The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-15
THE MARVELLOUS POWER OF
Lice

LIFE
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
dra gging the creature short dis
lance Tip stood him on his feet, and
by first bending the joints of one leg,
and then those of the other-at the
sa me 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 afterward, by
whiting a new and stouter pin for
the shoulder-joint, he repaired the
injury so successfully that the arm
was stronger than before. Tip also
noticed that Jacks pumpkin head had
twisted 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 nat
ural enough to be fair imitation OF
a Gillikin 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 farm house and began to
gather nuts from the trees that grew
| there.
However, old Mombi returned ear
| lier than usual She had met a crook
ed wizard who resided in a lonely
cave in the mountains, and had trad
ed several important secrets of magic
! with him. Having in this way Sc
cured three new recipes. four magical
powders and a 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-elab-
orately carved by Tips jack-knife.
>"Heh!" calculated Mombi, giving q
been playing tricks again! Very
good! very good. I'll beat him
black-and- blue for trying to scare me
in this fashion,
Angrily she raised her stick tc
smash in the grinning pumpkin head
of the dummy; but a sudden though
made her pause. the uplifted stick lef
motionless in the air.
why. here is good chance to try
my new powder." said she. eagerly
md
crooked wizard has fairly traded Sc.
crets, or whether he has fooled me a.
wickedly as 1 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 thus occupied
Tip strolled back, with his pockets full
of nuts. and discovered the old woman
standing beside his man and appar.
entity 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 t,
, do. So he hid behind hedge. where
? he could see without being seen, anc
) 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 lead pen
: ell: Powder of Life"
7 "Ah-here it isl" she cried, joyfully
and now let us see if it is potent
The stingy wizard didn't give me mucf
? of it, but 1 guess there's enough fol-
l two doses"
I Tip was much surprised when HI
I overheard this speech. Then he saw
old Mombf raise her arm and sprinkl,
the powder from the box over tn
!. pumpkin head of his man Jack Sh,
did this in the same way one would
pepper baked potato. and the powde