Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-12-12
An Escapade
By TON GALLON.

~
. edge of it. A little train-fussy and
mportant-puffs and snorts its way
along the coast, and plunges in the
most reckless fashion into a tunnel;
energies with sort of shrek of sat
isfaction; and deposits you at lit
tie toy station on the very beach.
It was in that way that Mr.. 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 vexy
rich-ridicu1ously 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 n 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, supplemented fellow
the gentlest and best sort of blue
eyes imaginable. And he had, be-
sides his small personal baggage,
Capt. Boxer.
Capt Boxer deserves a 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 I carry your baggage, sir?"
Dick had been standing with his
hands thrust in his pockets, staring
modify at the station platform; he
turned quickly at the sound of the
voice beside him. He saw in the dim
light. of the place a lad, apparently
about IA or Is, 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 lad-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,
l.
don't know where I'm going
"Indeed-Tm quite strong, sir"
broke in the boy, eagerly, moving to-
ward the bag.
Now Dick could quite easily have
CARRIED that bag himself; but he was
good-natured fellow, and he felt
that probably 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
kntsN of a certain comfortable hotel
not very far off-had heard of it
somewhere or from someone-and
thither they went.
But outside the station they
stopped and looked about them: for
neither boy nor bag were to b1 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 l am to have let this
chap carry that bag!'' he muttered
to the captain, who had returned hur-
8 riedly. Just look at him; he's as
slim as girl-and pretty girl, too.
That's it, youngster; pull yourself
together. All right now?"
Slowly the heavy eyes opened and
turned in Dicks direction:
Indeed, 1 am quite well: there is
nothing the matter" he whispered
glancing nervously toward the door.
IF you will let nue. go now l shall he
quite we'll"
well. here's your dime, at anv
rate" said Dick
The boy looked at it wistfully. hut
slowly shook his head NO. tbanl,
you, 1 didn't earn it," he said. And
then, before the astonishea Dick
could stop him, he turned Quickly and
ran out of the hotel.
Order dinner, captain" cried Dick.
making for the door also. 81 cant
det 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 on
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 l;ttla