Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09
4" Fooled aeainp cried the Macaw.'

Fooled againP cried the MacaW.'
| awkward situation, when the black Milf
ket, who was squatting beside him, opened
| his mouth and bit off the thumb from
Johns left hand, which was tightly bound
| to his side.
| How does it taste, Ooboo?" inquired the
king, while the black one was chewing
| ST can't exactly describe the flavor" said
Ooboo, boldly biting off the forefnger of
| the hand.
| John was enraged at this dreadful treat
ment, and his glass eyes had dangerous
| flash In them. It didn't pain him especially
| for he had no nerves; but to be chewed up
| by common forest Mifket a liberty
| sent
Seems to me there's molasses in him."
! said Ooboo, with wink at the king, and
he D, IT, off - anGther finger gs and
tinued. calmly, eating the next finger
"And Spices" Another finger was gone
1T isn't exactly cake, and it isn't exactly
bread" the black one proceeded. smack
ever 1t Isl and with that he ate the last
| finger remaining on Johns left hand.
The king was no longer sleepy. He had
become quite interested. and the circle Of
Mifkets that stood silently back Of John
were looking at their victim with hungry
eyes.
Bring him here to me-" said the king
'Tll eat the other hand and see what it's
like
Ooboo Immediately pushed the prisoner
toward the rock; but John was now ter
ribly frightened. and had made up his
| mind not to allow the rest of his body to
be eaten without struggle to save him
self. So he suddenly exerted all the
strength the Great Elixer had given him.
they had been threads. At the same in
slant the Arab leaped into the group that
surrounded the throne and placed himself
between the king and John Dough.
1N ,oN1 III I'LL
with anger. How dare you eat the gin
gerbread have bought and paid for?
There's enough for ALL said the king.
Well divide him up and have feast"
mot sou shouted the Arab. HES mine,
and mine alone!'
But while they were thus quarreling, the
gingerbread man, free of his bonds, turned
and fled swiftly into the forests, and, be-
fore the Mifkets or Ali Dubh knew he had
gone, their intended victim was far away.
Chick was very indignant when John
Dough entered the tree house and showed
his mutilated hand.
you ought to stay near me every min
ute" said the Cherub, $50 I can take care
of you and keep You from getting into
trouble. If this thing keeps on. John
Dough. you won't be able to present
respectable appearance"
II know it, said John, sadly. 'Td es-
cape in that little boat on the beach; only,
shelter, and I'd become soaked and fall to
pieces"
at isn't our boat, either" said Chick
'fIt belongs to the father and mother Of
the little princess, and they may want to
use 1t themselves, some day, to escape in"
That's true" said John. How is the
princess today?''
'she's WORSE" answered Chick Seems
to me she gets weaker and more delicate
every day.
That's what the rubber bear says
John remarked. thoughtfully.
"See here" said the child, "that ginger
bread of yours Is full Of strength and
power, isn't it?'
That's what Ali Dubh says" John re-
sponded. THE Elixir that am mixed
with is claimed to be very powerful"
And it's true" declared Chick, "for
I've seen you do things no gingerbread man
could ever do without some magic Elixir
being mixed up with him. well, then
why don't you let the princess eat the
rest of your left hand and get we'll? The
hand isn't any use to you since Black
Ooboo ate Off the fingers
John looked at the left hand neryously.
What you say, Chick, appears to be
true" said he; "but you've no idea how
dread to be eaten. I'm not very substan-
tial at the best, and during my brief life
time I've been crumbled and Clipped and
bitten to such an extent that 1 dread to
lose even a crumb of my person more
than is absolutely necessary. OF course,
I'd like to help the princess, and restore
her to health and strength but perhaps
we can find some better way to do that
than to feed her on my gingerbread"
Very well, John Dough- said the
Cherub, getting up to go to the princess,
IT suppose you can do as you please about
feeding yourself to your friends; but If I
were gingerbread, you can just bet
wouldn't be so stingy with myself!
loft oil Inn, al oh and g.