w sat down again and took from beneath her cape a small
pad, a long quill pen and a queer little bottle filled with milky white
fluid.

"If you drink any of that you'll get as small as a flea," said Fat in a
low voice.

The old witch rapped hard on the floor with her cane.

"Herbie, come forward," she commanded.

"Go ahead," giggled Reddy, giving him a little push and Herbie stepped
before the witch.

She did not notice him at first, being very busy writing upon a slip of
paper with the quill pen which she dipped into a little bottle.
Presently she raised her head and handed him the paper.

"Bend low thine ear," she said, and Herbie obeyed.

"Keep this until I am gone," she added, "then hold it over yonder candle
light, for thy fortune is written there."

Each boy was now called in turn and received a slip of paper. Then the
old witch arose.

"To those who obey my commands, good luck; to those who disobey, ill
fortune," she cried, shaking her stick in the air, and in another moment
she had quickly hobbled from the room.

Chuck now turned on the lights and Linn exclaimed:

"Where on earth did she ever come from?"

"Why, witches come out of the air," explained Toad. "They travel on a
broomstick."

"Let's see what she wrote on the papers," proposed Hopie Smith.

"Yes," agreed Reddy, "she told me to hold it over the candle light," at
which Chuck came forward with a candle that he placed on the center
table, holding his slip of paper over the flame. The other boys eagerly
gathered about to watch.

Soon the paper got hot and letters began to appear.

"Look, there's an 'a' and two 'e's,' and--and," cried Chuck, "it's quite
plain now. I can read it."

"Go on," shouted Reddy, "let's hear it."

Chuck began:

"If your head will rule your heart,
From a cent you'll never part;
So tell your heart to rule your head,
And all will mourn you when you're dead."

"That means if you're stingy no one will care when you're gone,"
explained Linn, at which Chuck laughed with the others.

Herbie now held his over the light, and as the letters appeared, he
read:

"Don't always be in too great haste,
It often means a dreadful waste;
Await your turn and take with ease,
The piece you want with fingers greased."

"That's you and the molasses candy," laughed Reddy, adding, "Here's
mine:

"Your hair may be of brilliant hue,