Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-11

liam. his infant soul thrsting for infor-
nation.
"Whumps," replied Tim Mason, "are
beings like men, but they are all clock
work inside
That winds up:" interrupted vii.
lie. Winds up with a key
with big key" assented Mason
with inspiration. They steal little boys
and make the little boys wind them Zip
every half hour day and night. When
the little boys are so tired that they
can't wind any more they eat them and
then steal some more little boys
Clocks don't eat" scoffed the infant
scientist
You have to oil them. don't you?
defended Tim. That's it, he went on
as Willie nodded assent. "They only
eat very fat little boys"
Willie glanced at his own plump
person and then looked up in alarm.
Can they run fast--faster'n me-" he
| demanded.
How fast can you rum" demanded
Tim. with glance at the oval path
| around the lawn. Accepting the hint,
Willie trayersed the oval as rapidly as
| his pudgy feet could carry him.
'They can run three times as fast as
| that" declared Tim. Come TO think
| II over, some of the whumpS can run
| three and :: half times faster"
Then l won't run away into the
woods again" promised Willie, and he
| trotted sOlemnly around the corner q
i tl,n 1, 81 Al 81,
| the back yard.
| Bess Farley dimpled deliciously as lie
disappeared.
| 1T was all l could do TO keep my
| face straight" she said. with laugh
II don't think we will lose Willie again
as long as we stay In camp. 1t was an
inspiration. Tim, but what would the
| president say
| I'D go to join the nature fakrs."
was the laughing reply; but. at any
| rate, l shall not have to waste after
moons hunting for Willie that might
be far more pleasantly spent on the
porch with his sister. Getting lost in
the woods eight times IN two weeks
betOkens that the wanderlust is be
coming habit with the youthful vii
liam"
a habit to be checked only by the
| whumps'' assented Bess Lets walk
DIS far as the spring and see if we can
see any of the curious beasts. sup
pose need fear no danger"
She glanced complacently at her
slender outlines. and Mason smiled.
you wouldn't grease one pinion of
one wheel of 4 whump," he said $50
let us pursue the whumps to their
Lair
Together they left the camp and
pushed into the woOds-those woods
which so irresistibly attracted Bcss
Farley's small brother. 1t was VIII
lies first season in camp. and his vOy-
age of exploration invariably resulted
In lost bearings and a rescue party.
Confident that the fabulous whumps
would keen the youngsters ut home,
Tim and BeSs made their way to the
spring with no thought of Willie. But
his sand toys soon palled upon the
) hoy, and his active mind sought fresl
employment. He wandered over to
! the edge Of the inviting woods and
4
lures.
In the trees the squirrels chatted. an(
he could hear the frogs croakina
solemnly in the marsh just beyond the
: road. Perhaps if he was very cautious
5 he might evade the dreaded whumps
: He was such little fellow, he might
be able to hide il they CHANGED his
Iway.
There was lovely big green bull
frog in the marsh. Perhaps even now
: he was sitting on tuft of grass fairl!
begging small boy to throw stone;
, ut him. With the delightful feeling o.
I adventure Willie cast discretion to tn,
wind and slipped into the shad.
: spaces.
al But no big frog was amiably waiting
,. TO become Il target. Willie could heaI
| them crOaking, but not even bah,
o frog offered itself TO his aim, and til,
o boy wandered on. He found a new
charm In the woods, since at any mo
ment he might be called upon to fle,
= from whump, and he pressed on
ward
Suddenly his heart stood still for ont
: awful instant From the bushes jus
:, beyond came Il sound of voices sudden
ly raised in hue and cry. Willie dodget
behind the bush, scarcely daring f
breathe lest his respirations brinl
i, about his discovery, but the sound
: died away in the distance, and, grow
ing holder. Willie crept forward an,
beheld the lair of the whumps.