Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-01-11
, Willie and the
WThWnn[ps.
BY W. F. BRYAN.
Copyright. 1907. by NJ. NJ. Cunningham

liam. his infant soul thirstlng for infor-
nation.
"whumps." replied Tim Mason, ARE
beings like men. but they are all clock
work inside"
THAT winds up?" interrupted VIII
lie. winds up with key?'
with 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" scoffeS 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 nj 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 traversed the oval as rapidly as
his pudgy feet could carry him.
They can run three times as fast as
that" declared Tim. Come 10 think
II over. some of the whumps can run
three and half times faster"
"Then won't run away into the
woods again" promised Willie. and he
trottcd solcmnly around the corner Of
the house to play In the sand heap In
the back yard
Bess Farley dimpcd deliciously as he
disappeared.
"It was all could do to keep my
face straight" she said. with n laugh
II don't think we will lose Willie again
as long as we stay In camp. Ii was an
inspiration. Tim. but what would the
president say"
I'D go 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 vii
liam"
"a habit To he checked only by the
whumps." assented Bcss. Lets walk
ds far as the spring and see II 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 whump." he said. so
let us pursue the whumps 10 their
lair"
Together they left the camp and
pushed into the woods those woods
which so irresistibly attracted Bess
Farley's small brother. 1t was VIII
Hes first season In camp. and his voy-
age OF exploration invariably resulted
In lost bearings and rescue party.
Confident that the fabulous whumps
would keep 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
10Y. anu Ills dNAlNt ulAtiAl NbuEhl AANob
employment. He wandered over to
the edge of the inviting woods and
gazed lovingly into the cool green pas
lures
In the trees the squirrels chatted, and
he could bear the frogs croaking
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
he able 20 hide II they CHANGED his
way.
There was lovely big green bull
he was sitting on n tuft of grass fairly
begging small boy to throw stones
nj 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 u target. Willie could hear
them croaking. but not even baby
frog offered itself to his aim. and the
hoy wandered on. He found n new
charm In the woods. since ut any mo-
ment he might be called upon TO flee
from whump, and he pressed on
ward.
Suddenly his heart stood still for one
awful instant From the bushes just
beyond came n sound OF voices sudden
ly raised In hue and cry. Willie lodged
behind the bush. scarcely daring to
breathe lest his respirations bring
about his discovery. but the sounds
died away In the distance. and. grow
Ing holder, Willie crcpt forward and
beheld the lair Of the whumps.
II was a rather inviting spot. not at
all what one would expect in the clock
work beasts Three white tents were
pitched I'm 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 n tripod over the fire.
This probably contained the last victim
of the whumps' canabalistic tendencies.