Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-04
"DREAMLAND
ADVENTURES"
By DADDY
THE WITCH OF THE NIGHT
4 complete. nev adventure each ,ocek. beotn-
ntn0 Monday aud ending Saturday.
CHAPTER III
The Obedient Thunder

fHe OOeutSb lHuHueF
tPe0oy, made small through a trick, is
carried dpay by Night Heron to the den
of the Witch of the Night)
NCOME forward" rasped a harsh voice.
~ Peggy obeyed, straining her eyes to get
a good look at the Witch. At that moment
a brilliant flash Of lightning revealed the
creature In all her uginess.
The Witch was Bird. but of kind
totally strange to Peggy. She had a long
sharp beak, a snaky neck and large body.
On her head and covering her body were
bristling feathers. the effect being much like
that of an Indian in his war headdress From
beneath the crest on her head glittered beady
red eyes.
Around the Witch was grouped somber
assemblage of Birds-Night Heron and
others of his kind. as we'll as half a dozen
coal black Ravens
As the lightning flashed, the Witch spread
wide her wings and squawked:
"Thunders roll. l command it."
AS If in obedience there came a long roll
of thunder The Night Herons and Ravens
salaamed low before the Witch.
80 powerful Witch Of the Night who
makes the thunders obey, hail. hail, hail -
The Witch fixed her eyes upon Peggy in a
crafty smirI if to say See how wonder
full l am"
why, what nonsense. You can't make the
thunder roll" Peggy burst forth, indignant
at this seeming trick.
There came another flash of lightning
"Thunders roll! commanded the Witch.
Rumble -bumble-br-r-r-r.r-r, !" came the an
swer from the sky.
20 great Witch of the Night whom the
thunder obeys! Hail! Hail" chorused the
Birds. The Witch's beady eyes glittered at
Peggy. 1T would have thundered whether
you told it to or not" declared Peggy.
"Thunders rebuke this saucy stranger"
q nj 40 had
once more.
"Br-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-rumble bumble-r-r-r-r"
roared the thunder louder
Peggy wondered II this strange Bird really
did have some mysterious power over the
storm But her father had told her that
lightning was just electricity and that when
the electricity burned great holes in the air
the thunder was caused by other air rushing
into the gaps Confident in this knowledge
she decided to put the Witchs powers to a
| test
"oh, look, look, look !" she cried excitedly,
pointing into the darkness behind the Witch.
| Alarmed, the Witch whirled around, while all
| her court craned their necks trying to see
what Peggy was pointing at Meanwhile
Peggy had her own. eyes on the sky In q
moment there came a great flash. The Witch
was SO busy worrying over Peggy's sudden
alarm that she didn't see it, Here was Peg.
gys chance.
Roll thunder, roll, and tell the world that
| the Witch is a big fibber!" shrieked Peggy
| SO unexpectedly that all the Birds whirled
| around in startled confusion.
| .Brum- -um- UNI umble bankety-ur-ur-ur-ur-
! bum bong bong -ur-ur.ur roared the Thun.
| der in emphatic obedience.
| The Witch was 30 surprised that she was
| speechless The Night Herons and Ravens
| were amazed. They looked at Peggy in open
| mouthed wonder. Then to her astonshment
| they salaamed before her as they had before
! the Witch.
| Hail, hail, Wonderful Stranger" they
croaked. Hail to her who makes the
| thunder obey"
=, The Witch was furious.
AS"You-you-you impostor," she suffered
fIow dare you steal my thunder"
- Peggy, vexed at the Witch's claim to the
s,sthunder. answered with unintended sangy
| rudeness:
"Your thunder! Why, you're loony."
| The effect of the word 'loony" upon the
Witch was most amazing. She rose, spread
her wings, opened her mouth, and seemed
about to dart upon Peggy. She never noticed
another flash in the sky. But Peggy did.
Roll, thunder. and tell the world the Witch
is lcony"
"Brung-ung- o-ar-ar-ar-um-um-um !" wen
the thunder,
Hail, hail, Wonderful Stranger !" choruset
the Witchs followers.
who are you?" gasped the Witch. "wh,
are you who dares use that word to me?"
"I am Princess Peggy of Birdland" an
swered Peggy drawing herself up proudly.
Hail. Princess Peggy" chorused the Birds
while the witch's eyes glittered venomously
"Ker-chug! Ker-chug!" sounded hoars
voice from the scummy waters. Princes
Peggy is in DANCE"
Princess Peggy is in danger" came
| croak from farther away. Princess Pegg.
| is in danger" sounded from the distance.
Peggy felt quick hope she caught tn
message. 1t was the Frog telegraph passing
the word along Perhaps It would reach he
friends and bring help
{ fTcUorfow ,piIs Be told fhe ssranae II,
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