The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-12-11
An Escapade
BY TOM GALLON.

NOU come into the town by way
of the sea. That is, not exactly
by the sea itself, but along the very
edge of it. A little train--fussy and
important-puffs and snorts its way
along the coast, and plunges in the
most reckless fashion into tunnel;
energies with sort of shrek of sat
isfaction; and deposits you at a lit
tie toy station on the very beach.
1t was in that way that Mr.. Rich
ard Lyddon came into Dawlish; and
it is extremely safe to say that ne
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
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 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, tail and fair-haired, and with
the gentlest and best sort of blue
eyes imaginable. 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 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 or Is, very slim and deli
cate looking, and with very white,
pathetic face. Before he could an
swer the voice of Capt. Boxer chimed
in:
Nice lad-sharp. Probably skip
of 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. "And I'm sure 1
don't know where I'm going
lndeed-Im 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 q
great deal to this boy, and would
mean absolutely nothing to himself.
therefore he let the lad carry it; and
1apt. Boxer carrieu his own. More
over, it was found, when the two
trends got outside, that the captain
Knew OF certain comfortable hotel
NOT very far off-had heard of it
somewhere or from someone-and
tnither they went.
but outside the station they
stopped and looked about them; for
neither boy nor bag were to be seen.
mex looked somewhat blankly at the
eaptain, and the captain nodded sa-
gaciously.
certain of it," said the captain,
!erkly. knew boy would skip-saw
i in his eye."
Dick ran back again; and just in
sue the station came upon the boy
ana the bag. But the boy was not
.alrying it; instead, he had simply
tainted beside it.
what brute am to have let this
.''ap carry that hag!" he muttered
y tue captain, who had returned hur-
4'sai, Just look at him; he's as