The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-08


walk In either direction. coming or 60
ing. without turning around; because
they had two faces and, as Dorothy
said, two front Sides" and their
feet were shaped like the letter r UP
side down. They moved with great
rapidity and there was something about
their glittering eyes and contrastiAs
colors and removable heads that in
splred the poor prisoners with horror,
and made them long to escape.
But the creatures led the captives
away from their rocks and the road.
down the hill by a side path until
rock that looked like huge bowl turn
ed upside down At the edge Of this
that when you looked into 1t there was
nothing but blackness below. Across
the gulf was narrow bridge OF rock,
ana at the other end Of the bridge
was an arched opening that led into
the mountain.
Over this bridge the scoodiers led
their prisoners. drought the opening
into the mountain, which they found
to, be s an immense mems hollow dome lighted
around the circular space were built
rock houses, set close together, each
with door in the front wall. None
OF these houses was more than six feet
pie sidewise and did not need much
room. So vast was the dome that there
was large space in the middle OF the
cave, in front OF all these houses, where
the the. creatures ss,, might oonsresate as in q
1t made Dorothy shudder to see a
huge iron kettle suspended by stout
chain in the middle, and underneath
the Kettle great heap of kindling
WHAT'S ats ' tsstFs asked Id + he "s Shaggy
man, drawing back as they approached
this place. SO that they were forced
to push him forward.
lers; and they shouted in the next
breath:
Were hungry
Button Bright, holding Dorothy's
h d. in o. one chubby fIst and POlly,s
shout that he began to cry again, re-
peating the protest: ne
Don't want to be soup. I don't"
Never mind" said the shaggy man
eonsolingly; II ought to make enough
soup to feed them all, I'm SO big; 50
first"
IAN right said Button-B Bright,
more cheerfully
,, But the Scoodlers were not ready to
make soup yet. They led the captives
~tsto a house at the-~farthest' end OF
the cave--a house somewhat wider
who lives 'here?" asked the Rain
bows Daughter. The Scoodlers near
est her replied.
"The Queen"
II made Dorothy hopeful to learn
that woman ruled over these fierce
Y creatures, but 2 moment later they were
ushered by two or three OF the escort
Yato gloomy bare room-and her hope
died away.
For the Queen Of the Scoodlers prov
ed to be much more dreadful In ap-
pearance than any of her people. One
SIDE OF her was fiery red, with Jet
black hair and green eyes and the other
side of her was bright yellow. with
crimson hair and black eyes. She wore
2 skirt Of red and yellow and her hair,
instead of being banged, was a tangie
Of short curls upon which rested a
circular crown OF silver--much dented
and twisted because the Queen had
m nn1own ,,, nsr head At many things 50
i nony and both her faces were deeply
What have we. here?" asked the
queen; sharply. as our friends were
made to stand before her.
"Soup!' cried the guard OF Scood-
leFs. speaking together.
ra "Wsre not" said Dorothy. indig-
hantly; we're nothing Of the sort"
t,o an, put you will be soon" retorted
iook more dreadful than before,
Pardon, me, most beautiful vision"
sald the Shaggy man. bowling before the
queer pontely. Il must request your
Serene Highness to let us 90 our way
without being made into soup. For /
own the Love Magnet. and whoever
meets meets" me must love me and all my
True" replied the Queen. I'VE love
you very much; SO much that we in.
tend to eat your broth with real pleas
so beautiful?' ."
You 9,. wont be at all beautiful if you
ead me- "r e said, shaking his head
does, you know"
The Queen turned to Button Bright
,D99 you think I'm beautiful?'' She
No said the boy. "vou'r. u0,vn
\ otry. "'""'' sA'u D0r-
III you could see yourself you'd bs
te2 Ny scared" added Polly.
g,onnea 3ueen scowled at them and |
Take them away" she he s comm siGsa
NE guard, land at o'clock run them
through the meat chopper and start
ne me soup Kettle boiling. And put |
III punish the cooks severely VI
one of the guard
,. Plenty Of onions and garlic and
d@ Th. OF Ire req !, pepper; Now co.
and shut them up In one OF the houses
guard. NON'S " NsSp
The place was q sort OF stor.house
e 60 bags-of potatoes and baskets
OF carrots, onions and tuTpips,
These" said their guard pointing
soups with" wi
The prisoners were rather disheart.
eneo by ms Tune, for they saw no way
TO escape and did not know how soon
1t would be o'clock and time for the
meat chopper TO begin work But tia
shaggy man was brave and did not
lntend TO submit to such a horrid fate
without struggle.
I'm. going to fight for our lives"
he whispered to the children, FOR III
fail we will be no worse off than be-
fore, and to sit here quietly until we
are made into soup would be foolish
The scoodler on guard stood near
the doorway. turning first his white
side toward them and then his black
side, as II he wanted TO show to all OF
many fat prisoners. The captives sat
in < sorrowful group at/the other end
OF the rcom--exeept Poiychrome, who
danced back and forth in the little place
to keep herself warm, for she felt the
preached the shaggy many he would
whisper something in his ear, and Polly
would nod her pretty head as II she
understood.
The shaggy man told Dorothy and
Button Bright to stand before him
N~hile he emptied the potatoes out Of
ons OF the sacks. When this had been
secretly done little Polychrome, dancing
near to the guard, suddenly reached Out
her hand and slapped his face, the
next instant whirling away from him
quickly to reJofn her friends
The angry Scoodler at once picked
off his head and hurled 1t at the Rain.
bows Daughter, but the shaggy man
was expecting that, and caught the
head very neatly, putting II in the sack,
which he tied 1t Ehe mouth. The body