The Washington herald., 1908-02-21

| What Is whumps2" demanded William
his infant soul thirsting for information.
~whumps," replied Tim Mason. ARE
beings like men. but they are all clock
work inside"
THAT winds up?" interrupted Willie
Winds up with a key?"
with a big key" assented Mason, ac-
ceptng the 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 70 oil them. don't your de-
Tended Tim. That's it." he went on, as
Willie nodded assent. They only eat
very Eat 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 a 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 it
over. some Of the whumps can run three
and half times faster"
Then I won't run away into the
woods again" promised Willie. and he
trotted soIemnly around the corner OF the
house 10 play IN the sand heap In the
back yard.
Bess Farley dlmpled deliciously as he
disappeared.
1T was all could do TO keep my face
straight she said with a laugh I
don't think we will lose Willie again as
long as We stay in camp. II was an in
spiration. Tim; but what would the Pres
ident say?'
I'D so 20 join the nature takers" was
the laughing reply: but. at any rate. I
shall not have TO waste afternoons hunt
ing 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
wanderiust is becoming a habit with the
youthful William"
"A habit 10 be checked only by the
whumps," assented Bess. Lets walk as
far as the spring and see II We can see
any Of the curious beasts. I suppose
need fear no danger?"
She glanced eomplacently at her slen-
der outlines, and Mason smiled You
wouldn't grease one pinion of one wheel
Of whump. he said. so let US pursue
the whumps TO their lair"
Together they left the camp and pushed
into the woods-those woods which so ir-
resistibly attracted Bess Farley's small
brother. Il was Willie's first season in
camp. and his voyage OF exploration in
variably resulted in lost bearings and
rescue party. Confident that the fabU-
lous whumps would keep the youngster
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 fresh
employment. He wandered over to the
edge or the inviting woods and gazed
longingly into the cool. green pastures.
In the trees the squirrels chartered. and
he could hear the frogs croaking solemn
ly in the marsh just beyond the road.
Perhaps IL he was very cautious he might
evade the dreaded whumps. He was
such a little fellow, he might be able TO
hide il they ehanced his way
There was a lovely big green bulifrog
IN the marsh. Perhaps even now he was
sitting on a tuft of grass. fairly begging
a small boy to throw stones at him.
With a delightful feeling of adventure,
slipped into the shady spaces.
But no big frog was amiably waiting to
become a target. Willie could hear them
crOaking but not even a baby frog Of
fered itself 10 his aim. and the boy wan
dered on. He found new charm in the
woods. since at any moment he might be
called upon TO fee from whump and he
pressed onward
Suddenly his heart stood still for one
~ Il 81
yond came a sound Of voices suddenly
raised in hue and cry. Willie lodged be-
hind the bush. scarcely daring to breathe
lest his respiration bring about his dis
covery, but the sounds died away I'm the
distance. and. growing bolder, Willie
crept forward and beheld the lair of the
whumps.
II was rather inviting spot: not at all
what one would expect in the clockwork
beasts Three white tents were pitched
in little glade opening to the lake. On
the shore were boats and canoes. 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' cannibalistic tendencies.
and Willie shuddered as he thought how
narrowly he had escaped a similar fate.
He was still congratulating himself upon
his safety when without warning some
OF the whGmps burst into the open. and
Willie's blood chilled as he saw that they
bore as captives Bess and Tim. The lat
ter were brave: they were 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
chair and another forced upon her a red
dish drink that they drew from a bottle
submerged in the spring. That must be
poison that they gave their victims 70
render them unconscious. One dreadful
little moment Willie hesitated. then he
burst into the open.
Please. Mr. Whump." he called. pre-
tcipitating himself upon the-aan who was