" and think both late and early, For thinking makes the brain grow curly ! "

chuckled the irrepressible poet, at which Grampa beat such tattoo upon his drum next verses were quite drowned out But Grampa stopped drumming, Percy burst out again:

"I met spick and Spaniard once, so spick and span, He even had his toes curled up Believe me, , - ? "

" believe anything Mr Vere," said Grampa grimly

"Then try this ! " roared the Forgetful Poet, waving his arms

"If fifty boats and fifty crews Were gathered in group, Why wouldn't it be proper, Sir, the crews croup ? Admit, old dear, clear-As clear, as clear as-

"Soup ! " groaned Grampa of himself "Vegetable soup," he added bitterly and, reaching pocket, jerked out the wizard's medicine

" you doing ? " asked Percy curiously, as he ran his finger hurriedly down the green label

"Looking for cure," said the old sailor, raising his eyebrows significantly But no cure for forgetful poetry green label, so with sigh Grampa returned the bottle pocket "What can't be cured endured," said the old soldier glumly and, pursing up his lips, he began to whistle sad tune Dorothy and Tatters exchanged amused glances and Urtha, who skipping beside Percy Vere, touched him arm

" Princess of Perhaps City pretty ? " asked the little flower fairy timidly bear of Tatters marrying an ugly Princess

" guess, mercy yes ! say, April, April- ? "

"Trouble ahead ! Trouble ahead ! " crowed Bill, before anyone could finish the verse Just then turn lane brought them plump into huge fenced-in park The fence was much too high to climb and stretched as far on either side as see

"I never saw this place before," said Dorothy, peering curiously bars, "but maybe knock gate someone will in Then march through and out the other side "

"Here's the gate," called Percy Vere, who had run little ways right, "and here's sign "

"Play ! " announced the sign over the gate "All work grounds forbidden " Just below was smaller sign-"No trespassing ! "

"Well, we don't want to trespass, to jes' pass through," chortled the Forgetful Poet and, before anyone could stop him, he had hammered hard gates Immediately loud roars of laughter sounded all park, footsteps scurried over the lawns next instant the gayest company that Dorothy ever had seen came crowding forward-Pierretttes and Pierrots, hundreds , the girls in full skirted frocks with tall saucy caps, the men in pantaloon suits and frills While they smiled and waved bars, the King of Play, who looked, as Dorothy told Ozma afterwards, exactly like court jester-the King himself swung open the gates and, with low bow, invited them to enter So, , and before Grampa could give the order to break ranks or fall out, or even say Hello, the Play Fellows had fallen upon his army and simply borne them away Only Bill escaped and nervously he hovered over his friends, determining, if necessary, to drop heads exuberant company

"Wait ! Stop ! Halt ! " puffed the old soldier, who was being dragged toward merry-go-round by five mischievous Pierrettes Dorothy and Percy Vere were being rushed as unceremoniously swings, while dozen Pierrots were begging Urtha for dance Tatters, holding his father's head high above his own, was hustled off to high wooden slide and to nothing that any said would the Play Fellows pay the slightest attention Indeed, noise and confusion, have heard had tried Bands played and fountains played Play Fellows played, creak swings squeak merry-go-rounds roars delighted Pierrettes and Pierrots, hustled their visitors from one amusement to another, were enough to deafen gate post Toto, after one shocked glance boisterous company, scampered off and hid himself in button bush, where he watched anxiously for chance to escape Poor Bill, trying all company in view at once, flew in dizzying circles over the park, almost cross-eyed strain

After his sixteenth merry-go-round, Grampa gave up trying to explain and, staggering over to soap bubble fountain, fell in But the Play Fellows quickly pulled him out and insisted upon his joining in game of tag The only bright spot whole dreadful experience finding of bubble pipe, which Grampa hastily picked from its bush and thrust into his pocket

Percy and Dorothy fared no better " worse than washing ! " groaned the Forgetful Poet, as wild company of Pierrettes dragged them 'round and 'round the mulberry bush

"Play ! Play ! Play ! " shouted King Capers, dashing from group to group and banging the company right and left belled and beribboned scepter "Play ! Play ! Play ! "

"I never knew fun was such hard work," panted Tatters to Bill, who was circling immediately above his head The poor Prince was black and blue all over from sliding down the slides, but every time he objected the Play Fellows would pull him top and scream with merriment as sliding down again There were too many heads on, and Bill-powerless to help screamed his rage and indignation mannerless crowd much seen and marvelled at play grounds, but company agreed later, playing want to play and being forced to play are two quite different things, so balloon vines, top trees and checker bushes went almost unnoticed Indeed all that any could think of was getting away

Urtha first her escape The little flower fairy treated so gently and considerately by Grampa and Tatters, since her coming to life enchanted garden, that she know what rude manners Play Fellows began snatching flowers from her hair and pulling her roughly from place , her violet eyes widened with terror and dismay Watching her opportunity, she sprang away and sped like the wind itself across the gardens Now the runner exist outdistance fairy, so not long before Urtha left her tormentors behind And better still, the little flower fairy had run directly into wicket gate leading play grounds Opening the gate she slipped through and then, because she was still frightened, she kept running and running till she was as lost as one raindrop in thunder shower

no telling how long the others forced to endure the teasing Play Fellows, if gong sounded from distant part grounds Immediately the whole company trooped off and, without waiting out the meaning bell, Grampa's army rushed nearest exits

"I'm done for ! " gasped Percy Vere, rolling under tree "Let me curl up like pretzel and bake-I mean die ! " Toto, who had followed close heels harassed company, curled up beside him

"But where's Urtha ? " cried Tatters, staring around wildly "Where's Grampa ? "

"She ran away ," crowed Bill, flying over the fence "That way ! " He pointed his claw toward the East

"Oh, dear ! Oh, dear, where old soldier ? " wailed Dorothy, jumping up and down with impatience "We ought away from here quick "

"I'll find him," volunteered Bill "Wait here " Back went the devoted weather cock and, after flying over the entire play grounds, Grampa asleep under checker bush

"Wake up ! " cried Bill, jumping up and down chest "The coast is clear Forward march, name of Grampa ! "

The old soldier stirred uneasily, rubbed his eyes and then sprang up but immediately tumbled down again, for while he slept, the wretched Play Fellows had run off game leg

"What ? " blustered the old soldier, picking himself up again But being man of action and, seeing crowd of Pierrettes emerging from big hall not far away, Grampa snatched up long handled croquet mallet and, using it as crutch, hobbled with all his might toward the exit pointed out by Bill Here met by Percy Vere and Dorothy and after startled look each seized one arms and away they ran as fast as five legs would take them Percy carried the King's head and Dorothy the red umbrella Tatters had dropped both when he discovered that Urtha was missing and had dashed off in search of her And not long before he picked up the trail, for every step flower maiden was marked out in daisies and forget-me-nots Paying no attention to rocks, sticks, brambles and thorns, the Prince of Ragbad pushed on, his only thought and comfort the sweet and lost little fairy who had made the days so pleasant journey so happy

CHAPTER 19

Back to Perhaps City

SEATED on great gold cushion lowest golden step palace sat Peer Haps, pointing his telescope with trembling fingers down Maybe Mountain It fourth day mentioned in Abrog's prophecy, the day the monster was to carry off the Princess, and still no word had come Forgetful Poet Between grief over the loss daughter and worry over Percy Vere, the poor old monarch had got no sleep at all and was so cross and snappy pages and courtiers went steathily about on tip-toe, their fingers lips

"Can't you make verse, idiot ? " roared the Peer, glaring at Perix who, with another telescope, sat close beside him Perix moved up couple of steps and sadly shook his head

"But look," he stuttered next breath, someone is coming up the mountain "

" the monster ? " puffed Peer Haps anxiously "Has it two heads ? " Dropping his own telescope, he snatched the young noble-man's glass and glued his eye top Then, with loud shriek of joy, he tore open the gates and plunged recklessly down the steep mountain side And certainly the dear old fellow rolled bottom sturdy oak intervened and put stop plunging It fortunatest place of all for stop, because, right below the oak, climbing easily over the rocks and stones, lost Princess herself Not quite herself, perhaps, but enough so for her father to recognize her Holding tight oak, the old Peer leaned down and seized her hand The next instant he had her arms and was running up the mountain as recklessly as he had just plunged down But some good fairy kept him from tumbling and, once up the golden steps, he brushed past gaping courtiers and pages and never stopped 'till he had reached the great throne room

Setting the Princess on green satin sofa, her hasty kiss and, without stopping to question her about her strange disappearance, locked the door and rushed room Beads of perspiration stood out forehead True, the Princess was found, but she certainly was changed and, worse still, at any moment the monster might appear and carry her off Thudding down the corridor, Peer Haps burst apartment tall High Humpus of Perhaps City Humpus was also Chief Justice and attended to all state weddings The Peer was determined the Princess marry Petrix at once and settle this monster matter once and for always Explaining this as he went along, he dragged the scandalized Justice steps to fetch the groom But Perix had disappeared and every single young and single nobleman in Perhaps City For though Peer Haps had run quickly, daughter arms, he run quickly enough, and word mysterious change Princess had already spread over the city