"Is she ? " said Dorothy "I didn't know that "

"Yes; it the most brilliant royal ceremony ever held in any city in Fairyland, and try me an invitation "

Dorothy thought moment

"I'm sure Ozma would invite you if I asked her," she said; "but how could you get Land of Oz Emerald City ? It's good way from Kansas "

"Kansas ! " he exclaimed, surprised

"Why, yes; in Kansas now, aren't we ? " she returned

"What queer notion ! " cried the Fox-King, beginning to laugh "Whatever made Kansas ? "

"I left Uncle Henry's farm only about two ; that's the reason," she said, rather perplexed

"But, tell me, my dear, did you ever see so wonderful city as Foxville in Kansas ? " he questioned

"No, your Majesty "

"And haven't you traveled from Oz to Kansas in half jiffy, Silver Shoes Magic Belt ? "

"Yes, your Majesty," she acknowledged

"Then why wonder that an hour or two could bring you to Foxville, nearer to Oz than to Kansas ? "

"Dear me ! " exclaimed Dorothy; " another fairy adventure ? "

"It ," said the Fox-King, smiling

Dorothy turned shaggy man, and her face was grave and reproachful

" magician ? or fairy in disguise ? " she asked "Did you enchant me asked the way to Butterfield ? "

The shaggy man shook his head

"Who ever heard of shaggy fairy ? " he replied "No, Dorothy, my dear; I'm not to blame journey in , I assure you There's been something strange about me I owned the Love Magnet; but I don't know what any more than I didn't try you away from home, at all your way back farm I'll go willingly, and do my best to "

"Never mind," said the little girl, thoughtfully "There isn't in Kansas as here, and I guess Aunt Em won't be worried; , if I don't stay away too long "

"That's right," declared the Fox-King, nodding approval "Be contented with your lot, whatever it happens , wise Which reminds me that new companion adventure--he looks very clever and bright "

" ," said Dorothy; shaggy man added:

"That's his name, your Royal Foxiness--Button-Bright "

4 King Dox

amusing to note the expression face of King Dox as he looked the boy over, sailor hat stubby shoes, and equally diverting to watch Button-Bright stare King in return No fox ever beheld fresher, fairer child's face, and no child had ever before heard fox talk, or met with one who dressed so handsomely and ruled so big city sorry that no one had ever told the little boy much about fairies of any kind; this being the case, easy to understand this strange experience startled and astonished him

"How like us ? " asked the King

"Don't know," said Button-Bright

" you don't It's too short an acquaintance," returned his Majesty "What suppose my name is ? "

"Don't know," said Button-Bright

"How should you ? Well, I'll tell you My private name is Dox, but King can't be called by his private name; he has one official Therefore my official name is King Renard the Fourth Ren-ard accent 'Ren' "

"What's 'ren' ? " asked Button-Bright

"How clever ! " exclaimed the King, turning pleased face toward his counselors "This boy is indeed remarkably bright 'What's 'ren' ? ' he asks; and 'ren' is nothing at all, all by itself Yes, he's very bright indeed "

"That question is what your Majesty might call foxy," said counselors, an old grey fox

"So ," declared the King Turning again to Button-Bright, he asked:

"Having told you my name, what would you call me ? "

"King Dox," said the boy

"Why ? "

"'Cause 'ren''s nothing at all," reply

"Good ! indeed ! You certainly have brilliant mind why two and two make four ? "

"No," said Button-Bright

"Clever ! clever indeed ! you don't know Nobody knows why; we only know it's so, and can't tell why it's so Button-Bright, those curls and blue eyes go well with wisdom They make you look too youthful, and hide your real cleverness Therefore, great favor confer upon you the head of fox, hereafter look as bright really are "

As he spoke the King waved his paw toward the boy, and at once the pretty curls and fresh round face and big blue eyes were gone, while in their place fox's head appeared upon Button-Bright's shoulders--a hairy head with sharp nose, pointed ears, and keen little eyes

"Oh, don't ! " cried Dorothy, shrinking back from her transformed companion with shocked and dismayed face

"Too late, my dear; it's done But you also fox's head prove you're as clever as Button-Bright "

"I don't want it; it's dreadful ! " she exclaimed; and, hearing this verdict, Button-Bright began to boo-hoo just he were still little boy

"How call that lovely head dreadful ? " asked the King "It's much prettier face than he had before, to my notion, and my wife says I'm good judge of beauty Don't cry, little fox-boy Laugh and be proud, because so highly favored How like the new head, Button-Bright ? "

"D-d-don't n-n-n-know ! " sobbed the child

"Please, PLEASE change him back again, your Majesty ! " begged Dorothy

King Renard IV shook his head

" 't ," ; "I haven't the power, even if to No, Button-Bright must wear his fox head, and he'll to love it dearly he gets used "

Both the shaggy man and Dorothy looked grave and anxious, for they were sorrowful that such misfortune had overtaken their little companion Toto barked fox-boy , not realizing his former friend who now wore the animal head; but Dorothy cuffed the dog and made him stop As foxes, they all seemed Button-Bright's new head very becoming their King had conferred great honor little stranger funny the boy reach up sharp nose and wide mouth, and wail afresh with grief He wagged his ears in comical manner and tears were little black eyes But Dorothy couldn't laugh at her friend just yet, because she felt so sorry

Just then three little fox-princesses, daughters King, entered the room, and saw Button-Bright one exclaimed: "How lovely ! " next one cried in delight: "How sweet ! " third princess clapped her hands with pleasure and said, "How beautiful ! "

Button-Bright stopped crying and asked timidly:

"Am I ? "

"In all the world not another face so pretty," declared the biggest fox-princess

" live always, and be our brother," said the next

" all love you dearly," the third said

This praise did much to comfort the boy, and he looked around and tried to smile pitiful attempt, because the fox face was new and stiff, and Dorothy thought his expression more stupid than transformation

" we going now," said the shaggy man, uneasily, for he didn't know what the King might take into his head next

"Don't leave us yet, I beg of you," pleaded King Renard "I intend of feasting and merry-making in honor of your visit "

"Have it after we're gone, for 't wait," said Dorothy, decidedly But seeing this displeased the King, she added: "If I'm going Ozma to invite you to her party I'll have her poss'ble, "

of all the beauty of Foxville gorgeous dresses inhabitants, both the girl shaggy man felt they quite safe there, and would the last of it

"But now evening," the King reminded them, "and stay until morning, anyhow Therefore, I invite you my guests at dinner, and to attend the theater afterward and sit royal box To-morrow morning, really insist upon it, resume your journey "

They consented , and fox-servants led them to suite of lovely rooms big palace

Button-Bright was afraid left alone, so Dorothy took him into her own room While maid-fox dressed the little girl's hair-- bit tangled--and put some bright, fresh ribbons , another maid-fox combed the hair on poor Button-Bright's face and head and brushed it carefully, tying pink bow to each pointed ears The maids wanted to dress the children in fine costumes of woven feathers, such as all the foxes wore; but neither consented

"A sailor suit and fox head go well together," said maids, "for no fox was ever sailor that remember "

"I'm not fox ! " cried Button-Bright

"Alas, no," agreed the maid "But you've got lovely fox head skinny shoulders, 's ALMOST as good as being fox "

The boy, reminded misfortune, began to cry again Dorothy petted and comforted him and promised some way to restore him his own head