The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-06-03

mind. But now she remembered
She picked up Purz and carried him
across the room to the table. This
time. when she opened the big picture
book, she saw things as they should
be- In the time it takes for a cat to
arch his back and stretch, Ruth had
shrunk to the size of Purz.
Come on" said Purz. for he could
speak just like man. Hurry. We
have no time to spare. II we are to
see the Crockey Folks celebrate Hal
loween."
Purz and Ruth went down the road
that led to the Castle, as fast as they
could scramble. When they reached
the Castle moat. Purz gave the magic
pass word. The drawbridge was let
down for them with a rattle Of iron
chains. They skipped across it,
through a tall doorway with steel
bands at the sides of it. then they
burst forth, all out Of breath, right
into the main hall of the Castle.
1t was night in Crockeyland. and
the whole place was lighted up with
many-colored jack-o'-lanterns. At the
start Ruth thought that these Ian
terms were being carried about They
were constantly moving back and forth
among the crowd. But soon she saw
that no one carried them They
moved by their own efforts They
were alive.
And then there were "tick-tocks'
shaped like birds which climbed up
to windows of their accord and rat
tied and licked and scratched away,
and seemed to enjoy themselves lot
There were pumpkin heads with shin
ing eyes which danced and frolicked,
and grinned in glee. There were bent
old witches with wrinkled faces and
knotted hands, who rode about on
great, long broomsticks. And when
Purz gave the cat kally-call. you should
have seen the troops Of black cats;
all sizes, all ages, which came trot-
ting up to meet him
Purz talked to the cats while In
cat-talk. Then he sent them all away
again. And here is how he explained
the strange goings-on TO Ruth
In Crockeytown on Halloween. all
the toys and playthings come to life
From witches and scarecrows, to pump
kin heads, they all can live and talk
and play. A long, long time ago, such
things also happened in the place we
call the world. But some folks be-
gan to doubt that such things ever
could occur There were fights and
troubles. and stoning parties, till the
spirits decided that it was best to stay
always in Crockeytown. and not to
visit the earth except on very rare oc'
casions. And that is what the witch
cats told me-" said Purz, as they start
ed for home.
They hurried through the gatewa.
and across the drawbridge. Just as
they reached the far side one Of the
chains of the drawbridge fell with .
rattle, and the end of 1t struck Ruth
sharply on the foot.
-Oh! oh, that hurt" she cried
Then she looked about her and saw
that she was already back in the Il
brary at home. In her pocket rested
the toy cat. At her feet was the pic
ture album. 1t had fallen from her
lap and struck against her foot in iti
fall. Ruth ~ns tired and sleepy, 60
she knew that the best thing to do waa !
TO get to bed Before she left the |
room she put Purz back In his corner ,
and kissed him goodnight. Thanh
sou, so much" she whispered as She
left him. "Well go on other adven-
lures together" And Purz just purp ed |
and purred. and purred. and thu
vlnked his left eye, and Wns quiet