The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-25


things being due perhaps to several
of his contrivances going wrong at a
critical moment with more or less
demSralizing effect personal and other
wise.
So 1t was with sense Of impending
calamity that he uprighted the over
turned machine and gathering togeth-
er the remains Of the foodstuffs that
were worth taking, sadly wended his
way homeward.
Arriving there, his worst fears were
realized and his father concluded the
seance in the woodshed by threatening
to do terrible things to him If he
ever caught him on that pesky bike
again"
1t is unnecessary to relate that Billy
was sorely disappointed over the ter
mination Of the brilliant career Of the
baggage car"
1t was about two weeks later that
Billy, sleeping the sleep of the just,
was awakened in the dead of night
and told to go, as quick as his legs
would let him. for DR.. Roberts, as his
sister, Helen, had suddenly been taken
sick. Half awake he started to get
into his clothes, but by the time that
task was finished he was fully alive
to the situation. 1t was good mile
and a half to the doctors house, and
once outside he was about to start off
on the run when his thoughts reverted
to the baggage car"
IF only could use that" he mur-.
INJURED, I'D get there in a jiffy, but
pas forbid me to ride it, and Oh!
Gee! I'll take the chances anyway"
and he made dive for the barn. It
was dark, but Billy knew he could find
1t with his eyes shut, so that it wasn't
minutes before he was speeding down
the road as fast as he could pedal.
He was soon riding through the
dark and deserted streets of the vii
lsge and arriving at the doctors resi-
dence he made such good use Of the
night bell that he soon had the old
doctor up and had impaired his mes
sage to him. Having done his duty
he remounted his wheel for the return
trip, while the doctor prepared to visit
his patient.
There were two roads that led by
the Rawlin's homestead, one of
which was known as the front and
the other as the back road.
On coming to the village Billy had
taken the front road, but he decided to
return by the other, which left the vii
lage little further north, but there
was some good coasting on it, and
Billy certainly did like to coast.
He was riding along the main street
Of the village and was quite a little
ways from his goal yet when there
was flash of light which quickly
disappeared again. Puzzled, the young
inventor slackened his pace just as
the second flash came This time he
discovered where it came from, and
something else with it that caused
him to fall rather than jump from
his mount and sink down in the road
with terror, for in the momentary
flash, which was evidently from
dark lantern, he had just time to see
the upper part Of mans body in
front of safe in the building right
across the way. The mans face was
covered by a white piece of cloth
which effectually concealed his feat
ures, while his hands moved here and
there over the door Of the safe.
Gee Whit it's the Post Office am
they're robbing it, Whewi I'll have to
get out of this" he muttered. Slowly
he began creeping along the road
dragging his wheel after him. It was
ticklish work, but he got past the
store safely. There wasn't soul in
sight on the street and Billy felt a
wild desire to jump his iron steed and
put distance between himself and the
but he came from sturdy
stock This asserted itself and over
came his fear in a measure, but he
was at loss what to do. At length |
he decided on plan of action. Making
a wide detour he began a cautious ad.
vance on the north side of the Post
Office building. He was yet little
distance off when there was dull |
mufiied explosion. Immediately Billy |
dropped down behind a convenient
pulling his machine after |.
him, and it was good thing he did \
for a figure appeared in the shadow
Of the main building and looked eau
tiously around. Apparently satisfied
that no. one was disturbed by the ex-
plosion, the robber entered the build.
ing again and Billy, after few mo-
nisnts, began his interrupted advance,
still holding on to the Baggage Car.
At last he gained point from where
ne could view the interior Of the store
without much danger of being seen.
and he could just make out the figures
IF the two robbers bent over the con
-ents of the old safe that laid scat.
cred all over the Hoor.
The next few moments we're the
worst Billy ever put in; ne wavered
twixt running for help and running
or home. While yet in an undecided
state Of mind, there came a welcome
from up the road came
he unmistallable sounds Of horses
loofs, but faint as yet.