El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-14
ByL. Frank Baum

old Mombi raise her arm and sprinkle
the powder from the box over the
pumpkin head OF his man Jack. Shc
did this in the same way one would
pepper a baked potato, and the pow
der sifted down Jacks head and scat
tered over the red shirt and pink
waistcoat and purple trousers Tip had
dressed him in. and a portion even
fell upon the patched and worn
shoes.
Then. putting the pepper-box into
the basket. Mombi lifted her LEFT hand
with its little finger pointed Upward,
and said:
''WeaughF'
Then she lifted her right hand with
the thumb pointed upward. and said:
'TeaughF"
Then she lifted both hands. with
all the fingers and thumbs spread
out. and cried:
''PeauEhF
Jack Pumplzinhead stepped back a
pace, at this, and said IN a reproach-
Don't yell. like that Do you
think I'm deaf?"
Old sIombi danced ground him,
frantic with delight
He lives" she screamed; he lfvssI
ne livesi"
Then she threw her stick into the
air and caught II as Il came down:
I and she Rugged herself with both
arms. and tried to 60 q step OF q Jig;
and az the time she repeated, rap
/ turously:
ne iives-ho livesi he livssl-he
livesF"
Now you may well suppose that
] Tip observed all this with amazement
IA first he was so frightened and
Z Mortified that he wanted to run away,
but his legs trembled and shook 50
badly that he couldn't Then Il
struck him as a very funny thing for
| Jack to come to life. especially as
the expression on his pumpkin face
was so droll and con1ical Il excited
laughter on the instant So. recover
ing from his first fear, Tip began to
laugh; and the merry peais reached
old Mombis ears and made her hob
bic quickly to the hedge. where she
seized Tips collar and dragged him
back TO where she had left her has
ket and the pumpkinheaded man
You naughty. sneakinE. wicked
boyi" she exclaimed. furiously: I'll
teach you TO SPY out my secrets and
to make fun Of me-"
q wasn't making fun OF you" pro-
tested TIP. Il was laughing at old
he a picture, thought"
Il hope you are not rejecting on
my personal appearance" said Jack:
and it was 50 funny 70 hear his grave
voice. while his face continued 10
wear It's Jolly smile. that Tip again
burst into peal Of laughter.
Even Mombi was not without q
curious interest in the man her magic
had brought to life; for. after star
ing at him intently, she presently
asked:
What do you known
wen. that is hard to tell replied
Jack. Tor although I feel that
nr1fr Ice 2
aware how much there Is IN the world
TO find out about It VIII take ne
little time 20 discover whether 7
an very wise or very foolish
TO be sure" said Mombi thought
-'But what are you going to do with
him, now he IS slive7" asked Tip
wondering.
7 must think It over" answered
MombL But we must get home at
once. for It IS growing dark Help
the Pumpkin TO walk"
Never mind me-" said Jack: 7
can walk as vel as you can Haven't !
=! got legs and feet. and aren't they ]
'Ars thew" asked the woman.
turning TO Tip.
"Of course they are; I made 'em /
myself" returned the boy. with pride /
So they started for the house: but /
when they reached the farm yard old I
Mombi led the pumpkin man to the 4
COW stable and shut him up in an 1
empty stall fastening the door se-
curely on the outside.
I've got to attend to you. first" I
she said. noddinE her head at Tip.
Hearing this, the boy became IN I
easy, for he knew Nombi had a bad 4
and rerengeful heart. and would not I
hesitate 20 do any evil thing.
They entered the house. It was q
round. domeshaped structure. as are
nearly all the farm houses IN the Land 4
OF OF.
Mombi babe the boy light a candle.
while she put her basket IN a cup
board and hung her cloak on q peg
Tip obeyed quickly, for he vas afraid
Of her.
After the candle had been lighted
Afombi ordered him TO build a fire in
the hearth. and while Tip was thus
the old woman ate her sup
per. When. the flames began TO
crackle the boy came to her and asked
a share OF the bread and cheese;
but Mombi refused him
I'm hungry" said Tip. in a sulky
tone.
piled Mombi with a grim look.
The boy didn't Ike this speech. Tor
Il sounded like a threat; but he hap
pened TO remember he had nuts IN
his 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 a
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 pow
iers and began adding a portion OF
each 10 the contents Of the kettle.
Occasionally she would draw near
the candle and read from a yellow
paper the recipe OF the mess she was
As Tip watched her his uneasiness
Increased
What is that for2" he asked.
FOR you" returned AIombi. briefly.
Tip Wiggled around. upon his stool
md stared awhile at the kettle. which
vas beginning to bubble. Then he
WOULD glance at the stern and
Trinklsd features OF the witch and
wish he were any place but in that i
OF ~ 7