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           "Tom,thelibrary’shere.We’llarmourselveswithspellsandmagicphilterstofightMr.Black."

           "There’sonlyonemagicphilterwillfixMr.Black,"saidTom."Soon’shegetsenoughpenniesanyoneevening,he—well,let’ssee."Tomdrewsomecoinsfromhispocket."Thisjustmightdoit.Doug,yougoreadthebooks.I’llrunbackandlookattheKeystoneKopsfifteentimes;Inevergettired.Bythetimeyoumeetmeatthearcade,itmightbetheoldphilterwillbeworkingforus."

           "Tom,Ihopeyouknowwhatyou’redoing."

           "Doug,youwanttorescuethisprincessornot?"

           Douglaswhirledandplunged.

           Tomwatchedthelibrarydoorswhamshutandsettle.Thenheleapedoverthelion’sbackanddownintothenight.Onthelibrarysteps,theashesofthetarotcardfluttered,blewaway.

           Thearcadewasdark,inside,thepinballmachineslaydimandenigmaticasdustscribblingsinagiant’scave.ThepeepshowsstoodwithTeddyRooseveltandtheWrightBrothersfaintlysmirkingorjustcrankingupawoodenpropeller.Thewitchsatinhercase,herwaxeneyescauled.Then,suddenly,oneeyeglittered.Aflashlightbobbedoutsidethroughthedustyarcadewindows.Aheavyfigurelurchedagainstthelockeddoor,akeyscrabbledintothelock.Thedoorslammedopen,stayedopen.Therewasasoundofthickbreathing.

           "It’sonlyme,oldgirl,"saidMr.Black,swaying.

           Outsideonthestreet,comingalongwithhisnoseinabook,DouglasfoundTomhidinginadoornearby.

           "Shh!"saidTom."Itworked.