The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-28
DICK TALsoTs LUCKY SWIM.

June the seventeenth. 1876. just hundred years
to the day the battle of Bunker Hill. red
letter day in the life of Dick Talbot.
In the first place. he fourteen old on that
day. and. place, he had pitched his club.
TrimountaiRs victory. their bitter rivals.
the Wonders. in exciting p TO 20 Of ten in
nings
Dick was an orphan, father having died for his
country when Dick was q little chap in dresses; his
mother having passed away few years later leaving
Dick charge OF maiden aunt. who quite
rich enough TO prepare Dick Harvard where
he longed 10 80 when he should be years older
pitch the college team and stroke
in eight-oared the Charles river. But
fourteen chance of Dick Talbot going
TO Harvard than there Of his going dine with
President l. S. Grant.
On day story opens something happened
Dick changed whole current of his nfes stream
After the game Wonders had gong home de-
feated to Hyde Park it began to rain hard The rain
began O'Clock. and it down if intended
to make a all night job of IL As the boys
into old Sky Gimcracks old red barn. out of the
wet.
Say, fellows, this is just the kind OF weather in
which go swimming
No sooner were the words uttered than the boys be-
gan TO get out clothes into their bathing
trunks which were hanging in the barn. Then with
wild yes of laughter they all started for the water
Dick the first to dive of the little
pier which the barn thirty feet out into the
BAY one boy after another followed. and soon they
splashng around. ducing each other and play
ing leapfrog.
About a quarter of a mile from pier small
white schooner yacht lying anchor. She had been
there for a week Nobody seemed TO know anything
about her or very little which amounted to this Her
owners two mysterious looking seen around
the village a good deal. but what purpose nobody
seemed to have much of idea They were evidently
enjoying a vacation.
.Sav fellows said Dick going to swim out
to have a peep n that yacht. Anybody coming?'
Nobody cared to accompany him. which proves that
nothing happen TO boy in the crowd but
Dick. The other boys swan ashore dressed and went
home forgetting all about Dick in a rushlng game OF
tag on way, knowing that Dick was perfectly
able to take of himself.
Dick swan out to the mysterious yacht. and boarded
her over the bows Nobody seemed to be aboard DICK
went aft looked into the cabin. Nobody there lie
went down the conpanionway and looked around Not
a sound heard except the splash and patter
O. the waves and rain. Boylike, he peered INTO the
hunks The cabin was nicely furnished the hunks were
clean There hashy New York weekly papers on
the little table in of the cabin and book,
Cast Jyp by the Sea- by Sir Samuel Baker under the
papers. Dick opened the book, and saw fine fronts
piece of Gray and Jem Stevens struggling for the
mastery while young girl looked fearing that the
terrible would kill Ned. Dick became so ABSORBED
IN the hook that he reaay fifty pages with thought
of anything the world and darkness only made
him realize position He regretfuy closed the vol
ume and about to go UP on deck when he heard
somebody weeping boat alongside, and then mans
voice, saying:
Hurry up Bill Here, take her. Send her down
into the cabin out of the way the anchor then
up sail quick. Stop your snivelling. young one. No
bodys goin to yer if yer be nice and quiet like
Then Dick heard steps overhead He drew back as
companionway darkened and little girl came
sobbing down into the cabin He could hear them maui
ing up the and hosting sail while peering into
the little girls face.
He recognized her as Mr. Roger Baldwin's daughter
Mr.. Baldwin the richest man in Dorchester ana
Nelly mis- only child Dick gasped
What s the matter, Nely?"
Then Nelly sobbed her little heart would
break she replied:
'[The bad stole me OFF the porch while was
playing with Fido after dinner
did not wait to hear any more. He said:
sTu save you. Don't worry and he was on deck
like
The yacht was going through the water at a spank
ing gait sails ara there was man at the
wheel. Dick shot past him arrow from Robin
Hoods bow header the stern, while the
man at the wheel yelled:
Here! What -who-say, Bill, wing that duck.
quick'
BY that time Dick was astern but not out
of range Of bullets that whised around his head
one which ploughed furrow along his scalp like a
part made by comb and brush In two minutes the
yacht was far away Dick alone with the blood
and rain running down his face and a mile of water
between him and land.
With Now for itr Dicks jaws together like
steel trap locking in his determination TO save Nelly
Baldwin from the fate of poor Charlie Ross, who had
been stolen two years before and never heard of
afterward Stroke stroke and toward that
distant pier Dick through the dark and rain
Now it seemed thousand miles away, now as If he
would surely the bottom. Then he would duck his
head to wash the blood from his eyes How far away
the sky seemed How cold the water was growing How
He turned his back and foated for awhile and
in that position thinking of Nelly Baldwins dreadful
fate if he should drown he sent up a htde prayer
through the rain.
steadily splenddly through the waters he ploughed,
until it seemed ages he had leaped from that pier!
Nelly might never again be heard Of The thought was
nnaddening! Then the tears down with the blood
and raini Another dip and his were clear and ne
co1Id see lanterns moving about the pier he sum-
roned all his and packed it into one long e-
rendols shout Those who carried them were getting
into rowboats seemed Dick If he were dropping
out of a balloon II he dying under mountain
and then-a gasp-two white in the air-and
blank,
When he opened his eyes and women boys and
girls seemed to be about In the army he saw Ar
and Mrs Baldwin gasped his story into their eager
cars and then away went into the land OF OBLIVION
again.
In less than FIVE that yacht was captured BY
revenue cutter in Nixs Gate. in Massachusetts Bay
Mr. Baldwin had eiesraphed the story % police head
c,srte-s in Boston and b. sunrise Nelly Baldwin was
IN the arms OF her father and mother.
Do you think Dick went 70 Harvarde-John
Ernest Mccain IN the New York Herald
Couldn't co Down in the Water
ct can't go down IN DAT water you. Br'e- WI