River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-11-20
An z capade
BY TON GALLON.

NOU come into the town by way
of the sea. That is, not exactly
bV the sea itself, but along the very
edge of it. A little train-fussy and
important-puffs and snorts It's way
along the coast, and plunges in the
most reckless fashion into tunnel;
energies with a 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 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 III 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-wlth-
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 good
hearted, jolly, supplemented fellow
enough, tall 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 a 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
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,
said Dick, kindly. "And I'm sure !
don't know where I'm going"
"Indeed-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
a good-natured fellow, and he felt
that probably a 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.
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 bow
and the bag. But the boy was not
carrying it; instead, he had simply
tainted beside it.
what brute 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 a girl-and q pretty girl. too.
That's it, youngsters; pull yourself
together. All right now?"
Slowly the heavy eyes opened and
turned in Dicks direction:
Indeed, l am quite we'll; there is
nothing the NATTER" he whispered.
glancing nervously toward the door.
If you will let me go now [ shall be
quite WELL"
well, here's your dime, at any
rate" said Dick.
The boy looked at it wistfuIly. but
slowly shook his head NO, thank
you, L didn't earn it," he said And
then, before the astonished Dick
could stop him, he turned quickly and
ran out of the hotel.
''Order dinner, captain cried Dick.
making for the door also. II 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 90,
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-