"Suits me all right," said Scraps "I'll get chance the country "

"You're crazy, girl Better crawl into rag-bag and hide there; or give yourself to some little girl to play with Those who travel are likely to meet trouble; that's why I stay at home "

The woodchopper then invited them all to stay the night at his little hut, but they were anxious on and so left him and continued along the path, broader, now, and more distinct

They expected to reach some other house before it grew dark, but the twilight was brief and Ojo soon began to fear they had made mistake in leaving the woodchopper

" scarcely see the path," at last " see it, Scraps ? "

"No," replied the Patchwork Girl, who was holding fast boy's arm so guide her

" ," declared the Glass Cat "My eyes are better than yours, and my pink brains--"

"Never mind your pink brains, please," said Ojo hastily; "just run ahead and show us the way Wait minute and I'll tie string ; for then lead us "

He got string pocket and tied it around the cat's neck, and the creature guided them along the path They had proceeded for about an hour when twinkling blue light appeared ahead

"Good ! there's house at last," cried Ojo "When we reach it the good people will surely welcome us and night's lodging " But however far they walked the light seemed no nearer, so by and cat stopped short, saying:

" the light is traveling, too, and never to catch up with it But house roadside, so why go farther ? "

"Where house, Bungle ? "

"Just here beside us, Scraps "

Ojo was now able small house near the pathway dark and silent, but the boy was tired and wanted to rest, so he went door and knocked

"Who ? " cried voice from within

" Ojo the Unlucky, and with me are Miss Scraps Patchwork Glass Cat," he replied

"What ? " asked the Voice

"A place to sleep," said Ojo

"Come in, then; but don't make any noise, and go directly to bed," returned the Voice

Ojo unlatched the door and entered very dark inside and he nothing at all But the cat exclaimed: "Why, there's no one here ! "

" ," said the boy "Some one spoke "

" everything room," replied the cat, "and no one is present but ourselves But here are three beds, all made up, so go to sleep "

" sleep ? " inquired the Patchwork Girl

"It's what go to bed," said Ojo

"But why go to bed ? " persisted the Patchwork Girl

"Here, here ! making altogether noise," cried the Voice they had heard before "Keep quiet, strangers, and go to bed "

The cat, which dark, looked sharply around owner Voice, but could discover no one, although the Voice had seemed close beside them She arched her back little and seemed afraid Then she whispered to Ojo: "Come ! " and led him to bed

hands the boy felt bed and found big and soft, with feather pillows and plenty of blankets So off his shoes and hat and crept bed Then the cat led Scraps to another bed Patchwork Girl was puzzled what with it

"Lie down and keep quiet," whispered the cat, warningly

"Can't I sing ? " asked Scraps

"No "

"Can't I whistle ? " asked Scraps

"No "

"Can't I dance till morning, if to ? " asked Scraps

" keep quiet," said the cat, in soft voice

"I don't want to," replied the Patchwork Girl, speaking as loudly as usual "What right to order me around ? If , or yell, or whistle--"

Before she anything more an unseen hand seized her firmly and threw her door, which closed behind her with sharp slam She found herself bumping and rolling road and when she got up and tried to open the door house again she found it locked

"What has happened to Scraps ? " asked Ojo

"Never mind Let's go to sleep, or something will happen ," answered the Glass Cat

So Ojo snuggled down bed and fell asleep, and so tired that he never wakened until broad daylight

Chapter Seven

The Troublesome Phonograph

boy opened his eyes next morning he looked carefully around the room These small Munchkin houses seldom had more than one room That Ojo now found himself had three beds, set all in row on one side of it The Glass Cat lay asleep on one bed, Ojo was second, third was neatly made up and smoothed day other side room was round table breakfast was already placed, smoking hot chair was drawn table, where place was set person No one seemed room except the boy and Bungle

Ojo got up and put shoes Finding toilet stand head bed he washed his face and hands and brushed his hair Then he went table and said:

"I wonder my breakfast ? "

"Eat it ! " commanded Voice at his side, so near that Ojo jumped But no person could he see

hungry, breakfast looked good; so he sat down and ate all Then, rising, his hat and wakened the Glass Cat

"Come on, Bungle," said he; " go "

He cast another glance room and, speaking air, : "Whoever lives here kind , and I'm much obliged "

no answer, so his basket and went out the door, the cat following him middle path sat the Patchwork Girl, playing with pebbles she had picked up

"Oh, there ! " she exclaimed cheerfully " you were never coming out daylight "

"What did all night ? " asked the boy

"Sat here and watched the stars moon," she replied "They're interesting I never saw them before, "

" not," said Ojo

"You were crazy to act so badly and get thrown outdoors," remarked Bungle, renewed their journey

"That's all right," said Scraps "If I hadn't been thrown out I wouldn't have seen the stars, nor the big gray wolf "

"What wolf ? " inquired Ojo

"The one that came door house three times during the night "

"I don't see why that ," said the boy, thoughtfully; " plenty to eat house, for I had fine breakfast, and I slept in nice bed "

"Don't you feel tired ? " asked the Patchwork Girl, noticing boy yawned

"Why, yes; I'm as tired as last night; and yet I slept "

"And aren't you hungry ? "

"It's strange," replied Ojo "I had good breakfast, and yet I'll now eat some crackers and cheese "

Scraps danced up and down the path Then she sang:

"Kizzle-kazzle-kore; The wolf is door, There's nothing to eat but bone without meat, And bill grocery store "

"What does that mean ? " asked Ojo

"Don't ask me," replied Scraps " what comes into my head, but nothing of grocery store or bones without meat or-- else "

"No," said the cat; "she's stark, staring, raving crazy, and her brains can't be pink, for they don't work properly "

"Bother the brains ! " cried Scraps "Who cares for 'em, anyhow ? noticed how beautiful my patches are sunlight ? "

Just then they heard sound as of footsteps pattering along the path behind them and all three turned coming astonishment they beheld small round table running as fast as its four spindle legs could carry it, and top was screwed fast phonograph with big gold horn

"Hold on ! " shouted the phonograph "Wait ! "

"Goodness me; it's that music thing which the Crooked Magician scattered the Powder of Life over," said Ojo

"So ," returned Bungle, in grumpy tone of voice; and then, phonograph overtook them, the Glass Cat added sternly: " you doing here, anyhow ? "

"I've run away," said the music thing "After you left, old Dr Pipt and I had dreadful quarrel and he threatened to smash me to pieces if I didn't keep quiet I wouldn't , because talking-machine is supposed and make noise--and sometimes music So I slipped house while the Magician was stirring his four kettles and I've been running after you all night Now that I've found such pleasant company, talk and play tunes all to "

Ojo was greatly annoyed unwelcome addition party At first know what newcomer, but little thought decided him not friends