The Prescott daily news., 1912-02-02

What rites?" in an awed whisper
 Mike poked in a recalcitrant wad of excelsior and. after swatting the blaze around the edges, put one fist on his hip. "You didn't know" he remarked that l was chief of the Dimdum- meries before I came to this country did you? We'll, I was!"
 The small boy dragged up box that had escaped the blaze and sat down on it very close to Mike "Tel me-" he begged.
 "The Dimdummeries," explained the ianitor, lis a flourishing society in he ould country that has communica- shuns with ghosts an fairies-an'- an sperts in general Whenever a Dimdummery wants to talk to a fairy all he has to do is build a magic bon fire on a spot hit by the light of the full moon for five minutes on a Chuesday night. That's very i'm nortant. picking out the right spot And lay the first sticks pointing to- ward the north."
 The small boy peered at the base of the bonfire, but the janitor sighed They ain't any spots that the light of the moon hits on a Chuesday night in this neighborhood, he mourned That Is, ixcipt some that is occupied by buildings and otherwise engaged But l say the magic words over my fires and pretind it's a glade I'm in and that there are fairies peeking out"
 Did you-did you ever truly see a fairy. Mike?" the small boy almost whispered.
 The janitor laughed condescendi7g- ly. Did iver see fairy, now!" he repeated, scornfully Well, listen to that! Ain't telling you how I was the chief of the Dimdummeries and what for would they be making me chief if I couldn't see more fairies than any other man in the county? There was one fairy who-look out, you'll be in the fire, now!-who used to pop up just as sociable an smoke a pipe with me livery time I lit fire for him. Vance he said: Mike. l like you-you're a fine lad. an you may have two wishes-anything you ask shall be granted""
 q know what I'd have asked for!" breathed the small boy. An airship an'-"
 "Airship." Mike repeated in dis gust. That shows your needless dis posishun! A real sensible person would have asked for a wagon load of money, wouldn't he? An then he could-a got fleet of balloons an everything"
 "Oh, of course," agreed the small boy, much embarrassed. "Of course he would! But what did you do with all your money, Mike? If I was as rich as that 1 wouldn't work"
 The janitor coughed and was very busy stirring the fire What did l do with it?" he repeated, scowling horribly. 'Tll tell yer-much as l hate to do it. I stuffed it into old stockings, av coorse, and tux board off the wall and chucked 'em into the cavity They was banknotes-an' the rats and mice ate 'em up. l should have wished for bank that cudn't fail, for my second wish, an then I'd have been a rich man today. Instead of wishing as I did for-for-"
 For what?" demanded the small boy.
 Candy" confessed the janitor, sor' rowfully. q couldn't think of any thing I wanted so much as plenty of candy and I got 1t and ate 1t all up and that was the end of it!"
 The small boy swallowed appre- ciatively. "Still. you had it," he said philosophically. That wasn't so awful bad. Did you get chocolute an car'mels and lemon sticks?"
 "Oh all kinds" the janltor said, loftily "I was sicker'n you ever dreamed of being, tell you! It kind of soured me on that fairy an l gave him the cold shoulder after that, but it didn't matter because right away the prettiest fairy I ever saw began coming out of rose bush that"
 "Oh, tell me all about it!" de- manded the small boy ecstatically.