"Oh, Joyce, isn't this a cute invitation to Dorothy Halloween party? Is yours just like it?" asked Ruth. "Let's see," said Joyce. "Mine says:



This is the tail of the Halloween cat

Hurry, he says, to meet Witch and Bat

On Halloween Eve, about 7 or so

To a house that you all know.

Bring some apples for a mysterious purpose."

"That's just like mine except that mine says to bring oranges," said Ruth. "Johnny told me that he had an invitation too but he was asked to bring canned goods and some of the boys were asked to bring candy. I wonder what it means. Maybe it's to be a picnic lunch."

"No-00-00, I don't believe that. But anyway it'll be fun because Dorothy always thinks of something different."

The great evening finally arrived. A tall spook met the guests at the door and collected their gifts of food. It was a very exciting spook because he grew shorter and shorter before their very eyes. Then just as he was a normal size his head shot way up in the air. Everyone wanted to know what made the spook change size, so Dorothy explained that John held a broom underneath a sheet. On top of the broom was the ghost's head, and as

John raised and lowered the broom the spook grew and shrank.

This hilarity was followed by a ghost story. The only light in the room was from four lighted candles. These were placed in the center of the room, guests around them in a circle. As the spooky ghost story proceeded the candles went out one at a time until the room was in darkness. No one could understand why the candles suddenly went out until Dorothy explained that the trick is to cut the candles in two and then stick them together again by heating them. When the candle burns down to the cut wick, naturally it goes out.

"How would you all like to be goblins and do a Halloween errand?" Dorothy asked.

"Do you mean ring doorbells and run?" asked Deane

.

"There wouldn't be much fun in that if we didn't leave something, would there?" asked Dorothy. "Leaving something at the door on Halloween! That's a new one on me," exclaimed Joyce, "but it sounds like fun."

"You all know about that poor family with a bunch of small children living near the edge of town? Wouldn't it be fun," said Dorothy, "to put on masks, put all the food you brought into small baskets, put it on their doorstep, knock and run. We can hide and watch the fun when they find all the good things to eat."

"Swell idea." "What fun!" All the boys and girls were thrilled with the plan. Dorothy had masks for each guest. The food was loaded into the family car. As soon as Dorothy Daddy was ready to drive they all piled in and were on their way.

When they reached the edge of town, they left the car. They were whispering and giggling as they approached the house with the food. They sneaked up to the door, deposited the baskets and sneaked away. Long-legged Deane was left to knock and then run.

The door opened and the mother stepped out. She stooped and looked into the baskets. Then she peered all around. Then she looked again in the baskets. She was very excited as she called to her family, "Come children and see what the Halloween witch has left us." Several small children came tumbling out, squealing with delight

.

Dorothy and her goblin guests could hardly keep from shouting their laughter because the mother thought the Halloween witch had been there. "Deane is surely the witch," said Dorothy. "He knocked on the door."

Soon the whole happy crowd returned to Dorothy house for refreshments. There were glasses of milk or cider, and doughnuts strung on the handle of a broom were passed. Deane, the witch,

passed the doughnuts. It was a gay bunch that bade their hostess Good Night, assuring her that it had been the best Halloween party ever.