"Tomatoes ! " muttered Peter, treading care-fully plants Leaning down he picked an especially tempting one and sank his teeth deep side "Ugh ! " choked Peter, shuddering with distaste "It's cotton ! What kind of silly country anyway ? "

"A cotton country, I s'pose," grinned Ruggedo, greatly amused at Peter's wry face "Cotton ? Why, maybe it's Patch itself ! " light of Kuma's lantern, now see some cottages ahead dim outline of castle

"Rocks and Rookies ! " exulted the Gnome King, waving the cloak over his head "It won't be long now before I'm ruler realm, boy ! "

" you just wanted your magic belt," puffed Peter, running anxiously after Ruggedo

"Oh, grow up ! " called the gnome scornfully over his shoulder "Grow up and don't be so soft You're regular Wooshmacushion ! " Shooting ahead like an arrow, Kuma's arm now flew so swiftly all do up with it they had reached the castle they had barely enough breath to mount the steps , the arm, in business-like manner, set down the lantern and, taking the umbrella in its hand, thumped hard castle door

"Good ! " panted Ruggedo, sinking down top step "That ought to rouse them " When no response came, he jumped up himself and began to kick and pound panels Peter, naturally more polite, had at once put his finger bell were thus engaged when Piecer and Scrapper, returning from town, turned in gate

"Customers," murmured Scrapper, rubbing his hands in anticipation

"Wizards ! " faltered Piecer, pointing with trembling finger detached arm of Kuma, still beating door umbrella

" the better ! the better ! Wizards always pay well " Running up the palace steps, the Chief Scrapper of Patch tapped Ruggedo respectfully shoulder "What can ? " asked Scrapper, pulling the castle key pocket

Ruggedo expecting attention other side door and was so startled that no answer, but the hand of Kuma immediately dropped the umbrella and shook hands Quilty statesman It then moved quickly on toward Piecer, but Piecer, with muffled scream, dodged behind pillar Snapping its fingers to show care or the other, the hand approached Peter and, after patting him approvingly shoulder, slipped small note into his pocket Then it shook its finger sternly under Ruggedo's nose, picked up the lantern and umbrella and vanished from view

Even Scrapper was somewhat dashed and, in slightly choky voice, repeated his question to Ruggedo Ruggedo was terribly provoked the arm escape but, recovering himself quickly, bowed civilly two Quilties

" cloak mended," he announced grandly, "and will pay you handsomely trouble "

"Certainly ! Certainly ! " Unlocking the door, Scrapper waved them shabby hallway then, lighting candle, bade them follow him

"I'll take you Queen," said Scrapper importantly, "and while entertaining you fetch our most skillful needlewoman "

As for Peter, so excited over the adventure with Kuma's hand, think of nothing else

CHAPTER 9

Queen Scraps Meets Peter

hard who was more astonished, when Scrapper opened the door sitting room and ushered in Peter and Ruggedo The Patchwork Girl, who expecting rescue party headed Scarecrow or some of her other old friends, stared in disbelief and horror King Gnomes Ruggedo was so surprised Scraps outside Emerald City, and so disconcerted that she Queen on whom depend for favor, that he nearly ran room Scraps knew all wicked little gnome, and had even been present when banished to Runaway Island Peter thought of all the curious people he had met , and this Queen most curious and comical But all kept their thoughts to themselves, Scrapper noticed nothing amiss

"Kindly entertain this customer until I return," ordered Scrapper and, with curt nod Queen, went out and locked the door behind him For second longer Scraps Gnome King stared fixedly at one another Then the Patchwork Girl, snatching off her steel-rimmed spectacles, groaned: "Ruggedo, as I live, oh my land ! How'd he get off island ? "

"That's my affair," answered the Gnome King in surly voice "How happen Queen of Patch, like ? "

"That's my affair," sniffed Scraps haughtily "But some mischief Boy," she demanded, turning severely to Peter, "where did you meet this robber and he planning ? "

Peter shuffled his feet uncomfortably, hardly knowing what anxious magic cloak mended, for how else was he to reach the Emerald City and warn Ozma of her danger If the whole truth both be thrown into prison, or so thought Peter then Ruggedo was waiting nervously reply, and little boy mumbled out few words about being lost and trying his way back home, the Gnome King sighed with relief

"Why get so excited ? " wheezed Ruggedo in conciliatory voice "I merely want my cloak mended and was told it here better than anywhere else What's wrong ? "

"It's wrong off the island," insisted Scraps " perfectly well you were banished forever Oh, for an egg ! For dozen eggs ! " mention of eggs, Ruggedo turned quite pale under his wrinkled gray skin and, as Peter looked two in perplexity, Scrapper returned bringing an old Quilty grandame She was angry summoned at so late an hour and, grumbling crossly, snatched the cloak from Ruggedo's hand Seating herself in low chair candle, she opened her sewing box and began to stitch so rapidly that her needle fairly flashed air

"Now then," murmured Scrapper, smiling in satisfaction, " price ? "

"I command you to arrest this creature, interrupted the Patchwork Girl, rushing Chief Scrapper "Don't you he former King Gnomes he has tried to capture Oz dozen times ? "

"A king ? " exclaimed Scrapper, clasping his hands rapturously "Why, how honored ! Have chair, your Majesty ! Have cushion ! Have-"

"Oh, have some sense ! " screamed Scraps, while Ruggedo sidled closer old woman who was mending his cloak " let him go he'll try to capture the Emerald City He always does "He's mean, he's cruel, he's dangerous, He'll ruin Oz and all of us ! "

"Nonsense ! " sniffed Scrapper, giving the Patchwork girl push " our honored customer, and the Queen here, but remember, I'm the boss Keep quiet or I'll send Scissor Bird "

"Wouldn't this make your ear ache ? " Peter jumped new voice and, peering around direction it had come from, saw little bear peeking out of chest Grumpy, , and, as Peter continued to stare at him, he retired chest and closed the lid But the Gnome King, encouraged by Scrapper's treatment Patchwork Girl, puffed out his cheeks quite cheerfully

" man of judgment," he observed in flattering tone "Be assured that remember this kindness, but what can to repay you for mending the cloak ? " Scrapper looked thoughtful for moment while the Patchwork Girl continued to mutter and scold under her breath

" your slave ? " he inquired at last, turning inquisitively to Peter Ruggedo seemed little surprised, but to Peter's disgust and astonishment immediately nodded briskly

"Well, then," said Scrapper, "suppose you the boy in payment for mending the cloak Our Queen quick enough all the work here and he looks strong and willing "

"I'm not his slave ! " burst out Peter wrathfully "I'll not stay here, you old simpleton " But the more he shouted the more Ruggedo nodded and smiled at Scrapper

"Never mind," whispered the Patchwork Girl as Peter, way door bumped Into her, "never mind, I'll " And assurance forced satisfied Realizing that Ruggedo meant none promises, Peter tried way hold cloak first But the Gnome King, pressing close old Quilty seamstress, waved him jealously away, and Scrapper, jerking him roughly arm, whirled him off into corner

And now the cloak was mended Shaking the threads from its folds the old grandame held it out to Ruggedo As she did so, Peter rushed forward impetuously, but the gnome was too quick for him Flinging magic garment, Ruggedo vanished from view, only the blue patch back cloak showing still room Scrapper others screamed out in alarm, but Peter, throwing up his arm, cried out loudly, "Take him to Zamagoochie ! " In flash the Gnome King was gone, the blue patch was gone, and Peter, stamping his foot angrily, turned foolish old Quilty "Now you've done it ! " panted the little boy

" you not to help him," cried Scraps, coming over to stand beside Peter "You'll be sorry "

"Oh, keep quiet ! " mumbled Scrapper, mopping his forehead patched hanky the truth, the sudden disappearance Gnome King had upset him terribly "I don't see what you're fussing about," he finished fretfully "Here nice new slave to work Out way there ! "

Taking the old Quilty woman arm, he brushed rudely past Peter, unlocked the door and went out key clicked lock, Peter sank down floor, the picture of discouragement

"Why did you say that about Zamagoochie ? " asked Scraps, dropping down beside the little boy and regarding him curiously

"Because it first place that came into my head," explained Peter "Jimminy, but it's long way Emerald City, and something happens him there "

"Will the cloak take him anywhere ? " demanded Scraps Peter nodded gloom-ily

"Then good-bye Emerald City and Ozma ! " moaned Scraps "Good-bye to all of us