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Show CROCKEYJOY ADVENTURES Bj BETTY BROWXB (Cop-rlht) A Crockey Halloween RUTH wanted to see If she really could go into the front door of Crockeytown, all by herself. So she put the big red velvet-covered picture album on the library table and opened It to the enchanted picture of Crockey castle. At least, she tried to open It to the picture, but something was awry. The castle only looked like any other of those pictured In the book. But listen! What was that? Ruth heard a faint little ghost of a tune. Or was it a tune? It sounded just as though a tea-kettle were bubbling on the fire. exceDt that each little ntir- ring note arose as musical as the twang of a harp-string being thumbed. Ruth closed the book and started on a search for the maker of this odd music. Then she saw her little toy-cat toy-cat of silver with the emerald eyes. And, if you will believe me, she surely saw him wink at her and wiggle one ear. That was enough to show Ruth who had been making the music. It was the cat "Purz," as the name on his collar read. Now, as you may know, the kindly old Crockeyjoy had told Euth that, excepting himself, Purz alone could aid her in entering Crockeyland. The old fellow's words had slipped her 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 a man. "Hurry. We have no time to spare, If we are to see the Crockey Folks celebrate Halloween." 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. It was night in Crockeyland, and the whole place was lighted up with many-colored jack-o'-lanterns. At the start Ruth thought that these lanterns lan-terns 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 "tlck-tocks" shaped like birds, which climbed up to windows of their accord and rattled rat-tled and ticked and scratched away, and seemed to enjoy themselves a lot. There were pumpkin heads with shining shin-ing eyes which danced and frolicked, und 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 tally-call, you should have seen the troops of black cats ; all sizes, all ages, which came trot-tinz trot-tinz up to meet him. Purz talked to the cats a 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 gun 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 ulways in Crockeytown. and not tc visit the earth except on very rare occasions. oc-casions. And that Is what the witch cats told me," suid Purz, as they start' ed for home. They hurried through the gateway and across the drawbridge. Just as they reached the far side one of tlit chains of the drawbridge fell with i rattle, and the end of it struck Ruth sharply on the foot. "Oh ! oh, that hurt," she cried Then she looked about her and saw that she was already hack in the library li-brary at home. In her pocket rested the toy cat. At her feet was the picture pic-ture album. It had fallen from hei lap and struck against her foot in iti fail. Ruth wns tired and sleepy, sc she knew that the best thing to do was 10 get to bed. Before she left the room she put I'urz back in his coniei and kissed him good-night. "Thanli I you. so much." she whispered as she left him. "We'll go on other adventures adven-tures together." And I'urz just pund j and purred, and purred, and tru j winked his left eye, aDd was quiet |