The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-26


] der loan of der price of a dinner? Ten
cents'll do me. Chez, here's w'ot shows
I'm all right. See me bank book!"
Joe pulled out a grimy envelope that
contained his passbook on the Dime
Savings Bank of New York.
ITS all right, my son." said the tall
man. Il don't need to see that.
| Here's a dollar and you give me your
New York address and be sure you're
careful of the wheel lend you. Don't
try any monkey business with it and
keep it oiled. Let me know when
you're coming back and I'll be down
at the station to get the wheel. That
is, supposiHg you frind your friend
and your ticket. Otherwise you can
wheel back here and well see what we
can do; might want to hire you"
"W'ot, so far from Moo York? Not
on YOUR life. boss"
We'll, all right. 1 expect you to
pay back the dollar, but won't charge
you anything for the wheel. Only re-
member to pass it along"
"W'ot the weel?" asked Joe mis-
chevously
NO; if you get chance to do some
fellow that's lost his train a good turn
you do it or I'll be sorry l helped you
A few minutes later Joe, with MI
mute directions how to get to Buffalo
in his sharp little brain, wheeled out
of Helion and struck the high road at
a good gait. He had never owned a
wheel. of course. but there are few
city street boys that can't do tricks
on a wheel that would shame a man
who learned to ride when 'safety
wheels" were invented.
Joe was destined to get to Buffalo
after all and as he supposed by means
of his wheel but the best wheelmen
have accidents sometimes and Joe was
no exception to this rule. He was
riding at a high rate of speed, when
he turned a sharp corner just as a
red automobile of the French type
came along like an express train. The
chauffeur shouted but it was too late.
Joe and the machine were tossed into
the air. Joe stadd up but the wheel
came down a shapeless mass. Joe had
lodged in tree and strange to say
save for a cut on his forehead and a
bruised shin, he was unhurt. But the
wheel was a wreck.
Joe was so caught in the tree that
he could not get down without assist
ance, but the automobilist came to his
assistance and helped him down. He
gritted his teeth for the pain of the
flesh wound was keen, but he did not
cry until he looked at the wheel and
saw that it was twisted out of all
shape. Then the tears came.
The automobile had sustained no
damage. An elephant can run down a
mouse with impunity. The owner of
the racing machine led Joe to it and
between his sobs he told his story
Der blolSie was wife an he gil me a
chanst ter git ter Buffalo an now see
der w'eel. 1t looks like t'irty cents.
An 1 amt got no money to pay der
man.
We'll, that part will be all right
Johnny. I fancy I was coming at lit
tie too fast a clip. You see didn't ex-
pect to meet anybody at this point in
the road. Now what do you want to
do, go back to Helion and let me pay
your friend for his wheel or do you
want me to take you to Buffalo? ?"
Joe thought minute and then he de-
cided for Buffalo.
"Youse can send him check fer der
weel," said he in a matter-of-fact way,
"an' I can hunt up Jim
And as he had chosen so it was done.
Joe for the first time in his life rode in
an automobile. The remains of the
him and the owner and the chauffeur
sat in front and they ran into Buff
falo in less than an hour.
1t was dark when they reached the
city, and the automobilist, Mr.. Dens-
low, insisted on giving Joe a dinner
| and putting him up for the night at
his own house. He also saw to his cuts
and bruises and Joe slept in a soft and
| elegant bed just as soundly as If he
had been on his own shakedown in Mrs.
| Clancy's kitchen.
In the morning Mr.. Denslow gave
him so cents and told him to make mis-
place headquarters until he found his
friends.
And Joe was almost sorry when he
| finally ran into them, he was having
such a glorious time.