Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-05
CHAPTER ".
(Continued.)

The invitation filed me with JOY
and we set out together through
the thick woods. The leaves were
Just come and their vivid, glossy
green sprinkled out in the foliage
of the little beeches and the woods
smelt Of new things. The trail was
cvergrown and great trees mad
fallen into it and we had TO PICK
cut way around them. The Comp
trolIer carried me on his back over
the wet places and we found th@
brook at last and he baited my nook
while l caught our basket nearly
full of little trout. Coming back
we lost the trail and presently the
comptroller stopped and said:
Bart, I'm 'fraid we're going
wrong. Let's sit down here and
take a look at the compass"
He took out his compass and |
stood by his knee and watched the
quivering needle.
Eyes, SIR he went on. I'VE Just
turned around up there on the hill
and started for Alder Brook again"
AS we went on he added: when
you're in doubt look at the compass.
1t always knows its way.
How does it know" l asked.
ut couldn't tell we how and I
COUNT. There are hts O. things in
the world that nobody can under
stand
The needle now pointed toward
it's favorite star.
my uncle says that everything
and everybody had compasses in
'em to show 'em the way to co." l
remarked thoughtfully.
Hes right" said the comptrol-
Ter. I'm glad you told me for I'd
never thought of 1t. Every man
has a compass in his heart to tell
which way is right. 1 shall always
remember that, partner"
He gave me a little hug as we sat
together and l wondered what 4
partner might me, for the word was
new to me.
What's partner" I asked.
Somebody you like to have with
you"
Always when we were together
after that hour the great man call
ed me partner.
We neared camp in the last ligh.
of the day. Mr.. Wright stopped 10
clean our fish at little murmur-
ing brook and I ran on ahead for l
could hear the cracking of the
campfire and the voice of Bill
Seaver. l thought in whispers
what l should say to my Uncle PEG
body and they were brave words.
I was close upon the rear of the
camp when I checked my eager
pace and approached on tiptoe. 7
was going to surprise and brighten
my uncle and then embrace him.
Suddenly my heart stood still, for \
heard him saying words fit only
for the tongue of Dug Draper or O
Charley Boyce-the meanest boy in
school-low, wicked words which
Uncle Peabody himself had taught
me to fear and despise. My Uncle
Peabody! Once heard man tell
ing of a doomful hours in which his
fortune won by years of hard work,
broke and vanished like a bubble.
The dismay he spoke of reminded
me of my own that day. My Aunt
Deel had told me that the devil
used bad words TO tempt his vic
tins into lake of fire where they
sizZled and smoked and yelled for
ever and felt worse, every minute,
than one sitting on a hot griddle.
To save me from such a fate my
uncle had nearly blistered me with
his slipper How was to save him?
l stood still for a moment of con-
fusion and anxiety, with my hand
ever my mouth, while a strange
sickness came over me. A great
cold wave had swept in off the I'M
charted seas and flooded my little
beach and covered it with wreck
age. What was l to do? I knew
that I couldn't punish him. I
couldn't bear to speak to him even,
so l turned and walked slowly
away.
My dear, careless old uncle was
in great danger. AS I think of it
now, what a whited sepulchre he
had become in a moment. Had
better consult Mr.. Wright. No. NV
pride in my uncle and my love for
him would not permit 1T. I must
bear my burden alone until I could
tell Aunt Deel. She would Enou,