Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-11
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
Willie and the Whumps."-By w. F. Bryan.
Copyright NJ NJ Cunningham

1t was rather inviting spot, moi at
work beasts. Three white tents were
pitched In I little glade opening TO the
lake On the shore We're boats and ca
noes while about the tents We're easy
chairs of rustic manufacture.
The only fearful object was a kettle
swinging from a tripod over the fire.
This probably contained the last victim
of the whumps' canabalistic tendencies.
and Willie shuddered as he thought
how narrowly he had escaped a SINH
lar fate. He was still congra tulatinS
himself upon his safety when without
warning some of the whumps burst IN
TO the open, and Willie's blood chilled
as he saw that they bore as captiveS
| Bess and Tim. The latter were brave.
| They We're both laughing and joking
| and trying To pretend that they did not
| care, but that was all make believe,
Willie knew
| One OF the whumps forced Bess Into
a chair and another forced upon her
reddish drink that they drew from a
bottle submerged in the spring. That
must be poison that they gave their
| victims to render them unconscious.
One dreadful little moment Willie hest
| lated, then he burst into the open.
| please, Mr.. Whump"' he called, pre-
cipitating himself upon the man who
was trying to make his sister drink
please don't kill Bess. Let her go and
take me. III wind you up. Honest |
will. You don't want her. She is such
a skinny thing"
| A roar of laughter greeted his APP
pearance, and Bess blushed redly at his
personal allusion. The campers were
puzzled, but in French Mason explain
ed the bugbear that had been created
to keep Willie out of the woods.
It's a shame TO tease him." cried
Bess, touched by the boys willingness
to sacrifice himself for her. These
are not whumps. Willie
Yes. they are he insisted. 81 can
hear the clockwork ticking" He was
clinging TO the leg of Bess' captor, Jim
Brace. and after one quick glance the
biggest of the whumps caught the
situation. He hears Braces dollar
watch" he explained as he rolled in
the grass in his glee and his fellows
howled with delight. That dollar
watch had been a standing joke ever
since they had come in camp.
Brace smiled as sudden thought
struck him. Il am whump," he adj
mitted. Il am the chief. or mug
whump. There is but one means of
escape from my awful power. 1t is
well known that whumps never eat
persons who are married or engaged
to be married. 1 must ask this lady If
she is Il bride or a bride to be-
Neither" said Bess firmly, with u
defiant glance ut Tim. She knew that
the boat cldb boys had guessed Tins
admiration for her. Indeed. 1t was an
open secret 10 all. When the boat club
boys had caught sight of the pair max.
Ing their way to the spring and had
laughingly captured them and carried
them off TO camp she had been rather
glad of the interruption, for Tim fol
the hundrcdth time had been pleading
his cause. She liked him-to herself
she confessed that she loved him-bu
she was unwilling to assent to an en-
gagement. This seemed painfully like
a forced issue.
But Willie was determined to saw,
her life. You can be enga ged." he i'll
sisted. with a glance at Tim. please
Bess. for my sake" And mine, 100,
pleaded Tim, leaning against the chair
please. dear BesS looked at Brace
Il am engaged" she said TO the mu:
whump.
When the cheering had subsidized an;
every one had shaken hands with Tim
Brace turned 10 Willie.
In consideration of the great service
you have rendered one of our mem
bers," he said Solemnly, II as mu;
whump tender you the freedom of tn
forest. You, will not even have Il
wind my watch, which Is an all da.
job for a. grown man"
I'm so glad" said Willie beamine
ly. and Bess and Tim silently echoe,
[ the sentiment