Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-22
An Escapade
By TOM GALLON.

A by the sea itself, but along the very edge of it. A little train-fussy and important -puffs and shorts it's way along the coast, and plunges in the most reckless fashion into tunnel; e1nerges with sort of shriek of sat- isfaction; and deposits you at a lit tie toy station on the very beach.
 It was in that way that MT. Rich ard Lyddon came into Dawlish; and it is extremely safe to say that he wished he had never come at all
 Truth to tell, Dick Lyddon was bored to death. At the present mo- ment he was supposed to be on a walking tour; which consisted in go- ing everywhere by train or carriage, and never walking, if it could by any possibility be avoided. Dick was very rich-ridiculously rich, in fact-with- out a relative in the world, and without anyone to look after him, save certain shadowy trustees whom he saw about four times a year.
 Dick was also very young; young enough, indeed, not to have been bored at all, if he had only taken life in the proper way. Save for that ele- ment of boredom, he was a good hearted, jolly, simple-minded fellow enough, tall and fair-haired, and with the gentIest and best sort. of blue eyes imagina ble. And he had, be- sides his small personal baggage, Capt. Boxer.
 Capt. Boxer deserves line all to himself. He was very stout (much too stout, in fact, for a companion on walking tour); somewhat short in the temper; and inclined to give vent to his opinions, on occasions, without reference to the feelings of anyone.
 Might carry your baggage, sir"
 Dick had been standing with his hands thrust in his pockets, staring moodily at the station platform; he turned quickly at the sound of the voice beside him. He saw in the dim light of the place lad, apparently about IA OTIS, very slim and deli cate looking, and with a very white, pathetic face. Before he could an- swer the voice of Capt. Boxer chimed in: .' :, , ...- .
 "Nice 1ad-sharp. Probably skip off with the bag-probably drop it and smash something."
 "My bags rather heavy; I don't know whether you can manage it," said Dick, kindly. s'And I'm sure don't know where I'm going.''
 'Indeed-I'm quite strong, sir,' broke in the boy, eagerly, moving to- ward the bag. -:-. .-.s Now Dick could quite easily have carried that bag himself; but he was a good-natured fellow, and he felt that probably 8 dime would mean a great deal to this boy, and would mean absolutely nothing to himself. Therefore he let the lad carry it; and Capt. Boxer carried his own. More over, it was found, when the two friends got outside, that the captain knew of a certain comfortable hotel not very far off-had heard of it somewhere or from someone-and thither they went. z
 But outside the station they stopped and looked about them; for neither boy nor bag were to be seen. Dick looked somewhat blankly at the captain, and the captain nodded sa- gaciously.
 Certain of it." said the captain, jerkily. "Knew boy would skip-saw it in his eye.''
 Dick ran back again; and just in side the station came upon the boy and the bag. But the boy was not carrying it; instead, he had simply tainted beside it.
 What brute I am to have let this chap carry that bag!" he muttered to the captain, who had returned hur- riedly. "Just look at him; he's as slim as girl-and a pretty girl, too. That's it, youngster; pull yourself together. All right now?"
 Slowly the heavy eyes opened and turned in Dicks direction:
 ''Indeed, I am quite well; there is nothing the matter" he whispered, glancing nervously toward the door. "If you will let me go now I shall be quite well.''
 'sETell, here's your dime, at any rate,' said Dick.
 The boy looked at it wistfully. but slowly shook his head. sNo. thank you, didn't earn it,' he said. And then, before the astonishcd Dick could stop him, he turned quickly and ran out of the hotel
 "Order dinner, captain" cried Dick. making for the door also. q can't let him go like that; I'll be back presently" He dashed out of the place in pursuit of the boy.
 He had some little distance to oo and, under ordinary circumstances. might have turned back, laughing at himself for his Quixotic folly. But the pathetic face of the boy haunted him; he seemed to be looking again into those brown eyes. So he went on hurriedly, keeping the figure be- fore him in sight, until he came into the narrower streets of the little town, far away from the sea. And there he ran the boy to earth.
 Right at the very top of one of the smallest houses the boy-still uncon- scious that he was being watched thrust open a door, and disappeared into room. Motives of delicacy pre- vented Dick from going further; and yet he wanted to help the lad if he