Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-30
The Patriotic Bicycle.
BIZ b. JAMES.

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handsome canoe to the owner of the wheel
that should be voted the most original
and artistic In decoration. This was =
new feature OF the Fourth OF July parade,
and one that flied the heart Of every boy
and girl In Stockton with hope: for nearly
every one had a bicycle and could ride
well. while canoes were few and far be-
tween. though in summer the river was the
loveliest place in the world for padding.
Eleanor West had no bicycle. which was
a great trial to her when all her friends
intended to compete for the canoe. But
her brother Bob had one. and he told
Eeanor that II she would think out q
clever plan for decorating his wheel. and
help him with It. she might have the canoe
IL he won.
oh. Bob. reallye" cried Eleanor ..You
are dear boy"
You always were smarter than /, Nell;
think up something out of the way. You
may have the glory and the canoe-f I
get them-and I'll have the fun
Up to the day before the Fourth Eleanor
had thought of nothing. Bob was dis
couraged. As last resort, on the even
ing OF the Sd. he went down the street
to buy some flags Only one or two large
ones were to be had in the town. much to
his disgust. and he went home cross. What
would the boys say II he backed down
now?
Don't cry before you are hurt" laughed
Eleanor. Before you are up tomorrow
morning your wheel will be dressed in full
Fourth Of July costume
This was hard to believe, but there was
nothing else to do. Eleanor would an
swer no questions and Bob went to bed
still cross.
When he came downstairs the next
morning, early as it was, Eleanor was
/ twining strings OF flrecrackers. neatly
twisted together by their fuses. about
the spokes and rods OF the wheel. taking
care, however, to. put them in no place
where they would hinder the progress of
the machine; large cannon cracker was
fastened upright to the handle bar. and on
each side Of it waved flag. There was
also complete suit OF red and white and
blue bunting for Bob. Altogether the
effect was odd and fantastic.
"Phew!" he cried, that's fne Nell! Ny
name IL not Bob West Il you don't have
the canoe for your trouble
II was afraid you might not like it, -
said Eleanor. II do Nope 1t will take the
prize, for Percy Bowers has been saying
all sorts of disagreeable things about your
wheel since ne heard you were going to
let me trim It, He declares he Is sure OF
the prize"
When all the bicyclists were ranged in
line waiting for the signal to start, Bobs
wheel rnked with Percy Bowers as the
most admired of ALL
Percy had spent a great deal of time
and thought decorating the two wheels Of
his machine with red, white and blue bunt-
ing. An eagle-shaped umbrella. with rib
bons and little flags flying from 1t in all
directions. was fastened to his handle bar.
and his costume was even more fantastic
than was Bob's. Percy was q beautiful
rider, while Bob was not, although he
rode quite as well as the average boy.
Other bicycles were decorated In every con-
ceivable manner. those covered with flowers
being very pretty indeed.
Eleanor's face fell when she saw Percy's
wheel He had an artists eye, and his
decorations were certainly more picturesque
than those she had planned, although hers
were surely novel
Percy had set his heart upon having the
canoe, more especially since Bob was AL
ways ahead OF him in school, and contin-
uaIly getting the prizes which he hoped
to gain AS the wheels and their owners
start, Percy scanned the wheel In front of
him and wished for moment that 1t
were at the bottom of the Red sea. 1t
seemed If Bob was always interfering
would certainly catch any ones eyes.
All! there was one way. Percys hand
stole stealthily under his flag costume Into
his pocket and came out with his fathers
matchsafe. There wasn't a moment to
lose. He glanced quickly at Bob. who
had turned his back, then scratched
match and, leaning forward. touched 1t to
the bunch of fuses hanging from each
for the signal to start was given. and
Bob was his wheel and away before
Percy realized what he had done.
Bob was a little nervous as he started.
But the shouts of the people who noticed
the smoking fuses made him confident.
Pop! Off went a frecracker almost under
hdm-some disagreeable boy had thought
to frighten him. Bang, . op! Bang. Was
the road covered with irecrackers! Bob
nearly lost what self possession he had
when he remembered that his wheel was
covered with firecrackers. The boys were
trying to tease him, but he wouldn't be
leased.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The firecrackers
popped merrly. The people began to laugh
and shout and clap their hands; the boy
gritted his teeth and kept the pedals going
Suppose the cannon cracker should go
off in his facet 1t must be thrown away
With clutch in the direction of the can
non cracker Bob pulled 1t off and was
about to throw 1t into the road when a
sudden thought struck him. BY careful
vancouver he leaned forward and lighted
the cannon cracker from small one that
was just sizzing UP its fuse. Then he
tossed 1t recklessly to one side, lust In
front of the judges of the parade. who, Of
course, took 1t a salute when in a
minute 1t exploded behind him.
Bangl Bangi Bang! went the crackers
and Bob's wheels went around mid a show
er Of applause; and swaying from side to
side. caused by his excitement simply
heightened the startling effect of the per-
Torrance.
The judges lost no time In deciding that
Bob had won the prize. and Eleanor was
wild with delight over the handsome canoe
OF course no one knew who mad lighted the
frecrackers. but Bob would not give .the
boys" whom he really thanked for 1t, the
satisfaction of knowing that he had been
surprised, and that the crackers were for
ornament and not for use.
1t was a bitter pill for Percy to swallow
later In the day when Eleanor launched
the canoe In the river Gen Montfort
slapped him on the back and said conso-
lingly:
IF that clever West boy had not thought
to light those hrecrackers you would have
had the canoe, Percy. Your decoration
was more artistic, but it was the novelty
In the firecrackers going of that won the
prize. Try again next time, my boy"
Garden Cities.
From Outdoors.
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