THE NEW BIKE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 15

THE NEW BIKE

1 ■ "Munimie, may Igo for a ride on my :biko, and- take Dash?" -• . lUoggie was very proud of his bicycle, - ■■which ho, hadronly had a short timo. * vfMui^inie looked;1 up. from the sock' she ; ',';'-v ;jxv-a^idatnirigi -and Dash; wagged his .; Btiiiup 6fi a tail. s:' •' Y-ycg, dear,''. answered mumniie, rather doubtfully^ ''but you must remeinber'to ride very slowly "if "you take! Dash, because; it Js cruel to make dog*; . giosrun hard- all-tho time, you' know. And don't go "far;" ' ■ :"/-■' ■'■ "All right, mumniie. Ta-ta!",And Reggie,, was off like a flash to the bicycle ehed, with Dash at his'heols. ■/: -, He started off at'a',yery moderate : pace, with .the doggio trotting happily* beside'him, but after; a Awhile, along a country, road; with yevy little traffic, lie could not resist the temptation| to f'acorch." •'....- : . .:'. „ ■ i DMii had short legs,, and ; found it T.ory difficult to-keep up with his dißr. obedient littleWmaater^ , but ho raced •long vftUantly,;.:ytfth Ms tongue hanging out. Rpggiei'.looked round, \ and cheer?cl him on. ".."Come' along, Dash; good doggie I ■;';■;■ You ■.don't, mind i-uhning, clo;yoat;:^hai^s- all'nonsense!'^'' '■■;■; . Still, Dash\panted' along pluckily, do-' terminodCto.'Show /that he could do-all, that 'Jmiiftoipeoie'i;. of him, /though he-: knew his master was being very cruel to hiiri.::-Beggie'-put-on a'spurtj arid

suihed downhill at a great pace, leav-i ■ ing'pash far bohind now, but still running steadily. The little boy looked round and called to him, as;-,he sped along,, and' perhaps that was.'why. he--failed to see a large stone in,the middle .of the road. v:V 'Y'VT ..' '.■'; :'',■:■:.■.■■■'■'.■' The next thing Keggio fcnowy he ■eemed to be flying through space over his handlebars, and then . . . darkness. Bash came printing up in grtiat distress, ; forgetful of his own woes,, at the sight, of his little master lying beside the road, veryjjstill and ty-hite.]. Ho licked liis ,'f ace, but jßeggie "not wake, as he always; did in .the mornings. What ■was a doggie to-do? He looked up and /down the road; there was no one in j 1 Bight. He ran to a gate,- barking and tvhlning, aiid there in the field he saw n man at work. .Across the : field ran.; Dash, and ho;.Was;sbpii,abiti !to";inake -the. man understand there was something. wroiig. ' Bushing , forward, then lookingyback to see if the man was following, ho quickly led him :to his little . ■jiiaster. . • •"■ ;•' -• '•' ' ' ,'(Dear, dear!'?'murmured the man, "he's had a nasty' spill, poor : little ehapl I'd best carry him to the'farm!" This'he did, very gently, with Dash in anxious attendance, and Keggie opened his eyes to find strange faces bend- . ing:over him. 'Luckily he was hot seriously injured,-only very' badly bruised, for he had fallen partly on the .-'' soft grass by^the roadside. He had fainted from the severe shock, but now he sat up and cuddled. Dash, .feeling yery Boro and.:dizzjfc-—v !A ■'.■:'' ■■■■'■'•■ The good people of the farm sent him; home in a pony-trap, with his dainagedliicycle—which would never look quite ' fts bright aitd beautiful, again/ After: lie was tucked;;up-in:bed- at ..h0m0.'... he; ■ told mother all about h,is disobedience, and how tho accident happened. "It Was all "my own fault, mummie," he said. "I.was horrid to Dash—makingvhim run so; fast; and then the dear, . faithful doggie brought help to me!" ''Yes, he was certainly kinder to you than you were to him, dear," said mother, "but you will-love him all the better now." , . Beggie. kissed Dasli.'s. little bi'own ; Jiead. "I do. hope ho will forgive »ic,"< he murmured. |'I: think ho' has already," said mother, with: a smile; while Dash winked and licked his .master's, face.. Then he curled himself ?Sp with his head on Beggie's shoulder, an d went to sleep..