The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-01-25
THE DROWNING or TIM.
His Presence Of Nina saved Him
from Cold Grave.

| 4
One bright afternoon In February
Tim Robinson and Oliver OlcotI
trudgcd from town, With skates slunl
| over their shoulders. for the purpose
OF enjoying halI holiday from schoo
In the heallhfll sport OF skating. on
arriving at the hut which stood On
the edge OF the pond they built q
fire before trying On their skates.
Seems little soft" remarked Oil
yer. referring to the ice,
Oh, its all right II IS in dandy
shape, | think answered his COM
panion, striking out along the edge d
the pond 3sF N
Oliver followed, and they made two
or three rounds OF the pond. warming
inp to the sport and thoroughly ENJOY
ing 1t. AT length Tim made dash
straight across the pond Oliver was
e little afraid Of the condition Of the
ice and hesitated about following
him. AS Tim neared the center OF
rthe pond there was a rending sound
/ and the ice began cracking around
him
Tim. Tim, come back. Tint"
shouted Oliver,
But Tim knew that his only safety
lay in speed. and SO Kept right on to
his fullest power Suddenly the ice
gave away beneath Him. and down he
went in the cold waters, down out or
sight Oliver glanced AT the bank In
the hope Of fnding a board of rail
with which 10 rescue his companion.
He had no idea Of deserving MIN. and
in fash there passed through his
head the thought OF becoming a hero.
and being hailed with praise all over
the town. But. alas, he could see
nothing with which he might extend
held 10 the unfortunate hoy, and to
go too close 10 the break in the ice
was only to endanger his own life,
Knowing that something must be |
done without delay, II II was done at |
all Oliver rushed TO the shore search |
ing rapidly with his eye for pole, |
but in vain lie glanced back ar the |
pond but there was no sign OF Tim |
visible It seemed to him a long time |
since he went under. though in real. |
ity II was only a few moments. and /
he was sure Tim must be already |
dead. Then q panic seized him. like
many another person who meant to !
he heroic, but under pressure became
a coward. he turned wide.eyed
toward town running as though pur.
sued by the spirit OF his drowning
friend, stopping not until almost ex.
hausted. and even. then staggering on.
Meanwhile. Tim. .nndar the water.
remained cool Perhaps the icy bath
was conducive to the result He was
m expert swimmer. and consequent
~ was not thrown into confusion by
being under water HIS Feet touched
bottom and ne straightened up, or tried
TO- but there was WALL above him
which would not permit him to stand
erect He knew a. once that he was
under the mbroken fee. and rapidly
that he could pfobabiy1
break the zee quicker than he could
Ind th,. hole into which he plunged
Ie put his shoulders against II aud
traight himself up with all his force. Ii
rhe back muscles were powerful, the Il
~ was already weakened ~ break ]
ge. and with crash II broke again. d
citing his head out ~ the water
With one hand he wiped the dripping Il
,ater from his eyes and face and had
momentary vision Of Oliver racing n
onw the road, Gut he had no time :
8 lose, for ALREADY he was shlyerng.
'racing himself for a spring, and aidI
Ig himself with bis arms. he bounced
linost on top Of the Ice, and In a few1
loments was 'out and making for thei
ut The IRE had not died down.
itch and with a little feeding so6n1
lade speed When the OCCUPANTS
iseovered Tim there was great shout
lg and rejoicing. for they had been
I'D by the hslf-crazed Oliver that
i'm was drowned,
Poor boy" returned Tim. when he Z
ad heard all about II. I'll Is worse to
e frightened 10 death than 10
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