" it like this," muttered Guph in disgust "You're such goody-goody, you never any fun at all I suppose you'll end by inviting them all to lunch," he finished bitterly

"Just what thinking of," admitted Kaliko cheerfully "Pray go and conduct them the rest way and don't slam the door go out, either " Settling back throne with little chuckle of anticipation, Kaliko continued to watch the progress of Betsy and her friends winding corridors Lost Labyrinth

Betsy, herself, even know she was gnome King's dominions After terrible tumble dark, the four adventurers had plunged underground pool of grim green grotto While the water had broken their fall and saved them from serious injury, it added cheerfulness

" the ruby that protects me from water," sputtered Prince Evered, as Carter dragged him pool "Ugh ! I'm nearly drowned ! "

" still got it ? " asked Betsy The Hungry Tiger had already pulled her out and was helping Carter fish his wheelbarrow pool Feeling pocket, the Prince nodded Then, picking up his sword, he looked around in huge disgust

" Cave Inn ? " he demanded indig-nantly

"I wonder where this passageway leads," murmured Betsy, who had run to an opening grotto "Maybe there's an inn after all " But no sign of an inn anywhere-only maze of rocky corridors branching out in every direction With Betsy and Reddy back, the Hungry Tiger stepped cautiously grotto and started down the widest curious corridors The floors were slippery with moss covered rocks, the ceiling was of glittering green stones, shaped like long, jagged icicles

Betsy Prince of Rash often had to lie flat tiger's back to escape their sharp points, while poor Carter Green was forced to bend double, as he walked Sure-footed as , the Hungry Tiger slipped again and again treacherous stones and Carter's progress was succession of spills, slides and tumbles Through it all the Vegetable Man maintained his cheerfulness, stubbornly refusing to abandon the wheel-barrow, but after an hour of winding in and dreary labyrinth had still brought them nowhere, even the Vegetable Man grew anxious and sad thin blue mold was beginning end nose

"If I don't get out of here soon, I'll spoil," he wheezed nervously "Do any opening ahead ? "

The Hungry Tiger was about to reply when he slipped mud-hole that had so amused Guph This so discouraged the poor beast nothing at all Indeed, the rest journey, while interesting to Kaliko, watching comfortably throne, was neither interesting or amusing travellers themselves came at last to an impassible rock wall and realized retrace their steps, Carter sank dejectedly wheel-barrow Hungry Tiger lay down and panted with exhaustion Imagine their astonishment, when door wall suddenly opened and Guph, bearing blazing ruby lantern, appeared before them

"Follow me," commanded Guph disagreeably "His Majesty has foolishly invited you to lunch "

"It's gnome ! " cried Betsy in surprise "Why, Gnome King's dominions "

" here with Dorothy and Billina, when we rescued the Queen of Ev and her ten children," puffed the Hungry Tiger, rising feet "Ruggedo was King then, but he's been put Kingdom, I understand "

"I wonder if Kaliko's still King ? " exclaimed Betsy The little girl had had whole book of adventures with Ruggedo and had even been present at Kaliko's coronation "Oh, hope Kaliko's the King," she finished earnestly

"Well, 're going to wonder , stay here," grumbled Guph " 're coming to lunch, follow me " Without waiting for an answer, the crooked little elf turned heel and started rapidly down the narrow passageway The Hungry Tiger looked questioningly back at Carter and Carter looked uneasily at Betsy

"Let's go," decided the little girl sensibly "If Kaliko's still King he'll "

"If he don't, I'll slice off his nose," declared Reddy, peering over Betsy's shoulder in an endeavor to catch another glimpse of Guph He had never seen gnome before, and hurried King's messenger, Betsy explained bit about these queer rock-colored elves, who live under the earth's surface and dig for precious metals and stones They passed hundreds busy little men on their way rocky tunnels, and when Guph entered the underground castle Gnome King, himself, both Carter Green and Prince Evered gasped with astonishment and admiration Lighted with jeweled lanterns, spread with silken rugs, furnished with taste and even magnificence, the spacious caverns opened in blaze of splendor visitors The Gnome King's dwelling was an old story to Betsy Hungry Tiger They were more interested in knowing who was King, and tiger, hurrying after Guph, burst suddenly throne room, Betsy gave cry of real pleasure

"Why, hello, Kaliko ! " cried the little girl, jumping down and running over to him eagerly

"King Kaliko, don't mind," whispered the gnome looking nervously at Guph, who was making faces Hungry Tiger "How did you happen into these parts, my dear ? "

"We caved in," growled the Hungry Tiger, sniffing the air anxiously "Is lunch nearly ready, old fellow ? I'm perishing for square meal "

"Certainly ! Certainly ! " Kaliko answered politely "But first introduce me to your friends I've been watching you through my exspectacles for an hour "

"Exspectacles ! " exclaimed Betsy "Well, wondering how we were here " With proud smile Kaliko held out the pink glasses and explained how they worked and, while the little Prince and Betsy were still examining his specs, the Gnome King begged them to sit down and tell him the whole story adventures

"For I'm ," surmised Kaliko looking curiously from one other, but longest at Carter Green, "I'm you've been having some amazing adventures "

Betsy nodded vigorously and Carter grinned from ear to ear, which seemed Kaliko Then, seating herself in little rock rocking chair, Betsy told how the Hungry Tiger carried to Rash, of her meeting Vegetable Man strange manner they had arrived same Kingdom Then she went on with Prince Evered's story, told how he deprived throne and robbed three Rash rubies

As Betsy described the magical powers stolen gems, the Gnome King leaned forward with sudden interest and little girl explained how the Vegetable Man had come into possession of lost rubies, Carter saw surprised look flash between Kaliko Chief Chamberlain Then the Gnome King slip small ring finger and hide it in crevice throne others noticed Kaliko's action at all Reddy was too interested Gnome's curious cavern to bother about any possible danger, the Hungry Tiger's eyes had closed in momentary doze and Betsy, herself, seemed the greatest confidence King

"I'll have to watch out for all of us," decided Carter, hurriedly wiping the mold nose And while Betsy continued her story, the Vegetable Man began to examine the King's cavern with great care " to leave in hurry," thought Carter nervously

"Lend me those exspectacles," mumbled the Hungry Tiger sleepily, little girl told Kaliko their intention of returning Emerald City and having Ozma restore Reddy throne "Lend me those exspectacles " little Prince of Rash held them up Hungry Tiger's eyes, roar of delight

"What do ? " asked Reddy curiously

"What do ? " purred the Hungry Tiger licking his chops "Why, that lunch is ready at last Come on fellows ! "

"He's right," chuckled Kaliko, taking back his glasses "For I ordered it an hour ago my dear " Taking Betsy's arm, the Gnome King led the way crystal dining hall where one table was set cozily for four, and another, apparently for dozen "I haven't forgotten your tremendous appetite, , smiled Kaliko, waving toward the low table along which roasts of beef and legs of lamb were ranged in tempting row The Hungry Tiger gave sigh of satisfaction, and without waiting for knife, fork or napkin, began to munch his way hungrily down the table For Betsy little Prince, Kaliko had prepared an alluring luncheon of fried chicken, sweet potatoes and peach pie Vegetable Man's place stood sparkling glass of root beer

"I didn't suppose you'd care to eat," observed Kaliko tactfully, "but sure enjoy our National drink "

Carter was so touched Gnome King's thoughtfulness that he began to reproach himself unkind suspicions

Kaliko, himself, ate sparingly of hot mud pie and swallowed cup of scalding black rock coffee and, while ten little nimble gnomes waited table, he and Betsy talked over old Oz times and discussed means of crossing the Deadly Desert

"I don't know how you feel," yawned the Hungry Tiger, when he had finally worked his way end long table, "but like nap

Betsy little Prince admitted were tired, too, and immediately Guph showed them to splendid suite of guest caverns, just off the throne room The Vegetable Man slammed his door hard, then opened it quite noiselessly Just as he had expected, the two gnomes had their heads close together Now, when it comes to hearing nothing so fine as corn ear and what Carter heard through his made him tremble with indignation

"If you weren't such miserable mole," muttered Guph bitterly, "you'd get that other ruby ! "

CHAPTER 11

The Second Rash Ruby

you strange power ruby bought it fisherman," hissed Guph "No ruby has an R carved side without some reason undoubtedly magic rubies of Rash-the one protecting the holder from danger by water "

before Betsy's arrival, an old Ev fisherman had brought sparkling square ruby Gnome King He had found it in fish he had drawn up nets and, knowing Kaliko's fondness for jewels, had taken it straight King Kaliko at once purchased the stone and had it set in small ring-the same ring Carter had seen him slip rock throne " had the courage of flea," grumbled Guph, "you'd steal the ruby this vegetable person discovered and become real power land "

"But it wouldn't be right," objected Kaliko, mopping his brow gray kerchief, "Besides, Ozma would hear of it and come with her army to conquer us

"How could she had the two Rash rubies ? " argued Guph "How would she ever know ? We'll just destroy all these rubbishy travellers and the end of it Where's the ring now ? " he inquired anxiously

"Safe enough," answered Kaliko, glancing over his shoulder " it off Betsy mentioned the rubies afraid notice it "