"Where House Sorcerer ? " the girl enquired

" lead you Come ! "

He turned and walked down the street, and after moment's hesitation Dorothy caught Eureka in her arms and climbed buggy The boy took his seat beside her and said: "Gid-dap Jim "

horse ambled along, drawing the buggy, the people glass city made way and formed procession in their rear Slowly they moved down one street and up another, turning first and then that, until they came to an open square center of big glass palace having central dome and four tall spires on each corner

3 The Arrival Wizard

The doorway glass palace was quite big enough horse and buggy to enter, so Zeb drove straight through it children found themselves in lofty hall that was very beautiful The people at once followed and formed circle around the sides spacious room, leaving the horse and buggy man star to occupy the center hall

"Come , oh, Gwig ! " called the man, in loud voice

Instantly cloud of smoke appeared and rolled over the floor; then it slowly spread and ascended dome, disclosing strange personage seated upon glass throne just before Jim's nose formed just as were the other inhabitants land clothing only differed from theirs in being bright yellow But he had no hair at all, and all over his bald head and face and backs hands grew sharp thorns like those found branches of rose-bushes even thorn tip nose and he looked so funny that Dorothy laughed when she saw him

The Sorcerer, hearing the laugh, looked toward the little girl with cold, cruel eyes, glance made her grow sober in an instant

"Why dared to intrude your unwelcome persons secluded Land Mangaboos ? " he asked, sternly

"'Cause we couldn't help it," said Dorothy

"Why did you wickedly and viciously send the Rain of Stones to crack and break our houses ? " he continued

"We didn't," declared the girl

"Prove it ! " cried the Sorcerer

"We don't have it," answered Dorothy, indignantly " had any sense at all you'd known it earthquake "

"We only know that yesterday came Rain of Stones upon us, which did much damage and injured people Today came another Rain of Stones, and soon after it you appeared among us "

" ," said the man star, looking steadily Sorcerer, "you told us yesterday that there second Rain of Stones Yet one has just occurred that was even worse first your sorcery good for cannot tell us the truth ? "

"My sorcery does tell the truth ! " declared the thorn-covered man " there but one Rain of Stones This second one was Rain of People-and-Horse-and-Buggy And some stones came "

"Will there be any more Rains ? " asked the man star

"No, my Prince "

"Neither stones nor people ? "

"No, my Prince "

" sure ? "

" , my Prince My sorcery tells me so "

Just then man came running hall and addressed the Prince after making low bow

"More wonders air, my Lord," said he

Immediately the Prince and all people flocked hall street, that see about to happen Dorothy and Zeb jumped buggy and ran after them, but the Sorcerer remained calmly throne

Far up air was an object that looked like balloon not so high glowing star six colored suns, but was descending slowly air--so slowly that at first it scarcely seemed to move

The throng stood still and waited all do, for away and leave that strange sight was impossible; nor could they hurry its fall in The earth children noticed, being so near the average size Mangaboos, horse had remained House Sorcerer, with Eureka curled up asleep seat buggy

Gradually the balloon grew bigger, proof settling down Land Mangaboos Dorothy was surprised how patient the people were, for her own little heart was beating rapidly with excitement balloon meant to her some other arrival surface earth, and she hoped it some one able to assist her and Zeb out difficulties

In an hour the balloon had come near enough for her basket suspended below it; in two hours she head looking over the side basket; in three hours the big balloon settled slowly great square they stood and came to rest glass pavement

Then little man jumped basket, took off his tall hat, and bowed very gracefully crowd of Mangaboos around him quite an old little man head was long and entirely bald

"Why," cried Dorothy, in amazement, "it's Oz ! "

The little man looked toward her and seemed surprised as she was But he smiled and bowed as he answered:

"Yes, my dear; Oz, the Great and Terrible Eh ? And little Dorothy, from Kansas I remember you "

"Who did you say ? " whispered Zeb girl

"It's the wonderful Wizard of Oz Haven't you heard of him ? "

Just then the man star came and stood Wizard

"Sir," said he, "why here, Land Mangaboos ? "

"Didn't know what land , my son," returned the other, with pleasant smile; "and, honest, I didn't mean to visit you when I started out I live on top earth, your honor, far better than living inside it; but yesterday I went up in balloon, and when down I fell into big crack earth, caused by an earthquake I had let gas out balloon that rise again, and the earth closed over my head So I continued to descend until I reached this place, and show me way out of it, I'll go with pleasure Sorry troubled you; but it couldn't be helped "

The Prince had listened with attention Said he:

"This child, crust earth, like yourself, called you Wizard Wizard something like Sorcerer ? "

"It's better," replied Oz, promptly "One Wizard is worth three Sorcerers "

"Ah, you shall prove that," said the Prince "We Mangaboos have, present time, wonderful Sorcerers that ever was picked from bush; but he sometimes makes mistakes ever make mistakes ? "

"Never ! " declared the Wizard, boldly

"Oh, Oz ! " said Dorothy; " lot of mistakes were marvelous Land of Oz "

"Nonsense ! " said the little man, turning red--although just then ray of violet sunlight was round face

"Come with me," said the Prince to him " to meet our Sorcerer "

The Wizard like this invitation, but refuse to accept it So he followed the Prince great domed hall, and Dorothy and Zeb came after them, while the throng of people trooped in also

There sat the thorny Sorcerer chair of state, and Wizard saw him he began to laugh, uttering comical little chuckles

"What an absurd creature ! " he exclaimed

" look absurd," said the Prince, quiet voice; "but an excellent Sorcerer The only fault so often wrong "

" never wrong," answered the Sorcerer

"Only short time ago you told me there no more Rain of Stones or of People," said the Prince

"Well, what then ? "

" another person descended air you were wrong "

"One person called 'people,'" said the Sorcerer "If two should come sky with justice say wrong; but unless more than appears hold that right "

"Very clever," said the Wizard, nodding his head pleased " delighted humbugs inside the earth, just the same as on top of it Were you ever with circus, brother ? "

"No," said the Sorcerer

"You ought to join one," declared the little man seriously "I belong to Bailum & Barney's Great Consolidated Shows--three rings in one tent and menagerie side It's fine aggregation, I assure you "

"What do ? " asked the Sorcerer