Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-22
SANDMAN STORY.
BY Mrs. +. A. Walker.
Convripht 1918 by Mcclure Newspaper
SyndicAto. New York city
NICKO AND THE OGRE-Part I.

Once upon a time there lived on the
banks of deep wide river an ogre VINO
ate all the fish in the river never letting
the people who lived in the town come
near the river to fish.
And this was not all the Ogre did He
would make such n noise when he slept
that all the children were frightened so
they could not sleep Mt night and the
people decided AT last that something
must be done.
One day youth named Nicko said he
would go to an old witch who lived in the
forest and ask her what could be done.
So To this witch the youth went,
There is only one way to get rid OF the
Ogre" she told Nicko, "and that secret rs
known only to Mermaid. who comes up
from the river every night and sings TO
the Ogre"
OF course the Ogre would sec NIcko IT
he went TO the Mermaid when she was
singing. so he decided to have suit
made Of green and silver that would make
him look like huge fish and dive into
the river. hoping in that way TO find the
home of the Mermaid and learn the secret
she knew
One night after the Mermaid had
finished her song 80 the Ogre, Nicko slip
ped from behind n rock where he was hid
den. dressed in his green and silver suit
and swami To the place he had seen the
Mermaid go under the water.
Down down he went. and Just before
he reached the bottom ni the river the
Mermaid turned around and saw HIM.
She had never seen such beautiful hig
fish before and the silver glistcncd and
shonc SO in the moonlight that the MCr-
maud was filled with envy.
"Oh. beautiful fish, tell me where YOU
got your shining coat; | must have dress
like il nj once. said, swimming along
beside Nicko
II will tell YOU beautiful Mermaid.
willingly, and will bring YOU dress OF
! wonderful brightness, SAID NIcko. N
YOU will tell me how the people who lIve
IN the River Town can get rid OF the Ogre
YOU sing 20 every night
THAT can never be done; for the WAY
| TO hc rid Of the Ogre is beyond my power
although I know the secret answered the
Mermaid. but YOU cannot help me
We'll. if I cannot help you, at least ten
mo how Il could be brought about that
the riyrrfol could he rid Of their trouble
"a mortal must come to this river ard
| live here. said the Mermaid And he
must marry me Now YOU Scc how I'M
| nossihle il IS for anyone to learn the rest
| of tho secret. for who would marry mcr-
! maid and llvc ~ tho bottom Of tho river
| Nicko had fallen IN love with the
| nrettv Mermaid at first sight and when
| he heard this he said show me your
home. pretty maid. perhaps J can help
YOU even II am only tlsh
To the vcrv bottom ~ the river the
Mermaid took Nicko and when they
/ stood On tho white sand before her homo
of crystal Nicko said
Mermaid. | love you' Behold your
mortal lover viii YOU hc my wife
As hc spoke he threw of the green and
silver costume hc wore. and there stood
the mortal who had como 81 WOO hot
The pretty little Mermaid hlushcd and
hung her head II did not know, ! could
never have guessed YOU were mortal,
she stammcred,
"Of course YOU couldn't SAID Nlcko
almost forgetting why he was there. he
was So very much in love with the pretty
creature
The little Mermaid clsprcd her tiny
hands. and from under the rock came
many little silveT colorcd fish. swimming
all around her.
Run quickly and tell the Dolphin 70
find Father Neptune said the Mermaid
soon the water began to roll and tum-
ble about and Nicko saw swimming
toward them two sea horses drawing 2
chariot IN which stood a man carrying in
ono hand curious and big three -prongcd
fork
well. Young mortal, what do YOU
wish here NJ the bottom of my river
asked Father Neptune
Tomorrow will tell vou the rest Of the
story.