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Show CROCKEYJOY ADVENTURES By BETTY B&OVTNB a J (CopyrllhL) The Transformation of Purz RUTH had been doing some sewing for her new dolL The twilight had crept into the room unnoticed by her, till now It was almost dark. She had a feeling, somehow, that she wasn't alone. It frightened her a little, and so she snapped the button which turned on the electric lights. As the lights flashed, she thought she heard an exclamation of surprise from some one. Sure enough, a moment later she saw her friend, the kindly old Crock-eyjoy, Crock-eyjoy, come sliding down the wire of the table lamp. Hand over hand he came, very much like the trapeze men in the circus. It was only a moment till he stood on the table facing Ruth. He blew on his hands to warm tliem, for It was chilly In the room. Each time ha puffed, he swelled up his cheeks, and his long gray beard waggled to and fro in a very ludicrous way. Ruth could scarcely keep from laughing outright at him. "It is too cold here for us to be com fortable," he said after a time. "I think I'll fix it so that you can come and see me and my people whenever you want to. How would you like that?" he added. "It is the very thing for which I've been wishing," replied Ruth. "But how can you manage It?" The kindly old Crockeyjoy pushed his sugar-loaf hat to one side and scratched his head in a thoughtful way. He whistled a bit of dance tune and walked back and forth on the table top. Then he slapped his hand on his knee and gave a long, good-natured good-natured chuckle. "The cat with Jeweled eyes will be the very one to do It. Bring him here to me." And Ruth went at once across the room and brought back to the table the little silver cat with jewels for eyes which one of her friends had given her as a birthday present. Then the odd fellow rubbed it in a certain way, directly back of the left eye and In front of the left ear; and, would you believe It, that silver cat Just began be-gan to purr, and to arch up his back, and act like he had always been alive. "Now get that old picture album, the one with the painting of the old castle on the back side of It, and we'll make a road for you to use whenever you will," said the Crockeyjoy. So Ruth picked up the book from the corner and brought it also to the table top. At a word from the odd fellow, she opened the book. In the back of It was a picture which she had never noticed before. A great, dun-colored tower was shown. All of the windows were heavily barred, but there seemed to be a dim, friendly sort of light Bhlnlng from In back of them somewhere. some-where. Before the castle was a drawbridge draw-bridge and ringed around it was a wide, deep moat. It looked a place to strike fear to the heart of any enemy r . . im and perhaps bring joy to the heart of any friend who deigned to enter it Mystery and adventure lurked all about it The sight of It, and the thought of what It might hold, made Ruth's heart beat a trifle faster. "Come," said the Crockeyjoy, "today I have but time to lead you to the castle door. And that must be done at once, If at all. Come." Suddenly Ruth found that she had shrunk to the smnllness of Purz and the Crockeyjoy. She took the Crock-eyjoy's Crock-eyjoy's hand In one of hers, and slipped the other Into the furry paw of Purz. Then straight down the broad road, and Into the book, the three of them went. When they reached the drawbridge, the Crockeyjoy Crockey-joy told Purz Just how to signal the keeper so that the bridge would be lowered for him. By that time they had to return, for it was very near the 6upper hour. They hastened out of the book Just as Ruth's mother called from the dining-room for her to get ready for supper. "From now on, Purz enn always al-ways bring you to the castle which Is the front door of Crockeyland. I'll expect to see yon soon," and with those words the Crockeyjoy climbed back up the light cord and vanished Into the shadows. Ruth told herself that she would visit the Land of Crockey as soon as ever she could. And she did. And among her adventures there were some very amazing things, which you shall hear of later on. i |