A VERY PUZZLING STORY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22004, 30 January 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

A VERY PUZZLING STORY

Yarnn Yrlao Urstenr

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Mystery? Yes, that's what this is. Can you puzzle out this story. It's so puzzling that Ernest will give a special Mystery Prize for the best answer.

Binkle 800, the lazy iolngb, who lived in a ndlutbmwoe hut at the end of Wiggle-Waggle lane, hung over his garden gate and waited for someone to talk to* In HurdyGurdy Town this goblin had earned the reputation of being dreadfully lazy. Although there grew in his garden ' weeds as tall as himself, Binkle 800 didn’t mind one scrap. While his uerbsihgno were mgmtirni their esdegh and tending their <iolrfewsbe,’ he preferred to gossip to the ysespsrab. On this particular evening, however, the lane was deserted. As he swung on his gate Binkle 800 could hear the even ottaot of the erhmam of the rctrpenae next door. The hum of Pamela Pixies nesmhcawglnli also reached his cars Of course it was the iahytbrd of His Majesty, No-na-me which accounted lor this general activity. And that year it was not to be just an ordinary birthday, lor the king was about to become a etiecnrnnaa.

Binkle 800 did feel rather lonely with no one to gossip co. It wasn’t much fun living in a town where everyone worked round all the puffs of the Inindeoda” clock. He hummed a little tune just to le: those unseen workers hear how carefree and happy he was, but no one so much as lifted a corner of their niobdlwndwi to look at him.

If company would not come his way he must go in search of it. So putting on his new. uqsayke boots and rwelbo hat and carrying his cane to show he was a gentleman of leisure, he set off in the direction of No-na-me’s palace. But again he was disappointed, for he met no one but Tingle-Toot, His Majesty’s ealhrd, a very uppish person, who gave the goblin such a esdcoresy

stare that he had not the courage to address him.

Crossing a doemaw, Binkle 800 came at last to a little Isceti. Now it happened that the path on the opposite side ran out of HurdyGurdy town to a small sehpesdo Eervaded by a mossy humid odour :om the atpnlstop on the shelves.

When the hazy white light that monientarily impaired his vision had passed away Binkle 800 beheld behind the counter a otamlr ntaig. Creeping cautiously along the bottom shelf the goblin concealed himself behind a eatpck of sedes. Here was an adventure . indeed! There was something after all in having no work to do!

“Just the asnseo for nipgtnla,” the giant murmured to himself, “isrshaed, onsoin, ocrstar, and serusuprtlsbsos.’’ Now, it happened, as the unexpected often does i happen. that the very packet behind which Binkle 800 crouched, contained the seeds lost mentioned. He thought of the king’s birthday, and decided, rather rashly for one who disliked work, to make His Majesty a gift of some sutslorsubpsser.

Thrilled by the idea from the top of his wee bowler hat to the toes of his squeaky boots, Binkle 800, holding the packet before him, moved towards the gap in the wall. The ehtercmnasde. evidently accustomed to the presence of a courageous sumeo, paid no attention, with the result that the goblin was permitted to escape. Next morning when the old imkrmeagac was passing down the lane he saw Binkle 800 looking very glum. If it had been anyone else who had asked why he was depressed the goblin would probably have told, them to mind their

own business. But knowing he could trust this old man with his retsce, he invited him into his suycld bruoapr. On hearing the story, and inspecting the seeds the visitor stroked his long iehtw ebrad. Then look-

ing at the lazy goblin he asked, “In order to make this gift to the king, you are, of course, prepared to do some work?”

“Oh, dear!” groaned Binkle 800. He looked disconsolately at the nleatg of rdrwhunegto in his garden and sighed heavily. “If you till the soil and plant the seeds,” promised the Magic Maker, “I shall give you some special iamgc to make them grow in time for the birthday.” And with these words he departed, leaving the goblin to make his decision That afternoon, much to the surprise of Pamela Pixie, Binkle 800 borrowed some nrgealdng solot and set bravely to work. Before dark the seeds were safely lodged in the brown earth. Morning and night from that hour he assiduously ksdprlien his plants with the magic liquid. When the great day dawned he was up at the' Prst puff of the clock to cut his crop. “Bring out your gifts,” cried Tolgeoitnt. With a simultaneous psna all iswdonw and osodr opened wide. The herald repeated the command, echoing each word by a

upmopso blow on his silver üblge,

Into a large box on top of which was written tn£ following yrehm, Binkle 800 hastily packed his giftUebuspslstsrroo for breakfast,

For dinner and for tea, From the gardener goplin, Binkle 800, To the ireat king No-na-me. Triumphantly he then bore it out to the supplied for the occasion by Sidney Snail and Son. Ltd. In return he received ,a gilt ianovtinti inviting him to the royal uetbqna. As they turned back to their own gates Binkle 800 smiled shyly at Pamela Pixie. “Will you please come with me to the ryota?” he found himself asking her. Pamela, blushing with pleasure, nodded her assent. So that night, on producing their invitations, they gained admittance to the palace grounds. On trestles set up across the lawns the gifts, with the exception of those presented by Binkle 800 and Pamela Pixie, were arranged for ipcbul nstiicenop. The royal edtnatatns were too busy to listen to any protests., Consequently it was two disappointed little people who took their places in the banqueting hall. Catching sight of the king at the head of the table Binkle Boo’s companion clutchdd his arm in excitement. His Royal Highness wore art silk ngsuregrodsn generously embroidered with sslepsrortubuss. “I made that,” she confessed breathlessly. “The Magic Maker gave me the enrtpta. Binkle 800 looked at her in astonishment, suddenly re-

membering he hadn't seen the seed packet since the Magic Maker’s first visit.

“I’ve got iogeitdnsni—clear this away." The querulous voice of No-na-me reached their ears.

“Your Majesty, I beg you, wait one moment,” beseeched the royal chef. The king, pushing his wnocr pettishly to one side, was about to refuse, when a nvgresiman entered bearing a dish, the appetising odour from which caused all present to crane their necks and smack their lips.

Removing the lid. the man repeated aloud the . rhyme written by Binkle 800. Tbrpuserulsssso cooked to a nicety he heaped upon his Majesty’s plate. No-na-me smiled benevolently, and unable to resist, fell to with a will. When the speeches were over the kin# rose to announce the birthday honours. “I have great pleasure.” he began, “in bestowing upon the goblin, Binkle 800, who has proved himself the finest rdaegern in this town, the title of G.I.C. (Gardener-in-chief). “I also, proclaim,” he continued, silencing the sudden burst of tvinosarenco, “Pamela Pixie, the designer of this original dressing-gown, Royal rsmtaesses.”

Binkle 800 zdesqeue Pamela Pixie’s hand in delieht “Lpuostssbursers!” they exclaimed in one breath. And the whole company chanted the word as Binkle and Pamela went down the hall to kneel before the king.

How can you make a thin man fat?

Make him look round. If a watchman had six lanterns imd he dropped one, what would he ba? A lamp-lighter.