The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1905-03-04
) . . . . y y y d
Pluck, Romance
and sAd0enture.
q q q q q q q q c
| RACE FOR LIFE.

A RACE FOE LIFE.
A01A HE hottest race ever had, y
& remarked old Jim Mace. In
q n the Powers Hotel lobby re-
Il 4 Gently, just before leaving
0R for the st. Louis Exposi-
4ion. was up near the Rangeley Lakes.
Maine, when my chum, Kinman, and
myself rode out ON our wheels to snap
q few pictures Of the old Thomas place.
q deserted country house built years
hack by wealthy bachelor. He had
laid out . private race track and had
.astealshed the natives In his Day, but
now the house 10 seldom visited snd
the little track IL almost forgotten. We
had wheeled along 4 grass-grown road
hunting for the place. when big
hull moose jumped out into the road.
and Klnman thought II would be funny
- SCARF him BY ringing his bell.
'The result surpassed expectation.
with one snort Of rage the moose
Jumped into the road. and after stamp
iAg his sharp hoofs Into the turf for
n few seconds. sprans toward us. l
picked up the pace set BY Kinman, who
vas rod ahead. We each had mar
row rut, burned iron hard by the sun,
Aad in these we spun along, bending
low to keep our eyes open for obstacles.
We made turn In the road, careening
over to an abominable angle, and then
straishtened up for the stralghtaway
stretch. Ny heart sank as saw 200
, reda ahead that the road led up hill,
with open country on either side. -
flames. shouted Kinman. under his
A, left arm, and caught q glimpse Of a
/ big, tumbled down structure cut out in
/, the skyline.
II overheard my friend 40 felt the
moose almost upon me, and we jumped
. our machines for all We were worth.
A spill would cost us al. The dead
grass hung over the ruts in places 30 as
70 reader our pathways unseen. and at
any minute expected to strike rock
or wAsisout and 70 down in heap.
"'Ts the right. screamed Kinman.
letting ont = kink and jumping bis
wheel over 4 narrow ditch to pass
through an opening In q ragged board
fence.
"Instinctiveiy followed him, and
before I knew II found myself skim
sming along on 4 smooth speedway.
1.-The old race track painted Kin
man, a. We Jew by the low bushes.
THE moose had paused when We
took the field, but now was hot OIL our
trail. II the roadway was better for
~. - It was for him: looking over my
sbouldef At the first quarter saw him
hugging the pole and bearing down Ike
IN express train. Fortunately for MS,
30 had won some renown as sprlnters.
and gripping the handle bars We began.
To chow the moose fancy pace. Soon
Ne were At the opening. but Kinman
cried ont, Keep on and knew with
seat heinG told. that tos.take the road
Ag1ln meant suicide. Besides. I think
We both began to enjoy the situation a
bit The moose, while doing his best,
could not catch up with us, although
he held his own nicely. The only ques-
don was, would our endurance outlast
his tenacity! 1f5
az don't hear him, I cried, and We
both slowed up. 47
".Guess he's got enough gasped
KInman, wiping the sweat from his
eyes. Then he shr.eked, Turn! turn
and 1 caught the thunder Of hoofs
ahead. i
1.-THE moose had turned and had gone
around to meet us,
"Just AZ he ,oomsd in sight we swung
about and dew for life. His little trick
nearly succeeded. for his momentum
was 20 great that he nearly had Us
before we could get back Into cur old
dorm. For quarter OF mile 1t was
NIP and tuck whether he would end the
race or We should get clear. Then he
grew disgusted. and lost ground and
we drew away. But the fun Of the
thing was gone now. He wasn't play
ing fair. His tricky disposition to cut
bases and lay ambuscades made us
sweat with a new fear. and no more
did we try to draw out Of sight.
Hes turned again. I warned.
"sAfter him! cried Kinman, and
wheeling about we caught back until
we caught sight OF his tanks.
"It was grimly humorous, this new
deal. and again did our spirits rise.
Ktnman wanted to boot at the animal.
to make him more angry. hut OBJ
5ected. The moose was matching his
cunning against ours. and just now we
were out-pointing him. did not care
to lose the advantage for the sake of
evinclug our derisioa. But as he cir
.cled around and met no bicyclists he
became more enraged. He shook hi.
ausiers and 'woofed' in anger. Our
wheels made only faint burning
sound, as II some one were tearing of
innumerabie yards of cloth. Suddenly
the moose paused, plowed up the gravel
and caught sight Of M. Quick AS a cat
he pivoted. and away We went again
this time in the lead.
taThen he stopped. and we cautiously
wheeled back to find him. We crep,
half way around the track, and yet We
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