The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-25
HE FELL OVERHEARD
By RICHARD B. SHELTON

he paused to give his thighs resounding
whacks and to announce to himself,
g twould work to a T."
By 6 o'clock that evening Mr.. Leary
had every detail worked out, and at
he sought a certain uptown hotel, OF none
too savory reputation, where after half
hours wait he encountered loudly
dressed individual, who addressed him as
"Red' and whom he, in turn, Familiarity
called cap" tI'7~-'-~--.'"~-
The pair found quiet corner, and Mr..
Leary divulged his scheme, rather thick
ly, it is true, and with many halts,
for he had been drinking to his success
all day. Nevertheless the other saw it's
feasibility.
Red" he said, you're a genius.
There'll be enough in it for both of us.
Come down and have drink on it,
Some weeks later Ar. Leary again sat
summing himself on the pier stringer. It
was pleasant day in late spring, and
his spirits were in accord with the sea-
son. When a Ioafer begged for tobacco,
Leary gave him the remainder Of his plug.
At the next pier the SiouXland, from
Liverpool, was coming into her dock.
The operation seemed to interest him
this time, for his eyes searched eagerly
up and down her decks.
Suddenly on the Siouxland tall man,
with tall hat and long light overcoat
sprang upon the rail and waved his cane
above the heads of the other passengers.
A moment later he threw up his arms
wildly, lost his balance and shot down the
ships side to the water. 81
There were the screams and yells; the
shower Of buoys, and Mr.. Leary, devoid Of
coat, vest and shoes, plunged CALAMITY
from the neighboring pier. He had shed
his apparel in an amazingly short time.
Some of those who were near him at the
time remembered afterward that even be-
fore the man had leaped to the rail Leary
had torn open his vest and unlaced his
shoes. This time the man in the water
was quite tractable. He neither splut-
tered nor grabbed his rescuer by the neck.
He even said in low tones, Better hit the
nearest pier. Red and then proceeded to
get himself into a fit condition to be res
cued.
Again willing hands drew them to the
pier, and again the intrepid Leary refused
all knowledge Of his heroic deed and made
off through the crowd.
Late that summer, when the Uteland
was coming into dock, the same spectacu-
lar scene occurred. This time it was a
short man in f1annels and yachting cap
who went over the rail. The only varia-
ton of the original program was that he
said to his rescuer: Better go up the
river Bit, Red. I think they're on" In
accordance with this advice Leary swan
to the next pier, where, amid the cheers
| charge were hoisted to the wharf.
THAT man should have medal" said
well dressed gentleman, who had
watched the rescue with breathless inter-
| est. Its the second time I've seen him
do this thing. Let's everybody do what we
| can" In his burst of enthusiasm he tore
off his hat and deposited therein 50 bill.
But before he could do any soliciting the
| interest of the crowd was drawn to the
| upper end of the wharf, for Leary, edging
his way out had come face to face with
Il two customs officials who were hurrying
down the pier to intercept him. He lodged
| them deity and made up the pier at his
best speed, the two officials in hot pursuit
yelling at the top of their voice: "Stou
him! Stop that mani Half way up the
wharf Leary collided with an apple wom-
ans cart and came Imply to earth, with
a large part of the carts stock bounding
about him, and there the GREATNESS GUS
toms men bounced upon him and dragged
him to his feet.
YES" said one of the customs men to
the Uteland's purser, some hours later
lit was rather a neat bit of work. The
one that fell overheard brought them over
of course, and then he'd pass them to the
one that did the fake rescue business while
they were in the water. They grew too
frequent, those rescues did, and made u!
somewhat suspicious. There's half a hun
dred thousands worth this time alone, i
there's dollars worth Of en-
The purser went over to the table
There spread out in dazzling array, wa!
a quantity of perfect diamonds.
That was several years ago. A certain
Mr.. Learyi nicknamed the Red, sits every
day dangling his legs from a pier farther
up the river. If any one has ideas, it Il
well to consult him. He will pay liberia
percentages on their fruition.