Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-01-06
it were the names OF all the bones

it were the names OF all the bones
corresponding to these numbers.
Another skeleton appeared beside
him, but this one showed a rear view
Then Oscar saw a great OK with all the
parts, as butchers cut up their meat,
marked off on the hide and labeled,
after which bird appeared similarly
inscribed, and then q horse decorated
in the same manner.
But all these people and animals
seemed like mere phantoms, as unreal
as shadows themselves, which was but
natural, OF course, as, in fact, they do
not exist, but are merely pictures in
the dictionary made to instruct us in
the different parts of animals, men and
birds. But this Oscar did not know
then, and as they gathered about him
be began to tremble. He was about
TO cover his head with the bedclothes
when he saw another figure. This one
was real and actual, standing out
against the background of shadow
forms like living man.
Oscar felt a sort of relief when he
saw him. He was tall and bearded,
his black eyes flashed under heavy
brows, and he wore long silken robe
beneath which Oscar detected an oc.
casional gleam of a suit of shining,
golden-inlaid armor. He sirode to
the bedside, brushing aside the letters
nd disturbing their msnoeuvres very
much, and after looking at Oscar very
fiercely for a space, he said in q deep,
bell-likc voice:
"You are the smartess and most ac-
complis he'd boy, l understand, in all
Sprops. Do you recognize me?"
"Now. as this was certainly the
very first time Oscar had ever seen Q
men who wore armor it is not sur.
prising that he should not reply at
once:
"No, sir. 1 have never had the
pleasure OF seeing you before"
"Ah, perhaps not. On reflection, 1
should not expect you to know me at
sight, but will keep you out. l am
q Tetrarch. Now, of course, you know
all about met"
II am sorry" replied Oscar, "bus l
am as much 10 the dark as ever"
Certainly you're in the dark;
didn't bring torch, but l am in the
light OF the moon aud perfectly easy
to see. Do you mean to say that you
do not even know what Tetrarch is?"
never heard of one BEFORE" ssid
Oscar, sharply. "Is that q foreign
word?"
Certainly not. II you are so
smart you should know that" said the
Tetrarch testify. al am afraid you
are really an ignoramus."
"You are the first that ever said
that" answered Oscar. "Go and ask
my teacher! Huh!"
"I will test you," said the tall man.
grsvely ."before decide" He then
held out q small circular piece OF
shining shell that was suspended from
his mock by leather band, and asked:
"What is it, Tell me its name."
Oscar looked blankly at the shell
ornament, and then looked again. To
save his life he couldn't tell what it
was. 1t was not locket nor medal,
and finally he stammered: Ill
think-perhaps it's sort OF charm or
talisman?"
"Perhaps it's fiddlestick," shouted
the Tetrarch. Perhaps it's fiddle.
dewink. Tell me it's name, oh boy
that doesn't need q dictionary. That's
oil I require of you"
Oscar was obliged to confess that he
had never seen such an object, and
could not give its name. The Tetrarch
snorted:
Bah! Just as I expected! And
you call yourself bright and clever |!
I'll tell you it's name! It's q Runtee,
that's what it is, and 1 got it from an
Indian chief. Bahp
"How should I know thati" grum.
bled Oscar.
"1t's in the dictionary" shouted
Tetrarch, angrily. "That's whyp
All the shadowy forms in the rear
seemed to grin and poke each other in
the place where their ribs would have
been had they been illustrated com.
pletely, and the animals hoped
around in elee at Oscars discontinue.
"Have you ever seen a 'seismo.
graph or 'umiak' or q natatorium'
or 'joup or . chrysoclore?' added
the Tetrarch, frowning terribly.
"Of course not" replied Oscar, after
. long pause.
"And they, too, are in the diction-
aryp rosred the angry old man,
standing over the bed in most threat.
ening manner, Why don't you know
themW
"GeeW exclaimed Oscar, falling into
the schoolboy's slang without think
ing, al haven't looked into it yeti"
"Ha! Aud yet you presumed that
you would have but scant use for it !!
But I am not yet through with you.
If you, with oil the learning of which
you have boasted, can answer few
questions, just . few fairly easy ones
that will propound,I I will let you go !;
but fail, and you arc doomed!"
"What business have you to ask me
any questionsi" cried Oscar, trying to