ater was splashed on me," asserted Dick. "I was just watching
them, and some of the boys jumped on me."

"Think I'll believe such a fishy yarn as that?" asked the officer,
incredulously. "I seen ye in swimmin', an' ye'll have t' come with me."

"But I wasn't in," insisted Dick, wishing Jimmy was now at hand to aid
him.

"Ain't I got eyes in my head?" asked the officer in contempt. "You
can't lie out of it that way. Why, you're drippin' wet. You must have
gone in with all yer clothes on."

"I didn't go in at all."

"Aw, cut that out an' come along."

Dick did not know what to do. He looked around at the faces of the
crowd that had gathered, hoping to see some one to whom he could
appeal. But he saw no one. The officer was about to lead him away.
All at once a man stepped forth from the throng. He was limping
slightly.

"What's he done, officer?" he asked.

The man looked like an influential citizen, and the policeman decided
it would be the best policy to answer him.

"Swimmin' in the basin," he said. "Against the law."

"I wasn't in," declared Dick, with tears of mortification in his eyes.
"They splashed the water on me. Why, I was standing near you," he went
on, for he recognized the man as the fat person, on whose toes he had
accidentally stepped.

"Why, bless my soul, so you were!" exclaimed the fleshy gentleman.
"Officer, you are making a mistake."

"I guess I know my business," replied the bluecoat shortly. "Move on
here. Let me pass or I'll run some of ye in."

"I tell you that you are making a mistake, officer," insisted the fat
man, firmly. "This boy stood right in front of me when I was watching
the lads in bathing. He was not in the water at all. Why, you can see
that for yourself. His shoes are not wet."

Sure enough, though Dick was pretty well soaked all over, his feet had
escaped the drenching.

"How do you know he stood in front of you?" inquired the policeman, not
accepting the more apparent evidence of the shoes.

"How do I know? The very best reason in the world. He stepped back to
get out of the way of the rushing lads, and he came down on my favorite
corn. I'm limping yet."

"I'm very sorry," began Dick, who had not had time to finish his
apology.

"That's all right," answered the fat man, good-naturedly. "I'll
forgive you, and do you a favor in the bargain. No, officer," he went
on, "you are mistaken. This boy was not in bathing. I will testify in
his