ntirely stiff."

"Well," said Jack, "me for that harp, if I die for it!" And thanking
Polly Twinkletoes for her information, and promising to buy her a supper
when he got his next allowance, he sauntered toward the castle. As he
paused before the great gate it was opened suddenly by a most unpleasant
looking giantess.

"Ho! ho!" she cried, seizing Jack by the arm, "you're the young scamp
who sold me that lightning cleaner last week. I'll just keep you till
you take the spots out of my husband's Sunday pants. If you don't, he'll
knock the spots out of _you_!"

III

While the Giantess spoke she dragged Jack into the castle. "Into this
wardrobe," said she; "and mind you don't make the smallest noise, or my
man will wring your neck. He takes a nap after dinner, and then you'll
have a chance to demonstrate that grease-eradicator you sold me last
week."

The wardrobe was as big as Jack's yacht, and the key-hole as big as a
barrel, so the boy could see everything that took place without.
Presently the castle was shaken as if by an earthquake, and a great
voice roared: "Wife! wife! I smell gasoline!"

Jack trembled, remembering that in tinkering around his car that morning
he had spilled gas on his clothes.

"Be quiet!" replied the Giantess. "It's only the lightning-cleaner which
that scamp of a peddler sold me the other day."

The Giant ate a couple of sheep; then, pushing his plate away, he called
for his talking harp. And while he smoked, the harp rattled off a long
string of stuff about the equal liability of all men to labor, the
abolition of the right of inheritance, and kindred things. Jack resolved
that when he got hold of the harp he would serve it at a formal
dinner, under a great silver cover. What a sensation it would cause
among his guests when it began to sing its little song about the
abolition of the right of inheritance!

In a short time the Giant fell asleep, for the harp, like many
reformers, became wearisome through exaggeration of statement. Jack
slipped from the wardrobe, seized the harp, and ran out of the castle.

"Master! Master!" cried the music-maker. "Wake up! We are betrayed!"

Glancing back, Jack saw the Giant striding after him, and gave himself
up for lost; but at that moment he heard his name called, and he saw the
Fairy, Polly Twinkletoes, beckoning to him from a taxicab. Jack sprang
into the machine and they reached the beanstalk a hundred yards ahead of
the giant. Down the sta