Evening star., 1919-04-20

may get a tumble. The Thing seems
to rock badly"
ut viii be dark soon," said Tip, OBJ
serving that the sun was low on the
horizon. perhaps we should have
waited until morning. / wonder II the
Gump can fly in the night?
"fve been wondering that myself"
returned the Gump quietly. you see.
this is a new experience to me. 1 used
to have legs that carried me swiftly
over the grohnd. But now my legs
feel as If they were asleep"
They are" said Tip. I'VE didn't
bring 'em TO life"
you're expected to fly" explained
the Scsrecrow; mot to walk"
I'VE can walk ourselves" said the
Woggle- Bug.
81 begin to understand what Is re-
4uired of me-" remarked the Gump;
$50 l will do my best to please you"
and he few on for time in silence.
Presently Jack Pumpkinhead became
uneasy.
''I'wonder if riding through the air
is liable to spoil pumpkins" he said.
Not unless you carelessly drop your
head over the side" answered the
Woggle- Bug. "In that event your
head would no longer be a pumpkin.
for it would become squash"
Have l not asked you to restrain
these unfeeling jokes?" demanded Tip.
In Il tOr h..
we're expression.
You have; and I've restrained a
good many of them" replied the in
sect. But there are opportunities for
20 many excellent puns in our Ian
guase that to an educated person like
myself. the temptation to express
them is almost irresistible"
people with more or less educa-
tion discovered those puns centuries
ago" said Tip.
Are you sure?" asked the Wog-
gle-Bug. with a startled look.
"Of course, l am" answered the
boy. AN educated Woggle-Bug may
be q new thing, but q wobble- Bug
education is as old as the hills, judg-
ing from the display you make of
it,"
The insect seemed much impressed
by his remark. and for a time main
tanned q meek silence.
The Scarecrow, in shifting his seat,
saw upon the cushions Of the pepper
box which Tip had cast aside. and
began to examine it,
Throw 1t overheard" said the
boy; 'its quite empty now and
there's no use keeping it,"
rs it really empty?" asked the
ScarecrOw, looking curiously into the
box.
"Of course it is." answered Tip. II
shook out every grain of the pow
dor"
''Then the box has two bottoms"
announced the Scarecrow. "for the
bottom on the inside is fully an
inch away from the bottom Of the
outside
Let me see." said the Tin Wood
man, taking the box from his friend.
YES" he declared, after looking it
over, "the thing certainly has a
false bottom. Now. I wonder what
that is for?"
Cant you get it apart, and find
outT' inquired Tip, now quite in
terested in the mystery.
. Why. yes; the lower bottom un-
screws" said the Tin Woodman. my
fingers are rather stiff; please see
IL you can open It,"
He handed the pepper-box to Tip,
who had no difficulty in unscrewing
the bottom. And in the cavity be-
low were three silver pills. with a
carefully folded paper lying UNDER
meath them.
This paper the boy proceeded to
unfold. taking care not to spill the
pills. and found several lines clearly
written in red ink. -
Read It aloud" said the Scarecrow;
30 Tip read as follows:
"Dr. Nikidik's Celebrated Wishing
Directions for use: Swallow one
pill; count seventeen by twos; then
make 4 wish. The wish will imme-
diately be granted.
Caution: Keep in a dry and dark
place"
Irr hi In vssn v.1