The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-28

The boy didn't like this speech, for
| it sounded like a threat; but he hap
lpened to remember he had nuts in his
pocket, so he cracked some OF those
and ate them while the woman rose,
shook the crumbs from her apron, and
hung above the fire a small black
kettle.
Then she measured out equal parts
! Of milk and vinegar and poured them
into the kettle. Next she produced
several packets OF herbs and powders
and began adding a portion Of each
to the contents OF the kettle. Occa-
Esionally she would would draw near
the candle and read from a yellow
Iconcocting.
AS Tip watched her his uneasiness
increased.
what is that for?" he asked.
"F'or you," returned Mombi briefly.
Tip wriggled around upon his stool
and stared awhile at the kettle. Then
he would glance at the stern and
wrinkIed features of the witch and
wish he were any place but in that
dim and smoky kitchen, where even
the shadows cast by the candle upon
the wall were enough to give one the
horrors. So an hour passed away,
broken by the bubbling of the pot and
the kissing Of the flames.
Finally, Tip spoke again.
"Have I got to drink that stum?" he
asked, nodding toward the pot.
'fYes,'' said Mombi.
"Whatn it do to me?" asked Tip.
'If it's properly made" replied
Mornbi, "it will change or transform
you into a marble statue.
Tip groaned, and wiped the perspi-
ration from his forehead with his
sleeve.
Il don't want to be a marble statue"
he protested.
"That doesn't matter; ] want you
ing at him severely.
What use'II be then?" asked Tip.
There won't be any one to work for
you"
"I'll make the Pumpsinhead work
for me- said Mombi.
Again Tip groaned.
"Why don't you change me into a
goat or chicken?" he asked anxiously.
You can't do anything with a marble
statue"
'oh, yes; can," returned Monnbi.
TIN going to plant a flower garden
next Spring and I'll put you in the
middle Of it, for an ornament
wonder haven't thought Of that be-
fore; you've been a bother to me for
years."
At this terrible speech Tip felt the
beads of perspiration starting all over
his body; but he sat still and shiv-
cred and looked anxiously at the ket-
tie.
"Perhaps it won't work. he NUT
tered in a voice that sounded weak
and discouraged.
"Oh, I think 1t WILL" answered
Mombi, cheerfully. II seldomsmake a
mistake"
Again there was period Of silence
"a silence so long and gloomy that
when Mombi finally lifted the kettle
from the fire it was close to mid
night.
"You cannot drink 1t until it has
become quite cold" announced the
old witch-for in spite Of the law she
had acknowledged practicing witch
craft. 1--WE must both go to bed now,
and at daybreak will call you and at
once complete your transformation in
to marble statue"
with this she hobbled into her
room, bearing the steaming kettle
with her, and Tip heard her close and
lock the door.
Inc pOy QlQ LOt 80 10 DSu dS 1IC
had been commanded to do, but still
sat glaring at the embers of the dying
fire.
Next story-"The Flight Of the
Fugitives,' in which Tip decides to
run away, rather than stay and be
turned into a statue by old Mombi in
the morning. He goes to the cup
board for food and finds There, acci-
IDENTIFY, the magic Powder of Life,
which he takes with him so that
Mombi cannot do further harm with
it. Not liking to leave Jack Pump
kinhead to the tender mercies of the
witch, he let's him out of the stable
and the two escape. Does Mombi fol-
low them? Wait! You will see, next
week.
(Copyrighted by L. Frank Baum
for the George Matthew Adams ser
vice.)
-~I~~e~e4~~-e-es~-@-@-@J~Ss