" perfectly happy now," put Scarecrow slyly, "for both " The Public Benefactor shook his head impatiently interruption

"Once year, he continued pompously, "a crowd of citizens came and hung wreaths around my neck, and in long tedious speeches which understand referred as great public benefactor what Public Benefactor is ? " he inquired curiously

"Well," answered the Scarecrow cautiously, you probably founded school or library or gave large sums of money poor anyway ? "

"I never knew," replied the gray stone gentleman sadly " carved base pedestal and as unable to bend over never discover this interesting information "

"Then call you Benny," decided the Scarecrow cheerfully, "short for pulic benefactor, look like the person you're supposed ? "

The statue shook his head "I don't know that either," he admitted gloomily

"Oh, never mind that," said the Scarecrow, sitting down on nearby tree stump " speaking likeness of somebody, but how did you come to life ? "

" coming ," exclaimed Benny quickly, and in short excited sentences how an old Irishman in evening clothes had stopped under the park lamp and read some strange words from little black book and how he immediately felt desire to step down pedestal "So ," he went on mournfully, and proceeded to relate his terrifying experiences final fall strange land " very queer," he finished in depressed voice "When uninteresting and unalive, people treated me with respect and hung wreaths around my neck, yet when to life they turned hose on me and even hit me with bricks "

The Scarecrow shook his head "There's no accounting for mortals," he explained solemnly, "but now that fairy Kingdom of Oz, things different Anyody alive here, and no questions asked They even let me live ! " he concluded gaily

" republic ? " asked Benny, eyeing the Scarecrow with new interest

"Indeed not ! " exclaimed the straw man loftily " magic monarchy under the beneficent rule of little fairy and there" he waved proudly left, "lies the capital , take you Emerald City at once and present you Queen What would you like now that alive ? " he asked curiously

"Well," said Benny after moment's thought, " like real person ever be real person, Scarecrow ? " The Scarecrow took off his hat and pulled several wisps of straw head

"I don't see ," he decided brightly "The way real person is to act like real person Just begin acting like real person, Benny, my boy, and first thing you'll be one ! "

" what ? " Benny looked doubtfully strange citizen of Oz The Scarecrow nodded modestly and, taking the stone man's elbow, started down the yellow brick highway "Look alive now," he chuckled merrily, " are to meet Queen "

"It's hard for stone man to look alive but I'll best ," sighed the Public Benefactor in resigned voice "How happen alive yourself ? " he inquired heavily

"That ! " said the Scarecrow airily, " long story, -

" great ugly bird," interrupted the Public Benefactor, waving his umbrella wildly "Let's run; I never did like birds They perch on my head "

"Pray concern yourself," begged his companion earnestly, "and try to act like real person, can't you ? " Withdrawing his arm from Benny's the Scarecrow took off his hat and blinked upward

"Well," queried Benny nervously, "what would real person do now ? "

" run," choked the Scarecrow in hoarse whisper "Run, you son of boulder, run ! "

CHAPTER 4

Finding Mortal Maiden

did Benny carry out the Scarecrow's instruction, the flimsy straw man was jerked ground and fairly flew air stone man's side And so intent were they both upon their running, they never saw the little girl pink dress until they had bumped right into her Now run into is upsetting under any circumstances, but run into by live statue most upsetting thing yet Trot, for Trot, was upset but rolled over and over and bumped her head on an emerald milestone side road

"Stop ! "' cried the Scarecrow, recognizing her at once, "Now see what you've done ! "

"But the bird ! " quavered Benny coming to reluctant halt and glancing fearfully over his shoulder

With an impatient exclamation the Scarecrow dropped his hand and hurried over to Trot "Fancy, running into you like this," he puffed ruefully

"Fancy it ! " gasped Trot rubbing her head with one hand and her knee other, "I don't fancy it at all Why don't you look where you're going ! " She frowned crossly Scarecrow and then catching glimpse of Benny jumped to her feet in real alarm "Who's he ? " she asked in frightened whisper

"Just now he's Public Benefactor, but he's trying real person," explained the Scarecrow hastily "Benny, old fellow, Trot, little girl from California who was shipwrecked and came Land of Oz She lives royal palace with Ozma Benny comes from America too," he added proudly

"But the bird ! " panted Benny, nodding absently to Trot

" my dear, we were escaping from horriblus bird when we ran across you, apologized the Scarecrow with an anxious glance upward

"I don't see any bird " Still rubbing her knee, Trot looked up too and after they had all gazed intently sky for several minutes they had to admit that Trot was right not even speck bright blue expanse overhead

"But bird, most fearful, queerful bird," the Scarecrow assured her positively Trot gave little sniff and while she exactly say so, both Benny Scarecrow felt that she believe there any bird at all

" coming you, continued the Scarecrow in slightly embarrassed voice "How fortunate that we met , now all go Emerald City together " Trot, looking down at her skinned knee and feeling the lump on her forehead, help thinking it so fortunate for her, but being really sweet-tempered little girl she said nothing further and walked along quietly two singular looking gentlemen The Scarecrow she had known for years, but she kept stealing inquisitive glances at his solemn stone companion Seeing her evident interest, the straw man told her all about Benny's strange coming to life fall into Oz

" ever be real person ? " asked Benny wistfully Scarecrow finished his story "Now, as , hard person of stone But like other people, to laugh, to sing, to dance and be happy "

hard to imagine this pompous looking image singing and dancing, but Trot had seen stranger things than this happen marvelous Land of Oz, so, stifling her misgivings, smiled at him kindly

"You'll have little careful about dancing," she cautioned gently, "not to step on anyone's foot, or hold them too tightly or-"Ho Ho ! " roared the Scarecrow " say you had better be careful One step from your stone toes, and one squeeze from those stone arms would finish any partner brave enough to waltz round " the stone man looked so downcast that Trot felt really sorry for him

"I guess stone arms and legs much use," he sighed, rolling his eyes sadly little girl

"But they're terribly strong," Trot reminded him cheerfully, "and fine in battle And after while, 're quite used to being alive, I wouldn't mind dancing ," finished Trot in little burst of generosity

"Wouldn't you ? " Stopping stock still, Benny began to bow "My dear," exclaimed the stone man gratefully, and bending so low he almost lost his balance, "those are the kindest words I've heard since to life and to Oz " Trot, pleased and delighted at such appreciation, curtsied back

"Hurrah ! " shouted the Scarecrow, tossing his hat air "You're acting realer , this reminds me first journey Emerald City not always the accomplished person ," he confided mysteriously

Benny trying to puzzle out just what kind of person the Scarecrow was Never whole park experience had he seen anyone so curiously constructed, so unsteady and flimsy, yet so gaily alive He listened attentively therefore straw man began his story new friend