"Why ! " exclaimed the Prince of Ragbad, "she's growing flower bed Oh, Grampa, if she were only alive ! "

" she were myself," sighed the old soldier "This wizard must know deal of magic to grow little fairy like that Mind what you're about there," sharply to Bill The weather cock had flown over the hedge and was hopping so close flower girl it made Grampa nervous

"But look ! " crowed Bill, "Looky look ! " Under the hedge and padlocked to small iron ring ground was gold watering can It take Grampa and Tatters long to leap over the hedge , for old soldier said himself, the wizard was doubtless away and their plain duty little flower maid had freshening spray left the garden First Tatters tried to wrench the can loose The golden chain padlock was so slender it broken first tug, but it held like iron Then Grampa tried his hand, but with no better luck, next both Grampa and Tatters tugged together, Bill doing his bit by jerking out the Prince's coat tails

"More magic ! " panted Grampa, sucking his thumb "The only way it loose is the key "

"The key," shrilled Tatters, suddenly diving into his pocket "Why, I wonder if key ? " Jubilantly he produced the tiny gold key Bill had taken bandit next instant he had fitted it padlock

"Vaga stolen that wizard when the medicine," mused Grampa, " wizard's mighty particular old gold can " He sniffed scornfully as Tatters slid it from its chain "Here, I'll fill it fountain "

"But it's already full," answered the Prince of Ragbad, giving it little shake

Running over mossy bed, he tilted the gold can forward and sprayed the little flower lady from top to toe Stars ! No sooner had the last drop fallen than perfectly amazing thing happened-so amazing that Grampa and Tatters clutched from tumbling over backwards and Bill flew screaming nearest tree little flower maiden slowly and gracefully rose from her bed, poised moment on tiptoe and then, with merry little laugh, bounded over to Grampa and Tatters and seized their hands Next thing they were whirling round and round jolliest fashion imaginable, faster and faster and faster, till everything grew blurred and all three tumbled down in heap

"Oh, forget-me-nots-isn't that fun ! " trilled the little flower girl, jumping lightly to her feet "Oh, I've wanted to always ! "

"Who-who ? " gasped Tatters, for Grampa, between loss of breath and astonishment, was perfectly speechless

"Why, just my own self," smiled the little creature, flinging back her feathery hair

"How blow ? How blow ? " shrieked Bill, falling in heap beside her

"He means how do ," puffed Grampa, laughing of himself "You'll have to excuse him for he's weather cock and used to talking to Augusta " Then little maiden still seemed puzzled, Grampa finished his sentence "Augusta Wind," chuckled the old soldier, with wink that made them all laugh, except Bill, who continued to regard the flower girl intently

" Princess ? " asked Bill, head anxiously on one side

"No," mused the little girl slowly, "I don't think I'm Princess, let-me-see Oh, I remember now the old wizard telling the birds my name was Urtha, because I'm made of earth ! "

"Go along then," snapped Bill crossly "We're looking for Princess "

"Don't mind him," begged Tatters jumping up hastily

"Tell us about yourself, Miss Posy," cried Grampa, straightening his cap and feeling his game leg slyly dance it had turned completely around "I declare you're the loveliest little lady I've met in all my travels "

The roses in Urtha's cheeks seemed to grow pinker at Grampa's words

"There isn't much ," she began softly "I don't seem to remember anything but this garden I guess I just grew, she finished with little bounce that sent her skirts flying out in every direction

"And whatever was gold watering can brought you to life I believe you're fairy," said the old soldier solemnly

"No ! No ! " laughed the little flower girl, seizing long trailing vine "I'm just Urtha " And using the vine as skipping rope she flashed up and down the silver paths so swiftly made Tatters and Grampa blink just her dancing steps

" you going now that alive ? " asked Tatters as she paused for moment beside him

"Just going happy garden," replied Urtha with little shake of her lovely fern hair

" stay too," sighed Tatters, for think of no end of games teach Urtha, and even the Emerald City, he reflected, lovelier than this enchanted garden Grampa gave start at Tatters' words and, suddenly recalled duty, gathered up his gun and knapsack

"It's been pleasure you, my dear," said Grampa gallantly, taking off his cap, "but we'll have marching on now, for we've long journey

"Oh ! " Urtha gave little cry of dismay "Didn't you grow garden too ? " Grampa shook his head and as quickly as told her how King Fumbo had lost his head and how he and Tatters had set out to seek it Prince's fortune Urtha was almost puzzled over fortune as Bill Indeed, the whole of Grampa's story was confusing- see it first story the little flower maiden had ever heard But Prince Tatters old soldier interested her tremendously She touched Grampa's medals shyly and admire Tatters' patched and many colored suit enough As for Bill, she blew him kisses embarrassed weather cock flew and hid himself in an oleander bush Saying good-bye to dear little Urtha was difficult business, but at last Grampa, with very determined expression, shouldered his gun and Tatters reluctantly picked up his red umbrella

"Come on ! " shouted Bill, impatiently sticking his head bush "Come on, or we'll never find the head, the fortune Princess " As Urtha turned out Princess he had lost all interest in her

"But I'll miss you," sighed Urtha, and drooped so sadly against tree that Tatters promptly fell out of line and began to comfort her

"You won't miss us," said Grampa, looking uneasily at his watch, " 't miss people you've just met, " The old soldier was faced with problem the like he had never before encountered, and plainly at loss what

"I've known you longer than anyone else I've known you my whole life," sighed Urtha wistfully

"But you've only been alive five minutes," smiled the old soldier indulgently

"Why don't you join the army like ? " inquired Bill, who was anxious off

"Oh, couldn't she ? " begged Tatters eagerly Grampa shifted his feet and looked uncertainly little flower maiden She seemed too frail and delicate to set out on ajourney of adventure "But," reflected the old soldier, "if she's fairy nothing can harm her and if she's not, someone ought to look out for her brought her to life we're responsible "

"Come along ," cried Grampa recklessly So away wizard's garden marched this strange little army, the patched flag of Ragbad fluttering top of Tatters' red umbrella little flower maiden falling out of line every to dance gaily round tree or skip merrily through fountain

She fairly seemed to float above the flowers that blossomed along the way, as her dainty feet slipped from daisy to daisy Prince Tatters could hardly keep his eyes away from Urtha as she danced along the way And Grampa smiled happily delight two happy young people

CHAPTER 7

The Winding Stairway

twilight wizard's garden All the lanterns burned low birds twittered drowsily tree tops Grampa and Tatters sat wearily upon golden bench-for after whole day's march they were no nearer the Emerald City than before Indeed, there seemed no way enchanted garden They had lunched satisfactorily fruit of bread and butter bush, and Grampa's knapsack was full of nicely spread slices, but for all that each felt tired and downhearted

Urtha, contrary, was as fresh and merry as morning and, seated under willow tree, was weaving daisy chain for Bill

" certainly fairy," mused Grampa and absently pulling blossom from nearby bush he popped it into his mouth "We'll take her back to Ragbad, my boy, and won't she liven up the old castle ! I tell you, now-Suddenly Grampa stopped speaking and clapped his hand belt His eyes grew rounder and rounder and Tatters, turning why finish his sentence, gave little scream of fright

"Help ! " called the Prince of Ragbad in an agonized voice "Help ! Help ! " Urtha was beside him in an instant, while Bill circled wildly overhead

"He's growing," breathed the little flower maid softly

"Yes," groaned Tatters distractedly, "he's growing chimney ! " And Tatters was quite right old soldier growing chimney, but bay window The chimney had knocked off his cap and grown brick by brick horrified Prince looked on The bay window, of fancy wood-work and glass, jutted out three feet beyond Grampa's waist line (The old soldier had always been proud slim figure )

" my pipe," panted Grampa in choked voice He had no idea happening, but felt too terribly dreadful for words Tatters sank on one knee, snatched the pipe from its place game leg and lit it with trembling fingers Then it he caught sight sign bush beside Grampa "House plants," said the sign distinctly

"Oh ! " wailed the Prince, suddenly remembering that Grampa had eaten blossoms, "you've eaten house plant and there's chimney sticking out of your head "

" ! " roared Grampa, puffing away at his pipe in great agitation "Well, that's what comes pesky magic chimnee ! Well, I'll try to bear it like soldier," he finished grimly perfect cloud of smoke rose chimney valiant words Too overcome for speech, Tatters covered his face

"Don't you care ! " cried Urtha, flinging her arms 'round Grampa's neck "It's sweet little chimney, and so becoming ! "