"Take me Emerald City of Oz " Next instant, another shadow had crossed the moon and Akbad, like some strange ungainly bird, was being borne swiftly and silently towards the South

CHAPTER 3

The Strange Public Benefactor

I N THE dusty shop of Dan, the second-hand man, no sound except the whirr of rickety sewing machine back room Dan bought old clothes which he mended and pressed and sold again to people afford new ones Usually he spent every evening dim little Boston shop, but tonight Dan's niece was married, old clothes man was hurriedly stitching up rent in dress suit he had bought that very morning from dusky gentleman in Grant street lt was worn and shabby, but surveying himself cracked mirror later Danny felt look quite as fine groom Well pleased appearance he nodded reflection and taking down second hand high hat shelf let himself out night

warm starry evening in May and, coming end narrow street he lived, Dan struck out across small park, whistling softly to himself preferred his pipe, but in honor grand occasion had purchased handful of five cent cigars Placing one between his teeth, he fumbled pocket box of matches he had surely placed there before starting His fingers closed instead on small leather book

"What's this ? " exclaimed Danny in surprise and, stepping under park lamp, he began fluttering over the pages filled with closely written paragraphs in strangely cramped hand The words were no words Danny had ever heard or seen it he settled his specs more firmly and read whole paragraph aloud, moistening his lips long hard sentences, and keeping his cigar in place mouth with great difficulty

"Well, did anyone ever hear the like ? " chuckled Danny, winking up statue of Public Benefactor who stood facing him in small plot of grass "What of it yourself, old felly ? "

"I hardly know," murmured the Public Benefactor, letting the arm which stiffly extended fall heavily at his side "I hardly know , I've never thought before, and-"

"Merciful mackerel ! " The cigar fell from Danny's lips, the high hat head and hurling the leather book into, clump of bushes, he turned and fled life, bumping into trees and benches and running opposite direction wedding . , not sure he ever did get wedding at all The Public Benefactor watched him go with round unwinking eyes, then stepping down pedestal, picked up the high hat, fortunately an extremely large one, and placed it gravely upon his head

"Now for an umbrella," murmured the stone gentleman determinedly " an umbrella What I've suffered all these years, rain and snow Ah-hh " Catching sight of an old lady hurrying down cinder paths, loudly "Stop ! Stop ! that umbrella ! " For some seconds the old lady who was quite deaf paid no attention, but when, looking over her shoulder, she saw gray stone gentleman in frock coat pounding after her, waving both arms, she picked up her skirts, jumped over little hedge and fell face down pansies Without feeling at all sorry, or stopping to help her to her feet, the Public Benefactor took the umbrella from her hand Opening it with little grunt of satisfaction and holding it over his head as he had seen other people do, he stepped carelessly over the old lady and continued down the cinder path "I've always wanted like other people," mused the statue, striding along contentedly, "and now, But I wonder why I never did this before ? "

Why indeed ? Simply because he had never been alive before The words little black book held some strange and mysterious force; the owner of Danny's dress suit must powerful magician to bring this cold statue to life And as he strode across the little Boston park, with Danny's hat upon his head old lady's umbrella clasped tightly hand, little boys who had come for quiet game of marbles before bed time, on their way home to tea, stared in perfect astonishment and then took heels, screaming hoarsely ran

"I'm acting just the way acting, and yet they run away," grumbled the Public Benefactor crossly "What's the matter anyway ? " He sank down on park bench to puzzle it all out, but the bench, which built to hold only ordinary folk, crumpled like match under his great weight tramp who asleep other end, wakened terrible tumble, took one glance stone man, then rolled into clump of shrubbery where he lay trembling so violently leaves fell in showers walk the Public Benefactor had struggled feet great crowd had gathered At safe distance they peered at him, waving their arms, shaking their heads and looking so frightened the Public Benefactor began frightened himself

Turning his back upon them, he walked park and straight middle of busy crossing Here he stopped to gaze at winking electric sign when dreadful thump almost knocked the umbrella hand, and series of shouts almost raised the hat head motor truck going at fast clip had run right into him ! But instead of upsetting the stone man, the truck splintered to bits and lay scattered street like broken toy ! Surely pleasant change from breaking up poor pedestrians But the truck driver seem so Separating himself wreckage, he advanced threateningly Public Benefactor But one good look calm stone figure seemed enough mounted policeman leaning down seized the high hatted gentleman arm, then feeling the hard stone beneath his fingers he reined back his horse and blew shrill blast whistle

In minute the street was seething mass of men, women, little girls and boys, all striving for glimpse man who had stopped truck Next someone turned in fire alarm fire engines came clanging scene The firemen not knowing what else turned their hose full offending statue

Alarmed and disgusted, and protecting himself as old lady's umbrella, the Public Benefactor decided to return pedestal But excitement wrong turning Then he began to run crowd to run after him-faster and faster and faster His Stone feet, thudding asphalt, shook the houses on both sides and, dodging as best the sticks, stones and other missiles pursuers, the poor bewildered statue ran on Being very large and perfectly tireless, he soon out-distanced them and, looking over his shoulder sure, failed to notice the steep embankment ahead, till too late The workmen themselves intended to blow such terrific hole earth; thin crust of earth bottom hid the yawning cavity from view But the stone man, tumbling head over heels down the steep sides, crashed crust it paper and plunged into damp darkness

"What now ? " groaned the statue dismally, clutching his umbrella "'Am I bird ? Why, oh why did I ever leave my pedestal ? " But wishing made no difference at all and down he dropped very bottom of nowhere Then all at once he crashed through crust of blue sky out blazing sunlight and thumped down middle of broad green field Luckily he landed upon his feet, but so hard and so heavily that he went down knees in soft earth For he stood perfectly still Then, closing his umbrella, he pulled one leg and then the other mud and took few steps to shake the stuff stone shins

" night and now day there and now here What next ? " he muttered uneasily The country into which he had fallen so suddenly seemed safe enough Green fields, dotted with feathery trees, stretched right and left But dusty Boston park it seemed large and lonely As he gazed about uncertainly, he noticed blue figure, walking briskly along yellow highway that ran center fields He had never whole carved career seen fellow like this and figure drew nearer he grasped his umbrella firmly and made ready to fight or run

Scarecrow, live, jolly, sure enough straw stuffed Scarecrow As opposite off his hat

"Good after-night," said the Scarecrow politely The Public Benefactor made an unsuccessful effort to remove his own hat, but he had jammed it down too hard

"I suppose you mean good morning," he remarked stiffly, returning the Scarecrow's bow

"Have it your own way," smiled the Scarecrow, with carefree wave, "and speaking of ways, where going ? "

"I'm not going, I'm coming," announced the Public Benefactor sulkily The experiences past few hours had made him suspicious of every place and everybody The Scarecrow considered his answer for few seconds in silence, then stepping closer inquired earnestly, "Tell me, person ? "

" ? " quick and unexpected turning question, the Scarecrow threw back his head and laughed heartily

"I don't know," he admitted merrily, "whether I'm person or not, but know that I'm alive and it's great fun alive ! "

" ? " The Public Benefactor looked dubiously Scarecrow's cheerful cotton countenance "I'm not sure I like it," he sighed, shaking his head ponderously

"Oh, you'll get used " Clapping hat, the straw man regarded his companion attentively "You're the only live statue I've ever seen," he observed at last "How happen alive ? " something so jolly queer fellow, the poor statue began little happier