The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-05
IN THE JACKDAW's NEST.


THE scenic effect, from this alti-
tude. is marvellous" commented the
educated Woggle-Bug, as they rode
along.
Never mind the scenery" said the
Scarecrow. Hold on tight. or you
may get tumble. The Thing seems
to rock badly"
at will be dark Soon" said Tip. OBJ
serving that the sun was low on the
horizon. Perhaps we should have
waited until morning. I wonder if the
Gump can fly in the night"
I've been wondering that myself"
returned the Gump, quietly. You
see. this is a new experience to me.
used to have legs that carried me
swiftly over the ground. 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 Scarecrow; mot to walk"
I'VE can walk ourselves said the
Woggle-Bug.
''I begin to understand what is re-
quired of me-" remarked the Gump;
so will do my best to please you,"
and he flew on for a time in silence
Presently Jack .Pumpkinhead be-
came uneasy.
"I wonder if riding thru the air is
liable to spoil pumpkins" he said.
Not unless you careiessly drop your
head over the side" answered the
Woggle-Bug. fIn that event your
head would no longer be a pumpkin,
for it would become a squash"
Have 1 not asked you to restrain
these unfeeling jokes?" demanded Tip,
looking at the Woggle-Bug with
severe expression.
You have; and I've restrained
good many of them" replied the in
sect. But there are opportunities for
so many excellent puns in our Ian
guage that. to an educated person like
myself, the temptation to express them
is almost irresistible"
People with more or less education
discovered those puns centuries ago."
said Tip
Are you sure?" asked the woggle-
Bug. with a startled look.
"Of course am" answered the boy.
"An educated Woggle-Bug may be a
new thing; but Woggle-Bug educa-
ton is as old as the hills. judging from
the display you make of it.
The insect seemed much impressed
by this remark, and for a time main
tanned a meek silence.
The Scarecrow, in shifting his seat,
saw upon the cushions the pepper-boX
which Tip had cast aside, and began to
examine it.
Throw it overheard" said the boy:
ITS quite empty now, and there's no
use keeping it."
us it really empty?" asked the
Scarecrow, looking curiously into the
box.
"Of course it is" answered Tip. 'T
shook out every grain of the powder"
"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
arta in1 "a a
bottom. Now, I wonder what that is
for?"
cant you get it apart. and find
out?" inquired Tip, now Quite inter-
ested in the mystery.
why. yes; the lower bottom un-
screws" said the Tin Woodman. MY
fingers are rather stiff; please see if
you can open it"
He handed the pepper-box to Tip,
who had no difficulty in unscrewing
the bottom. And in the cavity below
were three silver pills, with a care
fully folded paper lying underneath
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 Scare
crow; so Tip read as follows:
DIR. NIKIDIKS CELEBRATED
WISHING PILLS.
Directions for Use: Swallow one
pill; count seventeen by twos; then
make a Wish.-The Wish will imme-
diately be granted.
CAUTION: Keep in a Dry and
Dark Place"
why, this is a very valuable dis
coveryi' cried the Scarecrow.
"It is, indeed" replied Tip, grave
ly. These pills may be of great use
to US. I wonder if old Mombi knew
they were in the bottom of the pep