"Only the night, an' it please your Gracious Highness," said Sir Hokus best bow

"It doesn't please me especially," said the King, taking sip of water "And there ! You've brought up another question How it ? "

He folded his hands helplessly table and looked appealingly Fix next to him "How am I to settle all these questions, Sticken ? First running around like crazy chairs, and --"

" ring for settle," suggested Sticken, looking curiously at Sir Hokus The King leaned back with sigh of relief, then touched bell There were twenty bells set on high post at his right hand, and all Fixes seemed similar bell posts

"He's talking perfect nonsense," said Dorothy angrily The Cowardly Lion began to roll his eyes ominously

"Let me handle this, my dear I'm used to Kings," whispered Sir Hokus "Most of 'em talk nonsense But if he grows wroth, we'll have all the furniture place around our ears Now just --"

Bump ! Sir Hokus and Dorothy sat down quite suddenly The settle had arrived and hit them smartly behind the knees The Cowardly Lion dodged just and lay down with growl beside it

"Now that you're settled," began the King in resigned voice, " try again your motto ? "

This took even Sir Hokus by surprise, but before answer, the King snapped out:

"Come late and stay early ! How's that ? "

" ," said Sir Hokus with wink at Dorothy

" , don't come at all," mumbled Sticken Plaster, his mouth full of biscuit

"And ? " the King asked uneasily

"Dinner for three," said the Knight promptly and with another bow

"Now that's talking " The King looked admiringly at Sir Hokus "This Little With D had matters all tangled up at thing ! That's my motto ! "

Leaning over, the King pressed another button , the Fixes had lost interest visitors and went calmly on with their dinners Three tables came pattering up, settle drew itself up own accord Dorothy placed the Cowardly Lion's dinner ground, and then she and Sir Hokus enjoyed the first good meal they had had since they left Pokes They were gradually becoming used strange surroundings

"You ask him Scarecrow," begged Dorothy Everybody had finished, tables were withdrawing in orderly groups The King was leaning sleepily back chair

"Ahem," began the Knight, rising stiffly, "has your Majesty seen aught of noble Scarecrow ? And could your Supreme Fixity tell us aught --"

The King's eyes opened "You're out of turn," he interrupted crossly "We're only second question How spend the night ? "

"In sleep," answered Sir Hokus promptly, "if your Majesty permits "

" ," said the King solemnly "That gets me out of entertaining Early to bed and late to rise, that's my motto Next ! It's your turn," he added irritably as Sir Hokus immediately answer

" seen aught noble Scarecrow ? " asked Sir Hokus, and all waited anxiously King's reply

"I don't know Scarecrow I've seen Scarecrow, and sensible chap , hanging still like reasonable person and letting chairs and tables chase themselves 'round "

"Where was he ? " asked Sir Hokus in great agitation

"In picture," said the King "Wait, I'll ring "

"No use," said the Knight in disappointed voice "We're looking for man "

"Would you mind telling me why all so still, and why all your furniture runs around ? " asked Dorothy, who was growing little restless

"You forget where , and you're out of turn But I'll overlook it this once," said the King " ever noticed, Little With D, that furniture lasts longer than people ? "

"Why, yes," admitted Dorothy

"Well, there ! " King Fix Sit folded his hands and regarded her complacently "Here we manage things better We stand still and let the furniture run around and wear itself out How does it strike you ? "

"It seem sensible," acknowledged Dorothy "But don't you ever grow tired of standing still ? "

"I've heard of growing hair and flowers and corn, but never of growing tired it ? " asked Sticken Plaster, leaning toward Dorothy

" she's talked enough," said the King, closing his eyes

Sir Hokus staring anxiously King for Now close monarch's side, and standing on tiptoe whispered hoarsely: "Hast any dragons here ? "

"Did you say wagons ? " asked the King, opening his eyes with terrible yawn

"Dragons ! " hissed the Knight

"Never heard of 'em," said the King The Cowardly Lion chuckled behind his whiskers, and Sir Hokus in great confusion stepped back

"What time ? " demanded the King suddenly He touched bell, and next minute whole company of clocks came running down the street The big ones pushed the little ones, and grandfather clock ran so fast tripped over cobblestone and fell on its face, which cracked all the way across

"You've plenty ; why don't you take it ? " called the King angrily, while two clothes trees helped the clock to its feet

"They're all different," giggled Dorothy, nudging the Cowardly Lion Some pointed to eight o'clock, some to nine, and others to half past ten

"Why shouldn't they be different ? " asked Sticken haughtily "Some run faster than others ! "

"Pass the time, please," said the King, looking hard at Dorothy

"The lazy lump ! " growled the Cowardly Lion But Dorothy picked up the nearest little clock and handed it to King Fix Sit

" so," yawned the King, pointing clock , everybody began ringing bells till Dorothy was obliged her ears In an instant, the whole street was filled with beds, "rolling up just as were taxis," laughed Dorothy to Sir Hokus The Knight smiled faintly, but as he had never seen taxi, appreciate Dorothy's remark

"Here come your beds," said the King shortly "Tell them you around the corner 't abide snoring "

"I don't snore, ," said Dorothy angrily, but the King had stepped into his bed and drawn the curtains tight

" go to bed, I 'spose," said the little girl "I'm so tired ! "

The three beds were swaying restlessly middle street They were tall, four-post affairs with heavy chintz hangings Dorothy chose the blue one, and Sir Hokus lifted her up carefully and then went off to catch his bed, which had gotten into an argument with lamppost When he spoke sharply, it left off and came trotting over to him The Cowardly Lion, contrary usual custom, leaped into his bed, and soon the three four-posters were walking quietly down the street, evidently following the King's instructions

Dorothy slipped off her shoes and dress and nestled comfortably down soft covers "Just like sleeping in train," she thought drowsily "What lot the Scarecrow and Ozma when I get home "

"Good night ! " said the bed politely

"Good night ! " said Dorothy, too nearly asleep to even think it strange for bed "Good night ! "

CHAPTER 13

DANCING BEDS ROADS THAT UNROLLED

"It shipwreck," thought Dorothy, sitting up in alarm She seemed tossing about wildly

"Time for little girls up," grumbled harsh voice that seemed pillows

Dorothy rubbed her eyes bedposts was addressing her, big four-poster itself was dancing regular jig

"Oh, stop ! " cried Dorothy, holding on post from bouncing out

"Can't I'm awake ? "

"Well, I go off duty now, and you'll have to hurry," said the bed sulkily "I'm due lecture at nine "

"Lecture ? " gasped Dorothy

"What's so queer ? " demanded the bed coldly "I've got well posted, haven't I ? I belong to polished set, Hurry up, little girl, or I'll throw you out "

"I'm glad my bed doesn't talk impertinent fashion," thought Dorothy, slipping into her dress and combing her hair with her side comb "Imagine being ordered about by bed ! I wonder if Sir Hokus is up " Parting the curtains, she jumped down, bed, without even saying goodbye, took itself off

Sir Hokus was sitting on stile, polishing his armor with pillowslip he had taken bed, Cowardly Lion was lying beside him lazily thumping his tail and making fun passing furniture

" had breakfast ? " asked Dorothy, joining her friends

"We were waiting for your Ladyship," chuckled the Cowardly Lion "Would you mind ordering two , Hokus ? one quite insufficient "

Sir Hokus threw away the pillowslip, and talking cheerfully they walked toward King Fix Sit's circle The beds replaced by breakfast tables, whole street was eating busily

"Good morning, King," said Sir Hokus "Four breakfasts, please "

The king rang bell four times without looking up oatmeal Seeing that wish disturbed, the three waited quietly for their tables

"In some ways," said Dorothy, contentedly munching hot roll, "in some ways very comfortable place "

"In sooth 'tis that," mumbled Sir Hokus, his mouth full of baked apple As Cowardly Lion, he finished his two breakfasts in no time "And now," said Sir Hokus tables walked off, " continue our quest Could'st tell us the way Emerald City, my good King Fix ? "

" go, go away And stay, stay away That's my motto," answered King Fix shortly " 't have people running around here like common furniture," he added in grieved voice All the Fix Its nodded vigorously

"Let them take their stand or their departure," said Sticken Plaster firmly

The King felt pocket and brought out three pieces of chalk "Go end street Choose place and draw your circle In five minutes it impossible to move circle, and saved all this unnecessary motion "

"But we don't want to standstill," objected Dorothy

"No, by my good sword ! " spluttered the Knight, glaring around nervously Then, seeing the King looked displeased, low bow "If your Highness could graciously direct us city --"

"Buy piece of road and go where it takes you," snapped the King

Seeing no more was got out of him, they started down the long street