Putnam patriot., 1909-05-28

"Youd sure be q stceli niager teid dat on,
 hoaeHin she chnckted dreamily as she murmured the words of the clown song that Jim and Toby had taught her years ago:
 Ting ling.
 That's what the bells sing
 Mandy reached the side of the bed as the girls eyes opened second time and met hers with a blank stare of astonishment. A tiny frewn came into the small white forehead.
 What's the matter?" she asked faintly trying to find something fa. miliar in the black face before her.
 Hush, child. hush." Mandy whis- pered "Jes' you lay puffickly still Oats only de furs' bell a-ringin'."
 First bellf" the girl repeated as her eyes travelled quickly about the strange walls and the unfamiliar fittings of the room. This ain,t the showi' she cried suddenly.
 Tor bless you. no. Dis ain't no showr Mandy answered. and she laughed reassuringly.
 .'Then where am IT" Polly asked half breathiess with bewilderment
 .Nebber yen mind bout dat" was Mandy's unsatisfactory reply.
 But l do mind" protested Polly. trying to raise herself to a sitting po- sition. "Where's the bunchT'
 "De wat?" asked Mandy in surprise .The bunch--Jim and Toby an the rest of the pushr'
 LOT bless you" Mandy exclaimed, "dey's done gone long wid de circus hours ago"
 "Gone! Show gone" Polly cried in amazement Then what am l doin' here?"
 "Hor on dar, honeyl Hol' on!' Mandy cautioned. Don't you cite yo'se'f."
 Let me alone.'' Polly put aside the arm that was trying to place shawl around her. T got to get out of here "Youse got plenty O time for dat. Mandy answered "Jes' yo' wait awhile"
 "I can't wait. an l won'tw Polly shrieked, almost beside herself with anxiety. "l got to get to the next burg-Wakefield. ain't it7 What time is it? Let me alone! Let me gow she cried, struggling desperately.
 The door opened softly. and the young pastor stood looking down at the picture of the frail, white faced child and her black. determined cap tor.
 oII y,la he asked in firm tone, though evt dently amused.
 "Who are youT' returned the girl as she showed herself quickly back against the pillows and drew the GOV. CTS close under her chin. looking at him oddly over their top.
 ''She done been cuttin' up somefin awful" Mandy explained as she tried to regain enough breath for new en counter.
 Cutting up? You surprise me. Miss Polly" he said. with mock seriousness How do you know Im Pollyi" the little rebel asked. her eyes gleaming large and desperate above the friendly covers.
 E very quiet. I will try to tell you" he said as he crossed to the bed
 ..l won't be quiet. not for nobody" Polly objected. with bold disregard of double negatives. i got to get a move. If you amt goin' to help me you needn't butt in
 .I am afraid can't help you to go just yet" Douglas replied. He was be ginning to perceive that there were tasks before him other than the shap- ing of Poily's character.
 What are you tryin' to do to me anyhowY she asked as she shot q glance of suspicion from the pastor 'te Mandy. What am up againstf' Don't you be scared. honey" Man dy reassured her. "Youse jes' as safe here as you done been in de circus" -safer. we hope" Douglas added. with A smile.
 "Are you two buzz Polly ques- tfoned as she turned Der head from ,ne side to the other and studied them with new idea. Well. you can't get none the best of me. 1 can get away all right. an will too.v
 She made desperate effort to put one foot to the floor. bnf fell back with a cry of pain.
 Land Erosion
 The United States Is wearing down at tsie average rate of one inch in Tssl years. This result k computed from twenty years of stream gaagiag and water analysis by the geological sur yey. ;he engineer crops of iiie arms and tiae weather bureau. supplemented by soine state and municipal work The streams carry of sselt year an average of eigAtyseyeB tsAs cf dis solved solids mad fga sons of st1sIend- cd matter for each square mile of sur face. equivaieat n n total cf 2TOa-s, oG0 tons of dissolved and 5i$A00o0u tanS of srzerfefHteG matter