Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-05
The Light IN
the Clearing
Bv IRVING ACHELLER
Copyright 1917. The Bobbs-Merrir Co.

what to do. Mr.. Wright came along
and found me sitting in deep detec-
ton on a bed Of vivid. green mosa
by an old stump at the trall-side.
What ye doing here?" be asked
in surprise.
Nothing" / answered gravely.
The Comptroller must have oh
served the sorrow in my face, for
he asked:
whats the matter%'
Nothing" l lied, and then ny
conscience caught up with nv
tongue and / added: It's a secret .
Fearing that my uncle would dls-
grace himself in the hearing OF Mr.
Wright, said something's do not
remember what. save that It relnt-
ed 70 the weather-in a loud voice
by wa yof warning.
They noticed the downcast look
of me when we entered camp.
why. Bub, you look tired" said
Uncle Peabody as he gave me that
familiar hug of his.
l did not greet him with the
cheerful warmth which had char
acterized our meetings, and seeing
the disappointment in his look /
kissed him rather fippantly.
Lay down on this old sheep skin
and take a nap" said he. It's
warm in here"
He spread the sheep skin on the
balsam boughs back under the
lean-to and lay down upon Il aaa
felt the glow of the fire and heard
the talk of the men but gave no
heed to It. turned my face away
from them and lay as If asleep, but
with a mind suddenly estranged anI
very busy.
Now / know what I knew not
then, that my soul was breaking
camp on the edge OF the world and
getting ready 10 move over the line.
Still no suspicion OF the truth
reached me that since | came to
live with him my uncle had been
biting and breaking his tongue.
1t occurred to me that Bill Seaver,
whom l secretly despised. and
Epoilt him and that I had done
wrong in leaving him all the after
noon defenseless in bad company.
l wondered if he we're beyond
hope or if he would have TO fry and
Dil1OhC anu ElA Apl vel nut uhA
hope My faith IN Aunt Deel as a
corrector and punisher was very
great. She would know what to do.
l heard the men talking IN low
voices as they cooked the supper
and the frying of fish and bacon.
It had grown dark. Uncle Peabody
came and leaned over me with a
lighted candle and touched my face
witty his hand. l lay still with
Chased eyes. He left me and /
heard him say to the others:
He's asleep and his cheeks are
wet. Looks as If he'd been cryin'
all to himself there. l guess he got
too tired"
Then Mr.. Wright said: Some
thing happened TO the boy this aft
ernoon. l don't know what | stop
ped at the brook to clean the FISH
and he ran on toward the camp 10
surprise you. l came along soon
and found him sitting alone by tha
trail out there. He looked as IL he
hadn't a friend in the world. I
asked him what was the matter and
he said it was a secret"
Say, by" Uncle Peabody paus-
tu+ ne must d blD4t up mere anu
heard me tellin' that" he paused
again and went on. Say,
wouldn't "a had him hear that for 4
thousan' dollars. l don't know how
to behave myself when I get in the
woods. If you're goin' to travel
with a boy like that you've got to
be good all the time-ye can't take
no rest or vacation at all what
ever"
You've got to be sound through
end through or they'll find It OUT
said the comptroller. You can't
fool 'em long"
Hes got purity keen edge on
him. said Bill Seaver.
ION the whole | think he's the
most interesting child l ever saw
said Mr.. Wright.