The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-15

a share of the bread and cheese' put
Mombi refused him.
I'm hungry" said Tip, in a sulky
tone.
You won't be hungry long, re-
piled Mombi. with a grim look.
The boy didn't like this speech, for
il sounded like a threat; but he hap
pened to remember he had nuts In ms
pocket, so he cracked some of those
and ate them while the woman rose,
shook the crumbs from her apron.
and hung above the fire small black
| kettle.
| Then she measured out equal parts
OF milk and vinegar and poured them
| into the Kettle. Next she produced
several packets of herbs and powders
and began adding a portion of each to
the contents of the kettle. Occasion
ally she would draw near the candle
and read from a yellow paper the
recipe of the mess she was connecting
As Tip watched her his uneasiness
| increased.
What is that for?" he asked.
| For you," returned Mombi. briefly.
Tip wriggled around up his stool
and stared awhile at the kettle, which
was beginning to bubble. Then he
would glance at the stern and wrinkled
features of the witch and wish he
were any place but in that dim and
smoky kitchen, where even the shad-
ows cast by the candle upon the wall
were enough to give one the horrors.
So an hour passed away, during which
the silence was only broken by the
bubbling of the pot and the kissing Of
the flames.
Finally, Tip spoke again.
Have I got to drink that stuff
he asked, nodding toward the pot.
Yes said Mombi.
.What'n it do to me?" asked Tip.
eff it's properly made" replied
Mombi. ut will change or transform
you into a marble statue"
Tip groaned, and wiped the per-
spiration from his forehead with his
sleeve.
Il don't want to be a marble sta
tLe!" he protested.
That doesn't matter; I want you
to be one" said the old woman, look
ing at him severely.
What use'll I be them" asked Tip.
There won't be any one to work for
D you"
I'll make the Pumpkinhead work
for me-" said Mombi.
l Again Tip groaned.
why don't you change me into a
3 goat, or chicken" he asked anx-
/: iously. You can't do anything with
a marble statue"
v I'm going to plant flower garden,
e next spring, and I'll put you in the
o middle of it, for an ornament. I won
: der I haven't thought of that before
At this terrible speech Tip felt the
: beads of perspiration staring all over
his body; but he sat still and shiv-
!, cred and looked anxiously at the
J. kettle.
. Perhaps it won't work. he NUT
! tered, in a voice that sounded weak
= a-.d discouraged.
I 'Oh, 1 think it will answered
p Mombi, cheerfully. II seldom make
L Again there was a period of silence
la silence so long and gloomy thai
y when Mombi finally lifted the kettle
from the fire it was close to midnight
/, You cannot drink it until it ha.
become quite cold" Announced tbs
n old witch-for in spite of the law she
had acknowledged practising witch
It craft. I'VE must both go to bed now
d and at daybreak I will call you and
Nv at once complete your transforma tior
" into marble statue"
y With this she hobbled into her room
bearing the steaming kettle with her
>, and Tip heard her close and lock th'
door.
The boy did not go to bed as h,
l. had been commanded to do, but stiI
d sat glaring at the embers of the dyin,
't fire.
Editors Note
Next Story:-'The Flight of tn
e Fugitives' in which Tip decides to rul
d away, rather than stay and be turne,
into statue by old Mombi in tn
e, morning. He goes to the cupboard
y for food and finds there, accidentally
g the magic Powder of Life. which h
d takes with him SO that Mombi canno
do further harm with it. Not likinj
n to leave Jack Pumpkinhead to tn
:. mercies of the witch. he lets him GU
-, of the stable and the two escape to
- gether. Does Mombi follow them
Wait, You will find out next week
~ Copyrighted by L. Frank Baum for tn
d George Matthew Adams Service.D