The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-06

F., fluttering away in great fright. TITS
a Wheeler"
"a Wheeler" exclaimed Dorothy.
what can that be?"
Don't you remember the warning
| in the sand: Beware the WheelersT
Run. / tell you-run."
So Dorothy ran, and the Wheeler
gave a sharp, wild cry and came after
her in full chase.
Looking over her shoulder as she
ran, the girl now saw a great process
| sion of Wheelers emerging from the
forest-dozens and dozens of them
all clad in splendid, tight-fitting gar
ments and all rolling swiftly toward
her and uttering their wild, strange
cries.
."They'rs sure to catch us!" painted
! the girl, who was still carrying the
heavy dinner-pail she had picked. IT
can't run much farther. Billina."
Climb up this hill,--quick!" said
the hen; and Dorothy found she was
very near to the heap of loose and
| jagged rocks they had passed on their
way to the forest. The yellow hen was
even fluttering among the rocks. and
Dorothy followed as best she could,
half climbing and half tumbling up
the rough and rugged steep.
| She was none too soon, for the fore
| most Wheeler reached the hill a mo-
ment after her; but while the girl
scrambled up the rocks the creature
stopped snort with howls OF rage and
disappointment
Dorothy now heard the yellow hen
laughing in her cackling, benny way.
Don't hurry, my dear" cried Bill.
lima. They can't follow us among
these rocks, so we're safe enough
now"
Dorothy stopped at once. and sat
down upon a broad boulder, for she
was all out of breath.
The rest of the Wheelers had now
reached the foot of the hill. but 1t
was evident that their wheels would
not roll upon the rough and jagged
rocks, and therefore they were help
less to follow Dorothy and the hen to
where they had taken refuge. But
they circled all around the little hill,
so the child and Billina were fast
prisoners and could not come down
without being captured.
Then the creatures shook their
front wheels at Dorothy in a threaten
ing manner. and it seemed they were
able to speak as we'll as to make their
dreadful outcries, for several of them
shouted:
Wen get you in time. never fearI
And when we do get you, wen tear
you into little bits!''
why are you SO cruel to mel"
asked Dorothy. I'm a stranger in
your country, and have done you no
harm"
| mo harm!" cried one who seemed
to be their leader. Did you not pick
our lunch-boxes and dinner4pails?
Have you not stolen dinner-pail still
in your hand?"
II only picked one of EACH" she
answered. 81 was hungry and didn't
know the trees were yours"
THAT is no excuse" retorted the
| leader, who was clothed in a most
| gorgeous suit. 1T is the law here
that whoever picks a dinner-pail with
| out permission must die Immediately"
Don't you believe him." said Bill
lima. I'm sure the trees do not be-
long to these awful creatures. They
are fit for any mischief, and it's my
opinion they would try to kill us Just
the same If you hadn't picked din
ner-pail."
II think so, too" agreed Dorothy.
but what shall we do now?"
stay Nhere we are" advised the
yellow hen. 1--WE are safe from the
wheelers until we starve to death.
anyhow: and before that time comes
a good many things can happen"
| (Copyrighted by l.. Frank Baum for the
George Mathew Adams Service.)
Our next stOry-"The Tlktok Man."
| Read how Dorothy and Billlna escape
| from The wheelers. Then they make use
of the Golden Key. cave is discovered,
ma well ms the ''Tiktok Man" Read about
his cruel master. his imprisonment and
! rescue by Dorothy.