Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-01-02
Willie and the
Wy[hWnnIpS.
By W. r. BRYAN.
Copyright, 1907. by NJ. M. Cunningham

nation.
"Whumps," replied Tim Mason, fare
beings like men. but they are all clock
work inside"
''That winds upT' interrupted VIII
lle winds up with key2"
"With a big key" assented Mason
with inspiration They steal little boys
and make the little boys wind them up
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 your
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 mel" he
demanded.
"How fast can you runP demanded
Tim. with glance at the oval path
around the lawn. Accepting the hint,
Willie traversed 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 Of
the house to play in the sand heap in
the back yard.
Bess Farley dimpled deliciously as he
disappeared.
ut was all could do to keep my
face straight" she said, with a laugh.
II don't think we viii lose Willie again
as long as we stay in camp. 1t was an
inspiration. Tim, but what would the
president sayr"
"I'd 90 to join the nature fakirs."
was the laughing reply; "but, at any
rate, ! 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 VIII
Ham,"
"A habit to be checked only by the
whumps," assented Bess. Lets walk
as far as the spring and see IL we can
zee any Of the curious beasts. I sup
pose need fear no dangerT"
She glanced complacently at her
slender outlines, and Mason smiled.
"You wouldn't grease one plnion Of
one wheel OF a whump," he said. 80
let us pursue the whumps to their
lair"
Together they left the camp and
pushed into the woods-those woods
which so lrreslstibly attracted Bess
Fariey's small brother II was VIII
he's 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 keep the youngsters at home,
Tim and Bess made their way 10 the
spring with no thought OF Willie. But
his sand toys soon palled upon the
boy, and his active mind sought Ssresh
employment. He wandered over to
the edge OF the inviting woods and
gaGed lovingly into the cool green pas
lures.
In the trees the squirrels chatted. and
be could hear the frogs croaklng
solemnly In the marsh just beyond the
road. Perhaps II he was very cautious
he might evade the dreaded whumps.
He was such little fellow, he might
be able to hide II they CHANGED his
way.
There was a lovely big green bull.
frog In the marsh Perhaps even now
be was sitting on tuft of grass fairly
begging a small boy to throw stones
at him. With the delightful feeling OF
adventure Willie cast discretion to the
wind and slipped into the shady
spaces.
But no big frog was amiably waiting
to become target Willie could hear
them croaking. but not even a baby
frog offered itself TO his aim. and the
boy wandered on. He found new
charm In the woods. since at any mo-
ment he might be called upon to Zee
from a whump, and he pressed on
ward.
0A00NhAg us Mart HtO0u sun AUi bIG
awful instant. From the bushes Just
beyond came a sound Of voices sudden.
" raised in hue and cry. Willie lodged
behind the bush. scarcely daring to
breathe lest his respiratlons bring
about his discovery. but the sounds
died away In the distance, and, grow
ing holder, Willie crept forward and
beheld the lalr of the whumps.
1t was a rather inviting spot not at
all what one would expect in the clock
work beasts. Three white tents were
pitched In little glade opening to the
lake. ON the shore were boats and ca
noes, while about the tents were 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' canaballstic tendencies,
and While shuddered as he thought
how narrowly he had escaped SINH.
lar fate. He was still congratulating