Oz 18: Grandpa in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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the old soldier, picking himself up again . but being a man of action and, seeing a crowd of Pierrettes emerging from a big hall not far away, Grampa snatched up a long handled croquet mallet and, using it as a crutch, hobbled with all his might toward the exit pointed out by bill . here he_was met by Percy Vere and Dorothy and after a startled look each seized one of_his arms and away they ran as fast as five legs would take them .Percy carried the king's head and Dorothy the red umbrella .Tatters had dropped both when he discovered that Urtha was missing and had dashed off in search of her . and it_was not long before he picked up the trail, for every step of_the flower maiden was marked out in daisies and forget- me-nots .Paying no attention to rocks, sticks, brambles and thorns, the prince of Ragbad pushed on, his only thought to_find and comfort the sweet and lost little fairy who had made the days so pleasant and_the journey so happy for_them .

chapter 19

back to perhaps city

seated on a great gold cushion on_the lowest golden step of_his palace sat peer Haps, pointing his telescope with trembling fingers down maybe mountain . it was_the fourth day mentioned in Abrog's prophecy, the day the monster was to carry off the princess, and still no word had come from_the forgetful poet . between grief over the loss of_his daughter and worry over Percy Vere, the poor old monarch had got no sleep at all and was so cross and snappy that_the pages and courtiers went steathily about on tip- toe, their fingers to_their lips .

" can't you make a verse, idiot ? " roared the peer, glaring at Perix who, with another telescope, sat close beside him .Perix moved up a couple of steps and sadly shook his head .

" but look," he stuttered in_the next breath, someone is coming up the mountain ."

" is_it the monster ? " puffed peer Haps anxiously ." has it two heads ? " Dropping his own telescope, he snatched the young noble- man's glass and glued his eye to_the top . then, with a loud shriek of joy, he tore open the gates and plunged recklessly down the steep mountain side . and certainly the dear old fellow would_have rolled to_the bottom had_not a sturdy oak intervened and put a stop to_his plunging . it was_the fortunatest place of all for a stop, because, right below the oak, climbing easily over the rocks and stones, was_the lost princess herself . not quite herself, perhaps, but enough so for her father to recognize her .Holding tight to_the oak, the old peer leaned down and seized her hand . the next instant he had her in_his arms and was running up the mountain as recklessly as he had just plunged down . but some good fairy kept him from tumbling and, once up the golden steps, he brushed past gaping courtiers and pages and never stopped ' till he had reached the great throne room .

Setting the princess on a green satin sofa, he_gave her a hasty kiss and, without stopping to question her about her strange disappearance, locked the door and rushed from_the room .Beads of perspiration stood out on_his forehead . true, the princess was found, but she certainly was changed and, worse still, at any moment the monster might appear and carry her off .Thudding down the corridor, peer Haps burst into_the apartment of_the tall high Humpus of perhaps city .Humpus was also chief justice and attended to all state weddings . the peer was determined to_have the princess marry Petrix at once and settle this monster matter once and for always .Explaining this as he went along, he dragged the scandalized justice to_the steps to fetch the groom . but Perix had disappeared and with_him every single young and single nobleman in perhaps city . for though peer Haps had run quickly, with_his daughter in_his arms, he had_not run quickly enough, and word of_the mysterious change in_the princess had already spread over the city .

" she_is bewitched," Perix had whispered to_the others in a panic and-feeling in_his bones that peer Haps would insist upon marrying her anyway- the faint-hearted youth had hidden himself in a rain barrel and_the other young noblemen, equally alarmed, had run to_the darkest cellar in_the castle .Hopping on one foot and then on_the other, peer Haps called each_one by name . but there_was no response and, sinking down upon_the golden steps, the poor king wept with rage and discouragement . but the lord high Humpus had_been staring down the mountain for signs of_the monster, and now he plucked the peer sharply by_the sleeve .

" look ! " hissed the chief justice, every curl in_his white wig fluttering with excitement ." look ! " Knocking upon_the great gates of_the city was a weary, travel- stained young stranger . it was_the prince of Ragbad . for_the flower trail had led him straight to_the foot of maybe mountain . there he had lost his way, for maybe mountain is covered with wild flowers of every description, so that_it_was impossible to trace farther the footsteps of_the little fairy . but Tatters had kept on, nevertheless, deter-mined, if necessary, to search the whole mountain until he_found her . naturally, he_did_not know he_was so near the forgetful poet's old home . but when, after a hard climb he reached the mountain top and spied the splendid castle of peer Haps, he decided to_continue his search there and waited impatiently for someone to open the gates .

" he looks honest," sputtered the chief justice, raising his brows significantly, " and in_spite of_his rags he_is_not unhandsome . suppose-"

to_the rest of_the sentence peer Haps paid no attention, for he had already flung down the steps and pulled Tatters through_the gates .Grabbing him by_the arm, he hurried him up the steps and along the hall before_the startled prince could_say " jack Robinson ." the lord high Humpus, straightening his wig, had dashed after them, and, while peer Haps unlocked the door of_the throne room, he held Tatters tightly by_the hand .

" what's the matter ? " demanded the aston-ished youth . he_was exhausted and out of breath from_his scramble up the mountain ." what's the matter ? I_am looking for a lost fairy . have_you seen anything of her ? " but instead of answering, the chief justice put his fingers to_his lips and drew the young man into_the throne room itself . there_was a confused mumble of words, to_which Tatters, who still was too weary and breathless to argue, paid small attention . he nodded absently to some question of_the white-wigged dignitary and_the next minute was being crushed in_the embrace of_the singularly fat old gentleman who had dragged him up the steps .

" you_have saved us ! " cried peer Haps, tears of joy zig-zagging down his cheek ." my son ! my son ! how can I ever repay you ! "

" son ? " the prince of Ragbad sprang back aghast .

"Congratulations ! " chuckled the chief Jus-tice, clapping Tatters on_the back .

" on what ? " gasped the bewildered young prince, whirling ' round .

" on_your marriage ." the chief justice made a deep bow toward the cloaked figure, whom Tatters had_not seen until now .

" my marriage ? " the distracted youth clapped one hand to_his head and_the other to_his heart and fell backwards upon a page who had just run in to announce visitors . but before_the page could announce them, Grampa, Percy Vere, Dorothy and Toto burst into_the throne room . it had_not_been long before_they, too, had picked up the flower trail of Urtha and later the footprints of Tatters himself . you_can imagine the delight of_the forgetful poet to_find himself once more on familiar ground . it_was a hard pull up, for_the old soldier had but one leg to climb with, but they had finally reached the top of_the mountain, and, waving aside courtiers and servants, they had hurried immediately to_the throne room .

" have_you seen anything of a little fairy ? " puffed all three together, and then seeing Tatters, apparently having a fit in_the arms of a page, they stopped short .

" why, Tatters, whatever's the matter ? " Dorothy dropped the red umbrella and ran over to_the prince of Ragbad .

" matter ? " choked the poor prince, tears streaming down his cheeks ." matter ! I'm married to I don't know whom- that's what's the matter ! " and before Dorothy could make head or tail of_his story the forgetful poet and peer Haps had rushed at each_other with_such an outpouring of affectionate greetings, such hugs and claps upon_the back, that nothing else could_be heard at all .

" this_is worse than a battle," groaned the old soldier, bracing himself against the table .

" it's an outrage, an utter outrage . pick me up ! pick me up ! do_you hear ? " the wig of_the chief justice rose into_the air and turned round three times . the voice had certainly come from a pink bag at his feet, for_the forgetful poet, in_his excitement at seeing the old peer, had carelessly dropped Fumbo's head . pale with terror, the high Humpus fled from_the throne room, and it_was just as_well, for there_was noise and confusion enough without him . as no one else heard Fumbo, he had to stay where he_was .

" but the princess ! " cried Percy Vere, extri-cating himself at last from_the peer's embraces ." I_could_not find her, but all these people are going to help and-"

"Don't worry about_that," beamed peer Haps, waving toward the quiet little figure ." she_is_not only found, but married . now let the monster appear if he dare . this young man has saved the day ."

" do_you_mean to_say you_are married ? " roared Grampa, thumping on_the table with_his fist and glaring over at Tatters ." why didn't you wait for_us ? where's Urtha ? where's the princess ? why is she all covered up like this ? I insist upon seeing the princess ."

" one minute ! one minute ! " begged peer Haps, stepping between Grampa and_the cloaked figure ." my daughter is bewitched just now and cannot_be seen, but I'm sure the spell can_be broken, and then-"

" and you've married abewitched princess ? " with another angry glance at poor Tatters, Grampa bit off a piece of_his bubble pipe and sank heavily into a pink armchair . Dorothy had_been trying her best to unravel the strange mix- up and now stepped forward .

" let Tatters tell what happened," said the little princess, stamping her foot imperiously ." it wasn't his fault, Grampa ." she spoke with_such firmness that peer Haps fairly gasped . then, stealing a second glance and recognizing her instantly as a royal princess of Oz, he motioned for Tatters to_speak .

so the prince of Ragbad rose up and in breathless sentences explained how he had_been seized at_the gates of_the city and tricked into marrying the princess .

" but isn't that what you were going to_do anyway ? " asked Percy Vere, when_the prince had finished ."Weren't you looking for a princess and a fortune when I met you ? and didn't we all decide to hunt the princess of perhaps city ? well ! here she_is- and there you_are ! the only difference is_that you_have married her a little sooner than you intended and saved her from an unknown and dreadful monster . nothing so terrible about_that . my hat ! " Percy Vere smiled coaxingly at_the prince and encouragingly at peer Haps, for he_did_not like to_see any of_his friends unhappy .

" but i_was only going to rrr- rescue her," wailed Tatters .

" the difference is_that we haven't seen the princess," put in Grampa more mildly ." we'd save anybody from a monster, but don't you_think, Mr Vere, it_was unfair to marry Tatters to a princess he's never even seen ? "

" idiot," screamed a harsh voice .Whirling around, the startled company saw a bent and dreadful old man standing just inside the long window ." idiot ! " he shrieked again, pointing a long trembling finger at peer Haps ." you_have married your daughter to a monster ! "

" it's Abrog," gasped Percy Vere, clutching Dorothy's hand .

" monster," roared Grampa, and hopping over to_the prophet, he seized him by_the beard ." how dare you call Tatters a monster ? I'll fight you ! " puffed the old soldier furiously .

Jerking away, Abrog leaned down, picked up Fumbo's head and set it upon Tatters' shoulders ." see," he screamed wildly, " you_have married your daughter to a monster with two heads ." and as peer Haps, who knew nothing of Tatters' story, fell back aghast, Fumbo stuck his head out_of_the bag and began scolding everyone in_the room .

in_the uproar that followed and while Percy, Dorothy, and Grampa were trying all at once to explain things to_the old peer, the prophet himself began to move stealthily toward the princess . only Tatters saw this .Placing his father's head carefully on_the table, he reached out and, just as Abrog reached her, the prince seized him roughly by_the collar . but he_was not quick enough .Abrog had already snatched away the cloak and there - trembling and sorrowful - stood the princess of perhaps city, herself .Tatters loosed his hold upon_the prophet .

"Urtha," cried the overwrought young bride- groom and took the frightened little fairy in_his arms .

chapter 20

the prophet Confesses

you_can well imagine the surprise of Grampa and_his little army to discover that_the flower maiden whom they had_been loving all this while was really the lost princess . how the story ever would_have_been straightened out had it not been for Dorothy, I_have no idea .

" why didn't you tell us it_was Urtha ? " shouted Grampa, shaking his finger indignantly at peer Haps .

" and who_is Urtha ? " gasped the astonished old monarch, fanning himself with_his crown, for he_was in_such a state by_this_time that he hardly knew what he_was doing ." my daughter's name is pretty good-isn't it,

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