said the Friar, "And before God I shall do all I can to send you home with a restful heart."

Duncan fished the newspaper out of his bag and handed it to the man. He noticed how soft and chubby the Friar's hands were, and quickly attributed this to the hours of praying which he thought the man must do.

The Friar brought a candle, already burning, over to the newspaper and in the better light began to read. His eyes widened the more he read, and he gave forth little hisses from his mouth, like an iron soup-pot full of steam.

Duncan sat quietly and watched. He trusted the holy man implicitly.

At last the Friar looked up.

"My son," he said, astonishment in his tone, "You have found a strange and wonderful thing! I have not seen the like in all my reading, nor in all my travels! It is both from God and from Satan, for it uses words from the holy book and from the evil world. I find profanity and Scripture side by side!"

Duncan shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"I think you had best leave this parchment with me for the time being," said the Friar, "It has powerful import! I could not let it go back to your house, where mice may damage it, or thieves take it away!"

"I am glad to be free of the thing," said Duncan, "You may take it for as long as you need!"

The Friar began to look through the pages again, pouring over the news items. He muttered "Prophecy, prophecy!" under his breath, and turned the pages with the greatest of care. He crossed himself at the lingerie advertisement and stared curiously at the cartoons, not understanding them in the slightest. When he was finished his second time through, he sat down and rolled the newspaper up again.

"My son," he said, "My advice to you is to go home quietly, thanking God that you have come to no harm, for it must be the Lord who has protected you, to bring you safely here. Now go, and God speed you!"

"I was hoping" said Duncan, 'That I might find a place to sleep for the night. If it pleases you, I will eat no food, and be gone very early?"

It was a dangerous world to be out in after dark, with many wolves and robbers lying in wait.

"Why of course!" said the Friar, "I beg your