The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-19


of the Powder of Life around" the
Tin woodman said to the shaggy man.
"A while ago the crooked Sorcerer who
invented the magic Powder fell down
a precipice and was killed. All his
possessions went to a relative-an old
woman named Dyna, who lives in the
Emerald City. She went to the noun
tains where the Sorcerer lived and
away everything she thought
Of value. q Among them was a small
bottle Of the Powder of Life; but OF
course Dyna didn't know 1t was magic
powder at all. 1t happened she had
once had big blue bear for a pet;
but the bear choked to death on fish
bone one day, and she loved it so dearly
that Dyna made rug OF its skin, haN-
ing the head and four paws on the
hide. She kept the rug on the floor
of her front parlor."
"Tve seen rugs like that" said the
shaggy man, nodding, but never one
made from blue bear"
WELL" continued the Tin Woodman,
''the old woman had an idea that the
Powder in the bottle must be moth
powder, because it smelled something
like moth powder; so one day she
sprinkled it on her bear rug to keep
the moths out of it. She said, looking
lovingly at the skin: I wish my dear
pear were alive again! ~ hcL
the bear rug at once came to life,
having been sprinkled with the Magic
Powder; and now this live bear rug Is
great trial to her, and makes her
lot of trouble"
Why'd asked the shaggy man.
''Well, it stands UP on its four feet
and walks all around, and gets in the
way; and that spoils 1t for rug. 1t
can't speak, although 1t is alive; for,
while its head might say words, 1t has
a., AIid hnd n
words out of it's mouth. It's very
slimpsy affair altogether, that bear rug,
and the old woman is sorry 1t came
to life. Every day she has to scoid II,
and make it lie down flat on the par
lor floor to be walked uponi but some
times when she goes to market the rug
will hump UP its back skin, and stand
on it's four feet, ana trot along after
her." ,,,..
that" said Dorothy.
well she doesn't; because every
one knows it isn't real bear, but just
a hollow skin, and SO of no actual use
in the world except for rug an
swered the Tin Woodman. There
fore l believe it is good thing that
all the magic Powder of Life is now
,,ssed up, as 1t can not cause any more
trouble"
Perhaps you're right" said the
shaggy man, thoughtfuly.
"A
house, where it delighted the farmer
and his wife to be able to give them
a good luncheon. The farm people.
knew Dorothy, having seen her when
= she was in the country before, and
they treated the little girl with as
much respect as they did the Emperor,
because she was a friend of the power
full Princess Ozula.q -
They had not proceeded far after
leaving this farmhouse before coming
IL l. -nxra a hrn TiEJnT
This river. the Tin Wodman informed
them, was the boundary between the
Country of the Wrinkles and the terri
tory of the Emerald City. The city
itself was still long way off, but all
around it was green meadow, as pref
ty as well-kept lawn, and in this
were neither houses nor farms to spoil
the beauty of the scene. t.
From the top of the high bridge they
could see far away the magnificent
city, sparkling like brilliant jewels as
they lowered above the emerald walls.
The shaggy man drew deep breath
of awe and amazement, for never had
he dreamed that such grand and beau
tiful place could exist--even in the
fairyland of Or. ..
Polly was so pleased that her violet
eyes sparkled like amethysts, and she
danced away from her companions
across the bridge and into a group Of
feathery trees lining both the roadsides.
These trees she stopped to look at
with pleasure and surprise, for their
leaves were shaped like ostrich plumes,
their feather edges beautifully curled /;
and all the plumes were tinted in the
same dainty rainbow hues that appeared
in Polychrome's own pretty gauze gown.
"Father ought to see those trees, "
she murmured; they are almost as
lovely as his Iown rainbows."
Then she gave a start Of terror, for
two
great beasts, either one big enough to
crush the little Daughter of the Rain
bow with one blow of his paws, or to
eat her up with one snap of his enor-
nous jaws. One was tawny lion, as
tall as a horse, nearly; the other a
striped tiger almost the same size.
Polly was too frightened to scream
or to stir; she stood still with a wildly
Seating heart until Dorothy rushed past
her and with a glad cry threw her
arms around the huge lions neck, hug
gng and kissing the beast with evident
joy,
cried the little Kansas girl. "And the
both looking. Are you well and hap
1--WE certainly are, Dorothy" an.
swered the Lion, in deep voice that
greatly pleased that you have come, tG
q Ozmas party. It's going to be grand
affair, promise you"
'There will be lots Of fat babies al
the celebration, I hear" remarked the
Hungry Tiger, yawning so that his
mouth opened dreadfully wide and
showed all his big, sharp teeth; but
Of course I can cat any Of 'em."
is rs your Conscience still in good
"Yes; 1t rules me like a tyrant," an
answered the Tiger sorrowfully. II can
imagine nothing more unpleasant than
to own a Conscience" and he winked
slyly at his friend the Lion.
you're foolng mel" said Dorothy
with a laugh. II don't blieve you'd
eat baby If you lost your Conscience
Come here, Polly" she called, land
be introduced to my friends"
Polly advanced rather shyly.
You have some queer friends, Dor
rothy," she said
1.-THE queerness doesn't matter, so
long as they're friends" was the an
swer. "This is the Cowardly Lion
who isn't a coward at all, but just
thinks he is. The Wizard gave him
some courage once, and he has part
The. Lion bowed with great dignity
to Polly.
you are very lovely, my dear
4aid he. IT hope we shall be friends
~ when we are better acquainted"
And this Is the Hungry Tiger"
continued Dorothy. He says he
longs to eat fat babies: but the truth
is he is never hungry at all. cause he