"Look ! " hissed the Chief Justice, every curl white wig fluttering with excitement "Look ! " Knocking great gates city was weary, travel-stained young stranger It Prince of Ragbad flower trail had led him straight foot of Maybe Mountain There he had lost his way, for Maybe Mountain is covered with wild flowers of every description, so impossible to trace farther the footsteps little fairy But Tatters had kept on, nevertheless, deter-mined, if necessary, to search the whole mountain until her Naturally, know so near the Forgetful Poet's old home But when, after hard climb he reached the mountain top and spied the splendid castle of Peer Haps, he decided his search there and waited impatiently for someone to open the gates

"He looks honest," sputtered the Chief Justice, raising his brows significantly, "and rags unhandsome Suppose-"

rest sentence Peer Haps paid no attention, for he had already flung down the steps and pulled Tatters gates Grabbing him arm, he hurried him up the steps and along the hall startled Prince "Jack Robinson " The Lord High Humpus, straightening his wig, had dashed after them, and, while Peer Haps unlocked the door throne room, he held Tatters tightly hand

"What's the matter ? " demanded the aston-ished youth exhausted and out of breath scramble up the mountain "What's the matter ? looking for lost fairy seen anything of her ? " But instead of answering, the Chief Justice put his fingers lips and drew the young man throne room itself confused mumble of words, Tatters, who still was too weary and breathless to argue, paid small attention He nodded absently to some question white-wigged dignitary next minute was being crushed embrace singularly fat old gentleman who had dragged him up the steps

" saved us ! " cried Peer Haps, tears of joy zig-zagging down his cheek "My son ! My son ! How can I ever repay you ! "

"Son ? " The Prince of Ragbad sprang back aghast

"Congratulations ! " chuckled the Chief Jus-tice, clapping Tatters back

"On what ? " gasped the bewildered young Prince, whirling 'round

" marriage " The Chief Justice made deep bow toward the cloaked figure, whom Tatters seen until now

"My marriage ? " The distracted youth clapped one hand head other heart and fell backwards upon page who had just run in to announce visitors But page could announce them, Grampa, Percy Vere, Dorothy and Toto burst throne room It long , too, had picked up the flower trail of Urtha and later the footprints of Tatters himself imagine the delight Forgetful Poet himself once more on familiar ground hard pull up, old soldier had but one leg to climb with, but they had finally reached the top mountain, and, waving aside courtiers and servants, they had hurried immediately throne room

" seen anything of little fairy ? " puffed all three together, and then seeing Tatters, apparently having fit arms of page, they stopped short

"Why, Tatters, whatever's the matter ? " Dorothy dropped the red umbrella and ran over Prince of Ragbad

"Matter ? " choked the poor Prince, tears streaming down his cheeks "Matter ! I'm married to I don't know whom-that's what's the matter ! " And before Dorothy could make head or tail story the Forgetful Poet and Peer Haps had rushed at an outpouring of affectionate greetings, such hugs and claps back, that nothing else heard at all

" worse than battle," groaned the old soldier, bracing himself against the table

"It's an outrage, an utter outrage Pick me up ! Pick me up ! hear ? " The wig Chief Justice rose air and turned round three times The voice had certainly come from pink bag at his feet, Forgetful Poet, excitement at seeing the old Peer, had carelessly dropped Fumbo's head Pale with terror, the High Humpus fled throne room, and just , for noise and confusion enough without him As no one else heard Fumbo, he had to stay where

"But the Princess ! " cried Percy Vere, extri-cating himself at last Peer's embraces " find her, but all these people are going to help and-"

"Don't worry ," beamed Peer Haps, waving toward the quiet little figure " only found, but married Now let the monster appear if he dare This young man has saved the day "

" married ? " roared Grampa, thumping table fist and glaring over at Tatters "Why didn't you wait ? Where's Urtha ? Where's the Princess ? Why is she all covered up like this ? I insist upon seeing the Princess "

"One minute ! One minute ! " begged Peer Haps, stepping between Grampa cloaked figure "My daughter is bewitched just now and seen, but I'm sure the spell broken, and then-"

"And you've married bewitched Princess ? " With another angry glance at poor Tatters, Grampa bit off piece bubble pipe and sank heavily into pink armchair Dorothy trying her best to unravel the strange mix-up and now stepped forward

"Let Tatters tell what happened," said the little Princess, stamping her foot imperiously "It wasn't his fault, Grampa " She spoke firmness that Peer Haps fairly gasped Then, stealing second glance and recognizing her instantly as Royal Princess of Oz, he motioned for Tatters

So the Prince of Ragbad rose up and in breathless sentences explained how he seized gates city and tricked into marrying the Princess

"But isn't that what you were going anyway ? " asked Percy Vere, Prince had finished "Weren't you looking for Princess and fortune when I met you ? And didn't we all decide to hunt the Princess of Perhaps City ? Well ! Here -and there ! The only difference married her little sooner than you intended and saved her from an unknown and dreadful monster Nothing so terrible My hat ! " Percy Vere smiled coaxingly Prince and encouragingly at Peer Haps, for like any friends unhappy

"But only going to rrr-rescue her," wailed Tatters

"The difference we haven't seen the Princess," put in Grampa more mildly "We'd save anybody from monster, but don't , Mr Vere, unfair to marry Tatters to Princess he's never even seen ? "

"Idiot," screamed harsh voice Whirling around, the startled company saw bent and dreadful old man standing just inside the long window "Idiot ! " he shrieked again, pointing long trembling finger at Peer Haps " married your daughter to monster ! "

"It's Abrog," gasped Percy Vere, clutching Dorothy's hand

"Monster," roared Grampa, and hopping over Prophet, he seized him beard "How dare you call Tatters monster ? I'll fight you ! " puffed the old soldier furiously

Jerking away, Abrog leaned down, picked up Fumbo's head and set it upon Tatters' shoulders "See," he screamed wildly, " married your daughter to monster with two heads " And as Peer Haps, who knew nothing of Tatters' story, fell back aghast, Fumbo stuck his head bag and began scolding everyone room

uproar that followed and while Percy, Dorothy, and Grampa were trying all at once to explain things old Peer, the Prophet himself began to move stealthily toward the Princess Only Tatters saw this Placing his father's head carefully table, he reached out and, just as Abrog reached her, the Prince seized him roughly collar But not quick enough Abrog had already snatched away the cloak and there - trembling and sorrowful - stood the Princess of Perhaps City, herself Tatters loosed his hold Prophet

"Urtha," cried the overwrought young bride-groom and took the frightened little fairy arms

CHAPTER 20

The Prophet Confesses

well imagine the surprise of Grampa little army to discover flower maiden whom they loving all this while was really the lost Princess How the story ever straightened out had it not been for Dorothy, no idea

"Why didn't you tell us Urtha ? " shouted Grampa, shaking his finger indignantly at Peer Haps

"And Urtha ? " gasped the astonished old monarch, fanning himself crown, for state that he hardly knew what doing "My daughter's name is Pretty Good-isn't it, my dear ? "

The little flower fairy shook her head solemnly "My name is Urtha," she insisted softly "Isn't it, Tatters ? "

"She's bewitched," groaned the King

"She's bewitching," corrected Grampa

"Stop ! Stop ! " said Dorothy "We'll never get things straightened out Everybody sit down and quick quick-catch that Prophet ! " Abrog slyly edging toward the door, but the Forgetful Poet, with quick bound, brought him back

"Now then," said Dorothy, were all seated, "I believe Abrog is bottom whole business Let's make him tell Did you bewitch this Princess ? " she demanded sternly

Abrog only mumbled and scowled and refused word "Better answer this young lady," puffed Peer Haps warningly " Princess of Oz, and can well punished "

"Speak up, you old villain ! " shouted Grampa, waving his sword over the Prophet's head But Abrog stood still and stubbornly refused word, until the old soldier suddenly bethought himself wizard's medicine "Maybe there's cure tongue tied ," muttered Grampa Taking out the bottle, he began to scan the green label first sight medicine, dreadful change came over the Prophet He turned sickly green and began to tremble violently

" that bottle ! that bottle, tell all," he panted, trying desperately to snatch it from Grampa

"Don't it," cried the Prince of Ragbad "Why, Grampa, I believe-I believe wizard himself "

"But it says 'Gorba,' " muttered the old soldier, holding the bottle high above his head "Don't you remember ? "

"Gorba ! " exclaimed Dorothy, writing the word with her finger air "Why G-o-r-b-a is A-b-r-o-g spelled backwards ! "