The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-06

rades a low grooming noise proceeded from the branches of a clump of trees that shaded the tent. The three boys quickly looked up, Tom trembling ylo- lently, while Fred felt cold sensation up hls spine. Even Walt felt that some thing out of the ordinary was about to happen, but he felt his courage was now to be put to the test. At all events, he did not like that peculiar sound-so hu- man-like-that had come plainly from the tree.
 What you reckon 1t is?" hoarsely whis- pered Tom, edging nearer to Watts side.
 Walt tried to hide his uneaslness by answering In n loud, self-assuring voice: 'Aw. l guess it's an owl or batch of squirrels that we've failed to notice up there" Then he picked up small stick and threw into the branches of the tree As this brought about no result other than silence, Walt went on speaking. You see, it was imagination. That's what 1t was. Freds story caused you boys 10 think you heard something which you didn't. Proceed with the story, Fred. It's getting late and we'll post pone Toms story and mine till tomor- row"
 "Yes, yesl' exclaimed Tom. eagerly.
 ''I can as well put off the finishing end of mine, too" ventured Fred. "It!l keep till morning.
 Nav" said Walt, not wishing to ap- your story before crawling in. Go on.''
 In q faltering voice and with his eyes slyly watching the trees, Fred picked up the thread of his narrative. And when the woman spoke the words, Dead meu tell no tales, she threw off her mantle and veil and showed herself to be bold, bad mana robber prince that---'
 His words ended suddenly, and he snt bolt upright. Again had come that low, grooming sound as if some human being was suffering greatly. Walt, too, quickly rose to his knees and shaded his eyes from the tire-light, peering into the dark ness that surrounded them, Tom caught up huge stick of timber that lay near the campfire and grasped 1t firmly and threateningly, intending to strike with all his might anything human or anti-human that might charge down upon them
 The groan repeated itself, ending in a long drawn-out vail that pierced the night air.
 Goodness mel What shall we do. Walt?' hoarsely whispered Fred. crouch. ing shlvering in the grass.
 "I'm for getting away from here" whispered Tom In an excited way, look Ing white in the face as the fire light fell was about to start when Walt held him down. "Wait' whispered Walt, whose voice shook In spite of himself. AS he gave this warning another heartrending groan, tailed off by hideous wall, issued from the tree. Then to cap the climax of horror, there waved from high branch a long white object, back and forth, sud denly disappearing in the shadows again.
 Tom could endure no more, and, with weapon in hand he plunged off through the woods towards the main road as if all the demons of the earth and air were ln his wake. Walt, trembling In every limb, no longer attempted to hide his fright from Fred and whispered Come, let's crawl inside the tent as quickly and us silently as possible. Maybe that thing in the, tree is the very devil-who knowsl"
 Fred did not answer for the simple reason that his voice had been scared away from him. Shaking like. an aspen leaf the poor fellow did Waits bidding, and as the two were just about to enter the tent. crawling, like two snakes on their bellies, they heard sudden drop ping nose--as If some object had let it. self fall from z limb of a tree In the grassland instantly form stood beside