended. dirt-begrimmed hand.
Before he realized the situation he
had taken the paper, and as he felt
the touch Of silver in his hand he heard
a voice say;
THAT is your subpoena and this is
your fee, Mr.. Barker 1 would have
given it to you sooner, but you seemed
to be in a hurry"
That is how Carl won the verdict
for the plaintiff in Johnson versus
Long, for Mr.. Barker's unwilling evi-
dence was sufficient to decide the
case.-YOuth's Companion.
Your Successful Old Playmate.
Nvhnrn rrn,t Imam "a n hnr. Al. ~, n =,