However, she was greatly disappointed that her visitors were merely small girl in gingham dress, copper man only go when wound up, and yellow hen that was sitting contentedly in Langwidere's best work-basket, where china egg used for darning stockings (It may surprise you to learn that princess ever does such common thing as darn stockings But, stop , princess is sure to wear holes in her stockings, the same as other people; only it isn't considered quite polite to mention the matter )

"Oh ! " said Langwidere, slightly lifting the nose of No 17 " some one of importance had called "

"Then you were right," declared Dorothy "I'm of 'portance myself, and when Billina lays an egg she proudest cackle you ever heard As for Tiktok, he's the--"

"Stop--Stop ! " commanded the Princess, with an angry flash of her splendid eyes "How dare you annoy me with your senseless chatter ? "

"Why, you horrid thing ! " said Dorothy, who was not accustomed to being treated so rudely

The Princess looked at her more closely

"Tell me," she resumed, " of royal blood ? "

"Better than that, ma'am," said Dorothy " from Kansas "

"Huh ! " cried the Princess, scornfully " foolish child, and allow you to annoy me Run away, you little goose, and bother some one else "

Dorothy was so indignant that for moment find no words to reply But she rose from her chair, and was about to leave the room Princess, who scanning the girl's face, stopped her by saying, more gently:

"Come nearer "

Dorothy obeyed, without thought of fear, and stood Princess while Langwidere examined her face with careful attention

" rather attractive," said the lady, presently "Not at all beautiful, you understand, but certain style of prettiness different of any thirty heads So I believe I'll take your head and No 26 "

"Well, I b'lieve you won't ! " exclaimed Dorothy

" no good to refuse," continued the Princess; "for your head collection, and Land of Ev my will is law I never have cared much for No 26, and very little worn Besides, just one you're wearing, for all practical purposes "

"I don't know anything No 26, and I don't want to," said Dorothy, firmly "I'm not used to taking cast-off things, so I'll just keep my own head "

"You refuse ? " cried the Princess, with frown

" ," reply

"Then," said Langwidere, " lock you up in tower until you decide to obey me Nanda," turning to her maid, "call my army "

Nanda rang silver bell, and at once big fat colonel in bright red uniform entered the room, followed by ten lean soldiers, who all looked sad and discouraged and saluted the princess in very melancholy fashion

"Carry that girl North Tower and lock her up ! " cried the Princess, pointing to Dorothy

"To hear is to obey," answered the big red colonel, and caught the child by her arm But moment Tiktok raised his dinner-pail and pounded it so forcibly against the colonel's head big officer sat down floor with sudden bump, looking both dazed and astonished

"Help ! " he shouted, ten lean soldiers sprang to assist their leader

great excitement next , and Tiktok had knocked down seven army, who were sprawling in every direction carpet, when suddenly the machine paused, dinner-pail raised for another blow, and remained perfectly motionless

"My ac-tion has run down," to Dorothy "Wind me up, quick "

She tried to obey, but the big colonel had managed upon his feet again, so he grabbed fast hold girl and she was helpless to escape

" too bad," said the machine "I run six hours lon-ger, , but I sup-pose my long walk and my fight Wheel-ers made me run down fast-er than us-u-al "

"Well, it can't be helped," said Dorothy, with sigh

" exchange heads with me ? " demanded the Princess

"No, indeed ! " cried Dorothy

"Then lock her up," said Langwidere to her soldiers, led Dorothy to high tower north palace and locked her securely within

The soldiers afterward tried to lift Tiktok, but they found the machine so solid and heavy that stir it So they left him standing center drawing-room

"People will think new statue," said Langwidere, "so it won't matter least, and Nanda can keep him well polished "

"What shall hen ? " asked the colonel, who had just discovered Billina work-basket

"Put her chicken-house," answered the Princess "Someday I'll have her fried for breakfast "

"She looks rather tough, Your Highness," said Nanda, doubtfully

" base slander ! " cried Billina, struggling frantically colonel's arms "But the breed of chickens I come from is said poison to all princesses "

"Then," remarked Langwidere, " fry the hen, but keep her to lay eggs; and if she doesn't do her duty I'll have her drowned horse trough "

7 Ozma of Oz Rescue

Nanda brought Dorothy bread and water for her supper, and she slept upon hard stone couch with single pillow and silken coverlet

morning she leaned window of her prison tower if to escape The room was not so very high up, when compared modern buildings, but far enough above the trees and farm houses her good view surrounding country

east she saw the forest, sands beyond it ocean beyond that even dark speck shore that she thought the chicken-coop she had arrived singular country

Then she looked north, and saw deep but narrow valley lying between two rocky mountains, and third mountain that shut off the valley further end

Westward the fertile Land of Ev suddenly ended little way palace, girl miles and miles of sandy desert that stretched further than her eyes could reach It desert, she thought, with much interest, that alone separated her wonderful Land of Oz, and she remembered sorrowfully that she told no one had ever been able to cross this dangerous waste but herself Once cyclone had carried her across it, and magical pair of silver shoes had carried her back again But now she had neither cyclone nor silver shoes to assist her, and her condition was sad indeed For she had become the prisoner of disagreeable princess who insisted that exchange her head for another one that she was not used to, and which fit her at all

Really, there seemed no hope of help for her from her old friends Land of Oz Thoughtfully she gazed from her narrow window On all the desert not living thing was stirring

Wait, though ! Something surely WAS stirring desert--something her eyes observed at first Now it seemed like cloud; now it seemed like spot of silver; now it seemed mass of rainbow colors that moved swiftly toward her

What COULD it be, she wondered ?

Then, gradually, but in brief space nevertheless, the vision drew near enough to Dorothy out what

broad green carpet was unrolling itself desert, while advancing across the carpet was wonderful procession that made the girl open her eyes in amazement as she gazed

First came magnificent golden chariot, drawn by great Lion and an immense Tiger, who stood shoulder to shoulder and trotted along as gracefully as well-matched team of thoroughbred horses And standing upright chariot was beautiful girl clothed in flowing robes of silver gauze and wearing jeweled diadem upon her dainty head She held in one hand the satin ribbons that guided her astonishing team, and other an ivory wand that separated top into two prongs, the prongs being tipped letters "O" and "Z", made of glistening diamonds set closely together

The girl seemed neither older nor larger than Dorothy herself, and at once the prisoner tower guessed lovely driver chariot that Ozma of Oz of whom she had so lately heard from Tiktok

Following close behind the chariot Dorothy saw her old friend the Scarecrow, riding calmly astride wooden Saw-Horse, which pranced and trotted as naturally as any meat horse done

And then came Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman, funnel-shaped cap tipped carelessly over his left ear, his gleaming axe over his right shoulder, whole body sparkling as brightly as it had ever done old days when first she knew him

The Tin Woodman was on foot, marching head of company of twenty-seven soldiers, of whom some were lean and some fat, some short and some tall; but all the twenty-seven were dressed in handsome uniforms of various designs and colors, no two being alike in any respect

Behind the soldiers the green carpet rolled itself up again, always just enough of it procession to walk upon, their feet come in contact deadly, life-destroying sands desert

Dorothy knew at once magic carpet she beheld, and her heart beat high with hope and joy as she realized she was soon rescued and allowed to greet her dearly beloved friends of Oz--the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman Cowardly Lion

Indeed, the girl felt herself as good as rescued she recognized those procession, for she well knew the courage and loyalty of her old comrades, and also believed that any others who came from their marvelous country would prove pleasant and reliable acquaintances

last bit of desert was passed and all the procession, beautiful and dainty Ozma last soldier, had reached the grassy meadows Land of Ev, the magic carpet rolled itself together and entirely disappeared

Then the chariot driver turned her Lion and Tiger into broad roadway leading palace, others followed, while Dorothy still gazed from her tower window in eager excitement

They came quite close front door palace and then halted, the Scarecrow dismounting Saw-Horse to approach the sign fastened door, that he might read what it said