Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-07-13
A SWIM AGAINST TIME.

arrival OF warm weather. Inc dentist
expressed a desire to get into the coun-
try, and from that there started a dis
cussion of rural life during the sum
mer
The hustler told Of a Wisconsin
lake which he had been watching.
When he said he had been watching
it he probably spoke in a fgurative
sense. 1t lay in a beautiful region
destined to become as popular as
Oconomowoc, and the land could be
bought cheap. He hoped to interest
some capitalists and "develop" the
country, which needed only a short
spur railroad to join it to one of the
principal lines to the northwest.
He said that one of the men living
at the lake had caught Is bass and Ga
croppies one morning before break
fast.
The whole evening might have been
wasted in fish talk had not the book
agent asked: GLOW is the boating"
"Great! Water as clear as crystal.
Plenty of room for sailing, too. If
could get hold of that property I'd
make $50, 900 next year. All it needs
is good pusher."
"That's what ] like" said the
'1ush," who had Just come through
the swinging doors and was still bit
ing alta stalk of fragrant mint. "Get
out in boat, you know, and row
around to where the trees shade the
water, and have about six cold bot
ties of beer under the seat-there's
real enjoyment"
you're fond of fishing, are you?"
asked the book agent.
81 didn't say anything about fish
ing. Ofcourse, man can take pole
along and let it hang out over the
water, just for appearances sake, but
1 can always make the day a success
even if don't get nibble."
'How are you on swimming?"
asked the lightning dentist.
81 can't swim a stroke. l think !
must have higher specific gravity
than most men. AT any rate, / can't
keep on top. When | was boy | used
to go in the water nearly every day,
but l couldn't learn to swim. The
other boys would float around like
corks and tell me to come out to the
deep part, and sometimes they'd pull
me out there, but as soon as they let
go of me I'd sink like an anchor"
'Pm afraid you Lack confidence in
yourself" said "Doc" Horne, who
had been listening with smile which
showed that he was quietly amused.
"Now, I can't remember the time
when l had any fear Of water"
"There's nothing personal in that
remark, is there, Doc" asked the
'lush."
certainly not, sir. What l mean
is that / always had confidence in
myself. Swimming came to me nat
urally, as it were, seemed to know
it by instinct. Yes, sir, when was
8 very small boy l used to get out in
the river and swim as long and as far
as any of the young men,"
1It's something everyone should
learn" said the book agent.
"Yes, indeed" said SDoc." ~
swan a great deal when l was young,
and l have no doubt could give some
of you younger men pretty good race
to-day"
you're safe in challenging me-"
said the "lush," biting off the last leaf
of mint.
81 haven't taken good, long swim
for about ~ years" continued "Doc."
''The last time / let myself out l had
to swim against time"
con a bet2" asked the dentist.
ooh, no; no, sir, / wouldn't attempt
anything of that kind merely for a bet.
No, l had to catch train"
'TYou had TO swim to catch a4rain9S
asked the ~lush."
Exactly, sir. Wait till l tell you
the circumstances and you'll under
stand. Have you ever been to Lake
PlankinacP Beautiful place. / used
to go up there to rest and ride around
in the boats fox q few days at time.
n tuna ~ WARS oyo I holieve--xyrs