"Ancestor ! Father ! " mumbled the Scarecrow in puzzled voice Then, collecting himself somewhat, deep bow, and sweeping off his hat with truly royal gesture began: " indeed honored --" But he got no farther The silken clad courtiers sprang feet in frenzy of joy dozen seized him bodily and carried him to great silver throne room

"The same beautiful voice ! " cried the ancient gentleman, clasping his hands in an ecstasy of feeling

" he ! The Emperor ! The Emperor has returned ! Long live the Emperor ! " shouted everyone at once The confusion grew worse and worse

"Ancestor ! Father ! Emperor ! " The Scarecrow could scarcely believe his ears "For fallen man, rising like yeast ! " he murmured to himself Half dozen courtiers had run outdoors to spread the wonderful news, and soon silver gongs and bells began ringing all over the kingdom, and cries of "The Emperor ! The Emperor ! " added general excitement Holding fast sides throne and still grasping the little fan and parasol, the Scarecrow sat blinking with embarrassment

" just stop emperoring, ask them who ," thought the poor Scarecrow in answer thoughts, the tottery old nobleman raised his long arm, and at once the hall became absolutely silent

"Now ! " sighed the Scarecrow, leaning forward "Now hear something of interest "

CHAPTER 4

DOROTHY'S LONELY BREAKFAST

Dorothy, who occupied coziest apartments in Ozma's palace, wakened the morning party with feeling of great uneasiness At breakfast, the Scarecrow was missing Although he, the Tin Woodman and Scraps require food, they always livened up the table with their conversation Ordinarily Dorothy thought nothing Scarecrow's absence, but forget his distressed expression when Professor Wogglebug had so rudely remarked family tree The Professor himself had left before breakfast, and everybody but Dorothy had forgotten all Royal Book of Oz

Already many of Ozma's guests who live palace were preparing to depart, but Dorothy get over her feeling of uneasiness The Scarecrow was her very best friend, and not like him without saying goodbye So she hunted gardens and in every room palace and questioned all the servants Unfortunately, Jellia Jamb, who who had seen the Scarecrow go, was with her mistress Ozma always breakfasted alone and spent the morning over state matters Knowing how busy she was, Dorothy like to disturb her Betsy Bobbin and Trot, real little girls like Dorothy, also lived Fairy palace, and Ozma was great chum But the Kingdom of Oz had governed in between times, all knew that unless Ozma had the mornings to herself, play afternoons So Dorothy searched by herself

"Perhaps I didn't look hard enough," thought the little girl, and searched the palace all over again

"Don't worry," advised the Tin Woodman, who was playing checkers with Scraps "He's probably gone home "

" man of brains; why worry Because he's left us in hurry ? "

chuckled Scraps with careless wave of her hand, and Dorothy, laughing of herself, ran out another look garden

" just what he , and if I hurry, overtake him Anyway, I believe I'll go and pay him visit," thought Dorothy

Trot and Betsy Bobbin were swinging in royal hammocks, and when Dorothy invited them along, they explained were going on picnic Tin Woodman So without waiting to ask anyone else or even whistling for Toto, her little dog, Dorothy skipped garden

The Cowardly Lion, half asleep under rose bush, caught glimpse of her blue dress flashing by, and bounding feet thudded after her

"Where going ? " he asked, stifling giant yawn

"To visit the Scarecrow," explained Dorothy "He looked so unhappy last night afraid worrying about his family tree, and p'raps cheer him up "

The Cowardly Lion stretched luxuriously "I'll go too," he rumbled, giving himself shake "But it's the first time I ever heard Scarecrow worrying "

"But ," Dorothy said gently, "Professor Wogglebug told him he had no family "

"Family ! Family fiddlesticks ! Hasn't he got us ? " The Cowardly Lion stopped and waved his tail indignantly

"Why, you dear old thing ! " Dorothy threw her arms around his neck "You've given me lovely idea ! " The Cowardly Lion tried not to look pleased

"Well, as long as I've given it , tell me what ," he suggested mildly

"Why," said Dorothy, skipping along happily, "we'll let him adopt us and be his really relations I'll be his sister, and you'll be --"

"His cousin -- , he wouldn't mind having great coward like me for cousin," finished the Cowardly Lion in an anxious voice

" still feel as cowardly as ever ? " asked Dorothy sympathetically

"More so ! " sighed the great beast, glancing appre-hensively over his shoulder This made Dorothy laugh, for although the lion trembled like cup custard approach of danger, he always managed to fight with great valor, little girl felt safer than whole army of Oz, who never were frightened but who always ran away

Now anyone at all familiar geozify knows Fairyland of Oz is divided into four parts, exactly like parchesi board, Emerald City very center, the purple Gillikin Country north, the red Quadling Country south, the blue Munchkin Country east, yellow Country Winkies west toward the west that Dorothy Cowardly Lion turned their steps, for Winkie Country Scarecrow had built his gorgeous golden tower in exactly the shape of huge ear of corn

Dorothy ran along beside the Cowardly Lion, chatting over their many adventures in Oz, and stopping to pick buttercups and daisies that dotted the roadside She tied big bunch tip of her friend's tail and twined some more mane, he presented very festive appearance indeed Then, when she grew tired, she climbed big back, and swiftly they jogged pleasant land Winkies The people waved from windows and fields, for everyone loved little Dorothy big lion, and passed neat yellow cottage, little Winkie Lady came running down the path with cup of tea in one hand and bucket other

" you coming and thought thirsty," she called hospitably Dorothy drank her cup without alighting

"We're in an awful hurry; we're visiting the Scarecrow," she exclaimed apologetically The lion drank his bucket of tea at one gulp so hot made his eyes water

"How I loathe tea ! If I hadn't been such coward, I'd have upset the bucket," groaned the lion little Winkie Lady went back into her house "But no, afraid of hurting her feelings Ugh, what terrible thing it coward ! "

"Nonsense ! " said Dorothy, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief "You're not coward, you're just polite But let's run very fast so reach the Scarecrow's for lunch "

So like the wind away raced the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy holding fast mane, with her curls blowing straight out behind, and in exactly two Oz hours and seventeen Winkie minutes they came dazzling corn-ear residence old friend Hurrying cornfields that surrounded his singular mansion, Dorothy Cowardly Lion rushed open door

"We've come for lunch," announced Dorothy

"And I'm hungry enough to eat crow," rumbled the lion Then both stopped in dismay, big reception room was empty From room above came shuffling of feet, and Blink, the Scarecrow's gentlemanly housekeeper, came running down the stairs

"Where's the Scarecrow ? " asked Dorothy anxiously "Isn't he here ? "

"Here ! Isn't he there ? Isn't he Emerald City ? " gasped the little Winkie, putting his specs on upside down

"No -- , I don't think so Oh, dear, I just felt that something had happened to him ! " wailed Dorothy, sinking into an ebony armchair and fanning herself with silk sofa cushion

"Now don't be alarmed " The Cowardly Lion rushed to Dorothy's side and knocked three vases and clock off little table, just to show how calm "Think brains ! The Scarecrow has never come to harm yet, and all is to return Emerald City and look in Ozma's Magic Picture Then, when where , go and find him and tell him about our little adoption plan," he added, looking hopefully at Dorothy

"The Scarecrow himself couldn't have spoken more sensi-bly," observed Blink with great sigh of relief, and even Dorothy felt better

In Ozma's palace, of , Magic Picture, and when Ozma or Dorothy any friends, merely to wish them, and instantly the picture shows the person wished for and exactly what doing certain time

" ! " sighed Dorothy "Why didn't of it myself ? "

"Better have some lunch start back," suggested Blink, and bustling about had soon set out an appetizing repast Dorothy was too busy worrying Scarecrow much appetite, but the Cowardly Lion swallowed seventeen roasts and bucket of corn syrup

" courage ! " he explained to Dorothy, licking his chops "There's nothing that makes me so cowardly as an empty stomach ! "

quite late afternoon could get away Blink insisted on putting up lunch, and it took enough sandwiches Cowardly Lion But at last ready and packed into an old hat box belonging to Mops, the Scarecrow's cook Then Dorothy, balancing the box carefully on her lap, climbed Cowardly Lion's back, and assuring Blink that return master, they bade him farewell Blink almost spoiled things by bursting into tears, but he managed to restrain himself long enough goodbye, and Dorothy Cowardly Lion, feeling little solemn themselves, started toward the Emerald City

"My, but it's growing dark," said Dorothy after they had gone several miles "I believe it's going to storm "