The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-06-30
of
The RaggedieS
BY JOHNNY ~GRUELLE.

an for the old woman intended COINS
back home to get her magical stick.
You will remember that this was the
magical stick which had caught Rag.
gedy Andy when he was trying to
escape from the old woman once be-
fore. IF we do not hurry" said Rag
gedy Ann" the old woman will surely
catch us with the magical stick"
Have you any Of the magical powder
left?" asked Raggedy Andy, because
if you have, when the old woman
catches UP with us and sends the
stick after us, perhaps you can puff
| some Of the magical powder up rhe
stick and change it into just an ordi-
nary stick so that it can not catch US
for the old woman" Unfortunately,
we have none left" said Raggedy
Ann. Our only hope is to run as
fast as we can until we get to Missus
Witches house before the old woman
gets back with her magical stick"
AS the three ran down the bank Of a
little stream they came to a stone
doorway.
Il wonder where this little stone
doorway leads to- said Raggedy
Andy. II do not believe we had bet
ter stop" said Raggedy Ann. II feel
that the old oma is close behind
U.S." Indeed, this was true for coming
around a bend in the stream, as Rag
gedy Ann looked back, she saw the
old woman carrying her magic stick.
Just at this moment the old woman
spied u three friends and throwing
the magical stick upon the ground.
she cried, stick, catch them" And
the stick started after Raggedy Ann.
Raggedy Andy and Mister Milky,
skiInmin' over the ground faster than
they could run. Quick" said Rag
gedy Ann. Let us go into this little
stone doorway" Mister Milky, Rag
gedy Amin and Raggedy Andy pushed
the little stone door shut behind them
just as the magical stick bumped it's
head against the little stone door.
Now we are safe for awhile" said
Raggedy Ann, Il wonder where this
little place leads tor" Let us lock
the stone door first" said Raggedy
Andy. 80 hat the old oma will
not be able to open it," Inside the
little stone doorway the three friends
found n lock and soon fastened the
/ door tight. Now" said Raggedy
Ann LET us go down the steps and
see where this little hall leads to-"
Raggedy Ann led the way down fifteen
steps to another stone hallway. There,
they found a little old gnome with a
long white beard sitting in a chair
smoking a long pipe. g. fello,' said
Ann in her cheeriest raggedy voice.
What are you doing way down be-
meath the ground? Why" the little
old gnome laughed, as he took his pipe
out Of his mouth" I am the keeper Of
this Grotto. This hallway leads 20 the
home of the Gnomes and to the place
where the Gnomes work down under
the ground digging for gold and
precious stones which we send TO the
jewelers. to be made up into presents
for good little children Isn't that
nice" said Raggedy Ann, May we
watch the little Gnomes at their
work."
] GS. lHQeGQr the little IiiNsllt re-
Piled. Il will show you the way.
The little Gnome led the way down
the little stone hallway and opened a
door. Upon entering the door our
three friends saw a great cavern in
which hundreds of little Gnomes We're
working. Raggedy Ann asked one
little Gnome: do you ever find
Wishing Pebbles down here beneath
the ground?" "Oh. no." the little
Gnome replied. An we ever find are
Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds. II
| you want to find Wishing Pebbles
you must hunt along the banks of
the Looking Glass Brook or along
the Sea Shore. I would be pleased to
give you a Diamond. or a Ruby. or
an Emerald, II you would like to have
one" Indeed. l would" said Rag
gedy Ann. Each of US would like
TO have one. Then we will give them
TO Missus Witchie and perhaps she
can make wonderful magic charms
out Of them. " mo doubt she can" re.
piled he little Gnome as he handed
Raggedy Ann. Raggedy ANDY and
Mister Minky each a precious stone.
After thanking the little Gnome for
his gifts Raggedy Andy asked him if
there was not some other way by
which they could leave the Grotto.
oh. yes" the little Gnome replied.
Just walk up these steps and open
the door at the top; you will find
yourselves out III the open air" This
the three friends did, and soon came
UP above ground. Down below them
they could hear the queer old woman
pounding upon the little stone door
with her magic stick, and she seemed
to be very angry because she could
not get In. I'VE must not make any
noise" said Raggedy Ann, "or she
will look up and see us. for we are
right out in plain sight" If the old
woman had not been so busy trying
to get in the little stone doorway, she
would have seen our three friends es-
Gaping from the other door high above
her. Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy
and Mister Minky walked away. just
as quiet as three mice. The old
woman. still angry. was pounding
away upon the little stone door. Il
believe that we have thrown her com
pletely off the track" said RagEedy
Ann. Now, we must hurry to Missus
Witches house and give her the mag
ic buttons and the three precious
stones well. anyway" Mister
Milky laughed, when the three had
gone far enough to feel safe from the
queer old woman. Il am very, very
glad that the old woman did not catch
us again. for I believe she surely
would have changed us into potatoes,
had she caught us again, and then she
| would ho va nllIFn lie into nnfnfO Sn1Tn