Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1911-11-24


The firm of Grubb & Smaliways,
formerly Grubb, had indeed been sin
gularly unlucky i'll the last year or SO.
The motorcycle business was very dull.
But it is Il poor heart that never r.
joices. and Whitsuntide had an air of
coming as an agreeable break in the
business complications of Grubb &
Smallways. They decided to ignore
the hiring trade on Sunday and devote
that day to much needed relaxation.
1t happened that they made the ac-
quaintance of two young ladies in en-
ployment in Clapham. Miss Flossir
Bright and Miss Edna Bunthorne, and
it was resolved, therefore, to make IA
cheerful little cycist party of four
into the heart of Kent.
Miss Bright could ride a bicycle. and
machine was found for her. Miss
Bunthorne, whom Bert particularly af-
fected. could not ride. and so with
some difficulty he hired Il basketwork
trailer from the big business of Wrays.
in the Clapham road
In the evening about { the party
turned homeward. expecting no dlsas-
ter. and it was only ON the crest of
the downs between Wrotham and
Kingsdown that disaster came. They
had scorched past Il number of cyclists
and by Il four wheeled motorcar Of
the old style lamed by q debated tire
Some dust had penetrated Bert's horn.
and the result was curious. amusing.
wheeling sound had got into his "honk,
honk." For the sake of merriment and
glory he was making this sound as
much as possible, and Edna was In
fits of laughter in the trailer She did
notice a good lot of blush. evil smell
ing smoke coming from about the bear
ings between his feet. but she thought
this was one of the natural concomi-
tants of motor traction and troubled
no more about it until abruptly it burst
into little yellow tipped fame.
BERT she screamed.
But Bert had put on the brakes with
such suddenness that she found her
self involved with his leg as he dis
mounted. She got to the side of the
road and hastily readjusted her hat,
which had suffered.
Cav" said Bert
He stood for some fatal seconds
watching the petrol drip and catch.
and the flame. which was now begin
ming to smell of enamel as we'll as oil,
spread and grew.
"a m mo
ped in CONSERVATION. A tall, goggled,
gray haired man who was driving in
quired with an Oxford intonation and
Il clear, careful enunciation. Can we
help at all:"
An earnest looking man in very
light gray cycling suit had suddenly
appeared mt the side of the lame motor
car and addressed the owner
Have YOU 4 tarpaulin?" he said.
The gentlemanly man. with feeble
and deprecatory gestures and in the
manner of hypnotized person, pro-
duced an excellent large tarpaulin.
"Hcre!' cried the earnest looking
man to Grubb, "Ketch hold"
The tarpaulin was held over the
burning bicycle like Il canopy and then
smothered down upon it. There was a
moment of triumph. but in the end the
flames conquered.
Save the trailer.' cried some one
and that was the last round in the
battle. But the trailer could not be
detached: its wickerwork had caught.
and it was the last thing to burn. A
sort of hush fell upon the gathering.
The petrol burnt low: the wickerwork
trailer banged and cracked.
I'm afraid" said the gentleman of
the motorcar, my tarpaulin's a bit
done for"
Bert was reused to action. Look
here" he said. There's nv young
lady. If she amt 'ome by 10 they
lock her out. See? Well all NV
money was in my jacket pocket. and
it's all mixed up with the burnt stuff.
and that's too 'ot to touch. Is Clap
ham out of your way"'
"All in the days work" said the
gentleman with the motorcar an!
I'm tnI ~. Il ..yr