she roared. The evening wore on to the night, and while
she waited for the Philosopher to come in she reviewed
the situation. Her husband had not come in, the chil-
ren had not come in, the Leprecaun had not returned as
arranged.... A light flashed upon her. The Lepre-
caun nad kidnapped her children! She announced a
vengeance against the Leprecauns which would stagger
humanity. While in the extreme centre of her ecstasy
the Philosopher came through the trees and entered the
house.

The Thin Woman flew to him--
"Husband," said she, "the Leprecauns of Gort na
Cloca Mora have kidnapped our children."

The Philosopher gazed at her for a moment.

"Kidnapping," said he, "has been for many centuries
a favourite occupation of fairies, gypsies, and the brig-
ands of the East. The usual procedure is to attach a
person and hold it to ransom. If the ransom is not paid
an ear or a finger may be cut from the captive and des-
patched to those interested, with the statement that an
arm or a leg will follow in a week unless suitable arrange-
ments are entered into."

"Do you understand," said the Thin Woman passion-
atelv, "that it is your own children who have been kid-
napped?"