The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-28
The Marvellous Powder of Life

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After considering the matter care
fully, Tip decided that the best place
to locate Jack would be at the bend
in the road. a little way from the
house, So he started to carry his
man there, but found him heavy and
rather awkward to handle. After
dragging the creature a short dis
tance Tip stood him on his feet, and
by first bending the joints of one leg,
and then those of the other-at the
same time pushing from behind-the
boy managed to induce Jack to walk
to the bend in the road. 1t was not
accomplished without few tumbles,
and Tip really worked harder than he
ever had in the fields or forest; but a
love Of mischief urged him on, and it
pleased him to test the cleverness OF
his workmanship.
Jacks all right, and works fine!"
he said to himself, painting with the
unusual exertion. But just then he
discovered the mans left arm had
fallen off in the journey, so he went
back to find it, and afterwards, by
whiting q new and stouter pin for
the shoulder joint he repaired the in
jury SO successfully that the arm was
stronger than before. Tip also noticed
that Jacks pumpkin head had twist
ed around until it faced his back; but
this was easily remedied. When, at
last, the man was set up facing the
turn in the path, where old Mombi
was to appear, he looked natural
enough to be a fair imitation of a
Gillikln farmer and unnatural
enough to startle anyone that came on
him unawares.
AS it was yet too early in the day
to expect the old woman to return
home, Tip went down into the valley
below the farmhouse and began to
gather nuts from the trees that grew
there.
However, old Mombi returned earli-
er than usual. She had met a crooked
wizard who resided in lonely cave
in the mountains, and had traded sew
eral important secrets OF magic with
him, Having in this way secured
three new recipes, four magic powers
an selection OF herbs of wonderful
power and potency, she hobbled home
as fast as she could, in order to test
her new sorceries.
So intent was Mombi on the treas
ures she had gained that when she
turned the bend in the road and
caught a glimpse Of the man she
merely nodded and said:
Good evening, sir" .
But, a moment after, noting that
the person did not move or reply, she
cast a shrewd glance into his face
and discovered his pumpkin head
carved by Tips jack-knife
"Heh!" CALCULATED Mombi, giving a
short grunt: that rascally boy has
very good! I'll beat him black
and blue for trying to scare me in this
fashion,"
Angrily she raised her stick to
smash in the grinning pumpkin head
of the dummy; but sudden thought
made her pause, the uplifted stick left
motionless in the air.
why. here is a good chance to try
my new powder!" said she, eagerly.
And then can tell whether that
crooked wizard has fairly traded Sc
crets or whether he had fooled me as
as fooled him
So she set down her basket and be-
gan fumbling in it for one OF the
precious powders she had obtained.
While Mombi was this occupied Tip
strolled back, with his pockets full
of nuts, and discovered the old woman
beside his man, and appar-
emily not the least bit frightened by
it.
At first he was greatly disappointed,
but the next moment he became Curl
Gus to know what Mombi was going
to do. So he hid behind a hedge.
where he could see without being seen
and prepared to watch
After some search the woman drew
from her basket an old pepper box,
upon the faded label OF which the
wizard had written with a lead pen
Gil, Powder of Life"
"Ah-here it isl" she cried, joy
fully. "And now let us see If 1t is
potent. The stingy wizard didn't give
be much of it, but guess there's
for two or three doses"
Tip was much surprised when he
overheard this speach. Then he saw
old Mombi raise her arm and sprinkle
the powder from the box over the
pumpkin head of his man Jack. She
did this in the same way one would
peper a baked potato and the pow
der sifted down Jacks head and scat
tered over the red shirt and purple
trousers Tip had dressed him up in,