"Pardon, most High Highness, but General Quakes bade me say mirror was found under the window," stuttered the page and before Pompus had an opportunity to cry "Begone ! " or "Dip him ! " the little fellow made dash door and disappeared

"It grows more puzzling ," wailed the King, looking door knob mirror mirror scroll

" take my advice you'll have this marriage performed at once," said the Prime Pumper in trembling voice

"I believe ! " sighed Pompus, rubbing the bump head "Go and fetch the Princess Faleero and you, Pompa, prepare for your wedding "

"But Father ! " began the Prince

"Not another word or you'll be dipped ! " rumbled the King of Pumperdink "I'm not going my kingdom disappearing if help it ! "

"You mean if help it," muttered Pompadore gloomily

" ridiculous ! " stormed the Elegant Elephant, Prime Pumper rushed importantly room "Don't country of ours is only small part great Kingdom of Oz ? hundreds of Princesses for Pompadore from Why should he not wed Ozma, the princess of us all ? Haven't you read any Oz history ? never heard wonderful Emerald City ? Let Pompadore start out at once I, myself, will accompany him, and if Ozma refuses to marry him well" the Elegant Elephant drew himself up " carry her off -- that's all ! "

"It's long way Emerald City," mused Queen Pozy, "but still-"

"Yes, and of us meantime pray ? While wandering all over Oz disappear I suppose ! No Sir ! Not one step go out of Pumperdink Faleero Proper Princess and Pompadore shall marry her ! " said Pompus

"You're talking through your crown," wheezed Kabumpo "How door knob and mirror ? They came cake scroll you going ? Let's have look mirror "

"Just common gold mirror," fumed Pompus, holding it up Elegant Elephant

"What's the matter ? " as Kabumpo gave snort

face mirror as Kabumpo looked in two words appeared: Elegant elephant

And when Pompus snatched the mirror, above his reflection stood the words: Fat Old King

Then Queen Pozy peeped mirror, which promptly flashed: Lovely Queen

"Why, it's telling the truth ! " screamed Pompa, looking over his mother's shoulder the words "Charming Prince" formed quickly glass

The Prince grinned at his father, who was now quite beside himself with rage " I'm fat and old, ! " snorted the King flinging the gold mirror face down table " nice day, say ! Scrolls, door knobs, mirrors and insults ! "

"But what can P . stand for ? " mused Queen Pozy thoughtfully "Plain enough," chuckled Kabumpo, maliciously "It stands for perfectly awful ! "

"Who's perfectly awful ? " asked Pompus suspiciously

"Why, Faleero," sniffed the Elegant Elephant "That's plain enough to everybody ! "

"Dip him ! " shrieked Pompus "I've had enough ! ! Dip him-- hear ? "

"That," yawned Kabumpo, straightening his silk robe, "is impossible ! " And, considering his size But just that minute the Prime Pumper returned and interest to hear what the Princess Faleero had said the King forgot about dipping Kabumpo

The courier Princess stepped forward "Her Highness,"puffed the Prime Pumper, who had run all the way, "Her Highness accepts Prince Pompadore with pleasure and will marry him to-mor-ow morning "

Prince Pompadore gave dismal groan

"Fine ! " cried the King, rubbing his hands together "Let everything be made ready ceremony, and meantime"--Pompus glared about fiercely--"I forbid anyone's disappearing still the King ! Set guard around the castle, Pumper, to watch for any signs of disappearance, and if as fence paling disappears,"--he drew himself up--"notify me at once ! " Then turning throne Pompus gave his arm to Queen Pozy and together they started garden

" going no attention mirror or door knob ? " cried Kabumpo, planting himself King's path

"Go away," said Pompus crossly

"Oyes ! Oyes ! Way for their Majesties ! " cried the Prime Pumper, running ahead silver staff, royal couple swept banquet hall

"Never mind, Kabumpo," said the Prince, flinging his arm affectionately around the Elegant Elephant's trunk, "I dare say Faleero has her good points--and let the old Kingdom disappear, ! "

"Fiddlesticks ! " choked Kabumpo She'll make door mat of you, Pompa--Prince Pompadormat--that's what you'll be ! Let's run away" he proposed, his little eyes twinkling anxiously

"I couldn't and let the Kingdom disappear, it wouldn't be right," sighed the Prince, and sadly he followed his parents royal gardens

"The King's Gooch ! " gulped the Elegant Elephant unhappily Then, all at once he flung up his trunk "Somebody's going to disappear around here," he wheezed darkly, "that's certain ! " With mighty rustling silk robe, Kabumpo hurried off own royal quarters palace

Left alone, Prince Pompa threw himself down foot throne, and gazed sadly into space

Chapter 3 Kabumpo and Pompa Disappear

Once own apartment, Kabumpo pulled the bell rope furiously

"My pearls and my purple plush robe ! Bring them at once ! " he puffed when his personal attendant appeared doorway

"Yes, Sir ! going out, Sir ? " murmured the little Pumperdinkian, hastening to great chest corner big marble room, robe

"Not unless disappearing is going out," said Kabumpo more mildly, for quite fond little man who waited on him "But I'm liable to disappear any minute So So is everybody, and I, part, wish thing well and disappear with elegance as possible heard magic scroll, Spezzle ? "

"Yes Sir ! " quavered Spezzle, mounting ladder to adjust the Elegant Elephant's pearls and gorgeous robe of state "Yes, Sir, and my head's going round and round like--"

"Like what ? " asked Kabumpo, looking approvingly at his reflection long mirror

" 't rightly say, Sir," sighed Spezzle "This disappearing has me that mixed up I don't know what I'm doing "

"Well, don't start by losing your head," chuckled Kabumpo "there-- do " He lifted the little man down ladder

"Good-bye, Spezzle If disappear before I you again, try in style "

"Yes, Sir ! " gulped Spezzle Then taking out bright red handkerchief he blew his nose violently and rushed room

Kabumpo walked up and down mirror, surveying himself from all angles very gorgeous appearance he presented, purple plush robe of state, all embroidered in silver, head bands of shining pearls left side robe deep pocket the Elegant Elephant slipped all the jewels he possessed, taking them from drawer chest

" get that gold door knob," he rumbled thoughtfully " mirror " Noiselessly(for all his tremendous size, Kabumpo could move without sound) his way back banquet hall and loomed up suddenly behind the Prime Pumper The old fellow was staring with popping eyes gold mirror

"Ho, Ho ! " roared Kabumpo "Ho, Ho ! Kerumph ! "

"No wonder ! Above the shocked reflection foolish statesman stood the words "Old Goose ! "

"A truthful mirror, indeed," wheezed the Elegant Elephant

"Heh ? What ? " stuttered the Prime Pumper slapping the mirror down table in hurry "Where'd you come from ? you all dressed up for ? "

" disappearance," said Kabumpo, sweeping the door knob and mirror into his pocket "I'm getting ready to disappear How do I look ? "

Prime Pumper had time to answer, the elegant Elephant was gone

Back own room, Kabumpo paced impatiently up and down waiting for night " how refuse us," he mumbled every to himself

That was an anxious afternoon and evening palace of Pumperdink Every the Courtiers felt themselves nervously were still there The servants went about on tip-toe, looking fearfully over their shoulders first signs of disappearance As it grew darker the gates and windows were securely barred and not candle was lighted "The less the castle shows, the less likely to disappear," reasoned the King

The darkness suited Kabumpo He waited until everyone palace had retired and full hour longer Then he stepped softly down the passage Prince's apartment Pompadore, without undressing, had flung himself upon couch and fallen into an uneasy slumber

Without making sound, Kabumpo took the Prince's crown from dressing cabinet, slipped it carefully pocket robe, and then carefully lifted the sleeping Prince curling trunk and started cautiously down the great hall Setting him gently floor as he reached the palace doors, he pushed back the golden bolts and stepped out garden

The voices watchmen calling to great wall came faintly darkness, but the Elegant Elephant hurried to secret unguarded entrance known only to himself and Pompadore and passed like great shadow swinging gates Once outside, he swung the sleeping Prince broad back and ran swiftly and silently night

" we doing ? " murmured the Prince drowsily sleep

"Disappearing," chuckled Kabumpo under his breath "Disappearing from Pumperdink, my lad "

Chapter 4 The Curious Cottabus Appears

"Ouch ! " Prince Pompadore stirred uneasily and rolled over "Ouch ! " he groaned again, giving his pillow fretful thump "Ouch ! " his eyes flew wide open, knuckles were tingling with pain

"A rock ! " gasped the Prince sitting up indignantly

"A rock under my head ! No wonder it aches ! Great Gilikens ! Where am I ? " He stared about wildly not familiar object in sight Indeed in dim, deep forest, and distance came the sound of someone sawing wood

"Oh ! Oh ! ! " muttered the Prince, rubbing his head miserably "it's that wretched scroll I've disappeared and place I've disappeared to " Stiffly he got feet and started to walk direction sawing, but had only gone few steps before cry of joy, for there, learning up against tree, snoring like twenty wood-cutters at work, was Kabumpo