Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-27
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Coney Island Adventure.
IOrigfna1.7


Being in New York for few days in
midsummer and having heard a great
deal of Coney Island, felt a desire TO
visit it, Taking a comfortable steam
boat, after a pleasant ride through the
Narrows of New York bay l found my
self at the pier, and after spending
some time looking at the bathers who
were sporting in the water beneath 1
hired Il bathing room and a suit and
dressed for bath.
1 am good swimmer and after
amusing myself for awhile among the
bathers struck out for deep water.
Half a mile from the shore, when l
supposed there was no one near me, 1
suddenly heard a cry for help and,
looking toward the place from whence
the sound came, saw a woman. Max
ing for her. 1 spoke to her quietly, bid
ding her not to get excited, but to place
one hand on my shoulder. She did so,
and l struck out for the shore
She was young and pretty. What
her social position was 1 could not
maid in bathing clothes for a mis-
tress. and vice versa. When she told
me that her strength had suddenly
given out it was in soft and; musical
voice. l concluded that had not been
on hand at the nick of time she would
have been drowned, for twice 'her hand
slipped from my shoulder, she sank,
and l was obliged to dive deeptfor her.
At last l got her in shallow water and
led her on to the beach, wherershe sank
down in what l judged to be a swOon.
However, this was not for long,. and 1
was surprised at the rapidity with
which she recovered. When she >did,
turning to me with the sweetestA of
smiles, she thanked me for saving her
life and asked if there was any way
by which she could show her graft
tude.
There is way" said, "that you
could more than repay me. 1 am
stranger from the far west and alone.
Keep me company ut dinner on the
broad piazza of the Manhattan hotel,
in sight of the scene of our meeting,
and afterward go with me into the
concert room to listen TO Sousa's band"
Il shall be delighted she replied. ito
repay you in such an enjoyable way.
1, too. am alone My home is in Brook
lyn, not far from here, and / frequent
ly come here for Il bath with my sis
ter. Today she is indiSpOsed, and 1
was obliged to come alone or miss my
BATH
Every WELL" said. I'VE will change
our clothes. and l will meet you on
the Manhattan piazza in half an hour"
We separated, and l went to my
bathing house. Turning the key in
the lock. the door opened and disclosed
suit of checkerbOard clothes which
did not belong TO me. l compared the
number of the room with that on the
key and saw that had made no mis-
take. The truth flashed upon me that
some one had picked the lock and
changed suits with me. l had not been
so stupid as to leave my valuablcs, so
the thief got only my clothes. hat and
shoes. There was nothing for me to
do but don the checl0erbOard suit.
did so and, going to the office, returned
my key and obtained my valuables.
W men the lluN saw me coming III my
new, or, rather, old, labiliments she
threw up her hands in establishment.
| explained the situation, whereupOn
she told me that thief probably the
same person who had robbed me-had
taken what change she had brought
with her, and she was penniless.
My dinner was so enjoyable. the lady
SO pretty and vivacious, that | forgot
my checkerbOard clothes and, under
the influence of bottle of champagne,
quite lost my heart. When the feast
was ended l paid the bill and pressed
So on the lady with which to pay her
expenses home. She accepted it on
condition that would give her my ad-
dress so that she could remit the next
day. Then we went into the concert
room and listened to the music.
1t was IL o'clock when l saw my
fair one pass through the gate leading
to the train. having taken her address
and promised to call. Then l went
back TO a seat on the oceans edge to
dream of my adventure. Near mid
night 1 strOlled down to the boat, in
tending to go 10 New York, but it &C.