The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-22

The mountain before them wa;
shaped like a cone and was so tall that
its point was lot in the clouds, Directly
facing the place whore Jim had stopped
was an arched opening leading to a
broad stairway. The stairs were cut in
the rock inside the mountain, and they
were broad and not very steep, be-
cause they circled around like a cork
screw. and at the arched opening
where the flight began the circle was
quite big At the foot OF the stairs
was a sign reading;
WARMING
These steps lead to the
Land or the Gargoyles
DANGER, KEEP OUT
Il wonder how Jim Is ever going TO
Draw the buggy up so many stairs?''
said Dorothy gravely.
mo trouble at all declared the
horse with a contemptuous neigh. Still,
loYll all have TO walk"
Suppose the stairs get steeper?''
sugEc sted Deb, doubtfully.
Then you'll have TO boost the buggy
wheels that's all answered Jim,
wen Try, it, anyway said the
Wizard. IT'S the only way to get out
Of the Valley Of Voc"
So they began to ascend the stairs,
Dorothy and the Wizard first, Jim
next, drawing the buggy, and then Zeb
to watch that nothing happened to the
harness
The light was dim, and soon they
mounted into total darkness SO that
the Wizard was obliged TO get out his
lanterns 10 light the way. But this
enabled them to proceed steadily until
they came to a landing where there was
a rift in the side Of the mountain that
let in both light and air Looking
through TINS opening they could see the
Valley Of Voc lying far below them,
the cottages seeming like toy houses
from that distance.
After resting n few moments they
resumed their climb, and still the stairs
were broad and low enough for Jim to
draw the buggy easily after him The
old horse painted a little, and had to
stop often TO get his breath. At such
times they were all glad to wait for
him FOR continually climbing up stairs
Is sure to make ones legs ache.
The, wound about, always going up
ward, for some time, The lights from
the lanterns djmly showed the way, but
II was "a gloomy journey, and they were
pleased when a broad streak OF light
ahead assured them they were com
ing to second landing.
Here one side Of the mountain had
great hole In II like the mouth OF A
cavern, and the stairs stopped at the
near edge Of the floor and commenced
ascending again at the opposite edge.
The opening In the mountain was OIL
the side opposite to the Valley OF Voc,
and our travellers looked out upon a
strange scene Below them YES a vast
space. at the bottom Cf which was a
black sea with rolling pillows, through
which little tongues Of flame constant
ly shot up Just above them, and al
most on a level with their platform
were banks Of rolling clouds which con
stantly shifted position and charged
color The blues and grays were very
beautiful and Dorothy noticed that on
the cloud banks sat or reclined fleecy
shadowy forms OF beautiful beings who
must have been the Cloud Fairies. Nor
tails who stand upon the earth and look
I'm at the sltv cannot often distinguish
these forms, hut out friends were now
so near 10 the clouds that they oh
served the dainty fairies very clearly
Are they real?" asked 2eb In ar
awe6 voice
"Of course" replied Dorothy, softly
They are the Cloud Fairies
They seem like open work" re.
marked the boy, gazing intently. III
] should squeeze one, there wouldn't BE-
anything left OF IT,"
In the open space between the cloud:
and the black bubbling sea Tar be.
meath. could be seen an occasional
strange bird winging its way swiftly