" happiest moment life ! " he exclaimed, clasping his yellow gloves and watching the door intently Happy looked little uneasy, for the three Princes exceedingly haughty and overbearing, but nothing, and next minute the Scarecrow's family stepped solemnly royal presence

"Children ! " cried the Scarecrow, and usual impetuousness rushed forward and flung his arms around the first richly clad Prince

"Take care ! Take care, ancient and honorable papa ! " cried the young Silverman, backing away "Such excitement good of your advanced years " He drew himself away firmly and, adjusting huge pair of silver spectacles, regarded the Scarecrow attentively "Ah, how changed ! "

"He looks very feeble, Too Fang, but may he live long to rule this flowery island humble selves ! " said the second Prince, bowing stiffly

" not find the affairs of state fatiguing, darling papa ? " inquired the third Prince, fingering jeweled chain that hung around his neck

"I, eldest son, shall be delighted to relieve you wish to retire Get back ten paces, you ! " he roared at Happy Toko

The poor Scarecrow so taken aback cool reception that he just stared in disbelief

" three honorable Princes will retire themselves, speak with my grandsons," dryly, bowing most royal manner The three Princes exchanged startled glances Then, with three low salaams, they retired backward hall

"And now, my dears -- ! " The Scarecrow looked wistfully at his fifteen silken- clad little grandsons Their silver hair, plaited tightly into little queues, stood out stiffly on each side heads and gave them very curious appearance At his first word, the fifteen fell dutifully on their noses they were right side up, the Scarecrow, beginning end row, addressed joking question to each most approved Oz style But over they went again, and answered merely:

"Yes, gracious Grand-papapapah ! " or "No honorable Grandpapapapah ! " constant bobbing up and down and papahing so confused the poor Scarecrow that he nearly gave up the conversation

"It's no use trying children," he wailed in disgust, "they're so solemn Don't you ever laugh ? " he cried in exasperation, for he had told them stories sent the Oz youngsters into hysterics

" permissible for Prince to laugh remarks honorable grandparent," whispered Happy Toko, while the fifteen little Princes banged their heads solemnly floor

"Honorable fiddlesticks ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow, slumping back throne "Bring cushions " Happy Toko ran off nimbly, and soon the fifteen little Princes were seated in circle Scarecrow's feet " prostrations," said the Scarecrow

"Yes, old Grandpapapapapah ! " chorused the Princes, bending over as far as

"Wait ! " said the Scarecrow hastily, "I'll tell you story Once upon time, to beautiful country called Oz, surrounded on all sides by deadly desert, there came little girl named Dorothy terrible gale -- Well, what's the matter now ? " The Scarecrow stopped short, oldest Prince had jerked book out sleeve and was flipping over the pages industriously

" map, great Grand papapapah," he announced solemnly, and all other little Princes shook their heads and said dully, "Not map "

"Not map -- Oz ? it's not suppose all the humans in creation coming there ? " Calming down, the Scarecrow tried his story, but every time Oz, the little Princes shook their heads stubbornly and whispered, "Not map," till the usually good-tempered Scarecrow flew into perfect passion

"Not map, you little villains ! " he screamed, forgetting they were his grandsons "What difference does that make ? Are your heads solid silver ? "

" believe in Oz," announced the oldest Prince serenely " no such place "

"No such place as Oz -- Happy, hear that ? " The Scarecrow's voice fairly crackled with indignation "Why, everybody believed in Oz ! "

"Perhaps your Highness can convince them later," suggested the Imperial Punster " , offspring " His Master, , had had enough family day So the fifteen little Princes, with fifteen stiff little bows, took themselves back royal nursery As Scarecrow, he paced disconsolately up and down his magnificent throne room, tripping over his kimona at step

"You're good boy, Tappy," said the Scarecrow as Happy returned, "but I tell you being grandparent what it Did you hear them tell me right to my face believe in Oz ? And my sons -- ugh ! "

"Fault bringing up," said Happy Toko comfortingly "If your serene Highness would just tell me more illustrious country ! " Happy knew that nothing cheered the Scarecrow like talking of Oz, and the truth Happy himself never tired Scarecrow's marvelous stories So the two slipped quietly palace gardens, Scarecrow related fourteenth time the story discovery by Dorothy story of Ozma, and almost forgot that an Emperor

"Your Highness knows the history of Oz by heart," said Happy admiringly Scarecrow paused

"I couldn't ," said the Scarecrow gently, " see, Happy, no heart "

"Then we all had none ! " exclaimed Happy Toko, rolling up his eyes The Scarecrow looked embarrassed, so the little Punster threw back his head and sang song he making up while the Scarecrow telling his stories:

The Scarecrow was standing alone in field, Inviting the crows off, straw chest began tickling his vest And he couldn't resist loud cough

The noise that was heard so surprised ev'ry bird, flock flew away in fright, But the Scarecrow looked pleased, and "If I'd sneezed It wouldn't so polite "

"Ho ! " roared the Scarecrow, "You're almost as good at making verses as Scraps, Write that down , Tappy I'd like to show it to her "

"Hush ! " whispered Happy, holding up his finger warningly The Scarecrow turned so suddenly silver pigtail pinned back hat wound itself tightly around his neck No wonder ! other side hedge the three Princes were walking up and down, conversing in indignant whispers

"What horrible shape our honorable Papa has reappeared in I hear never wears out," muttered one " continue just as for years and years How am I ever to succeed him, I'd like Why, outlive us all ! "

" throw him silver river," said the second hopefully

"No use," choked the third " just talking Imperial Soothsayer, and he tells me that no one miserable Kingdom of Oz destroyed But plan Incline your Royal ears -- listen " The voices dropped to such low whisper that neither Happy nor the Scarecrow could hear one word

"Treason ! " spluttered Happy, making ready to spring hedge, but the Scarecrow seized him arm and drew him away

"I don't believe they like their poor papa," exclaimed the Scarecrow were safely back throne room "I'm feeling older than Kinkajou Ah, Happy Oko, why did I ever slide down my family tree ? It has brought me nothing but unhappiness "

CHAPTER 15

THE THREE PRINCES PLOT TO UNDO THE EMPEROR

"Let me help your Imperial Serenity ! "

"Bring cane ! "

"Carefully, now ! "

The three royal Princes, with every show of affection, were supporting the Scarecrow silver bench garden where he usually sat during luncheon

" quite comfortable ? " asked the elder "Here, Happy, you rogue, fetch scarf Imperial Highness careful, dear Papa Scarecrow At your age, drafts are dangerous " The rascally Prince wound the scarf Scarecrow's neck

"What suppose ? " asked the Scarecrow, staring three suspiciously "Why this sudden devotion ? It upsets my Imperial Serenity lot "

"Trying you feel old," grumbled Happy Several hours had passed since they had overheard the conversation garden The Scarecrow had decided to watch his sons closely and fall in with any plan they suggested so suspect nothing Then, time came, act Just what do know, but his excellent brains , sure, desert him Happy Toko sat as close Scarecrow as and scowled terribly whenever the Princes approached, or so during the afternoon

"How Scarecrow's celestial old head ? "

"Does he suffer from honorable gout ? "

"Should they fetch the Imperial Doctor ? "

The Scarecrow, who had never thought of age whole straw life, became extremely nervous

Was he really old ? Did his head ache ? When no one was looking, himself carefully all over Then something old time Oz spirit returned Seizing the cushion that his eldest son was placing at his back, he hurled it over his head Leaping throne, he began turning handsprings in careless and sprightly manner

"Don't you worry honorable old papa," chuckled the Scarecrow, winking at Happy Toko "He's good for couple of centuries ! "

The three Princes stared sourly exhibition of youth

"But your heart," objected the eldest Prince

"Have none," laughed the Scarecrow Snatching off the silver cord from around his waist, he began skipping rope up and down the hall The Princes, tapping their foreheads significantly, retired, Scarecrow, throwing his arm around Happy Toko, began whispering ear He had plan himself see !

* * * * *

Meanwhile, off dark cave in silver mountains, the Grand Gheewizard Silver Island was stirring huge kettle of magic Every he paused to read out of great yellow book that he had propped up mantle The fire huge grate leaped fiercely under the big, black pot, sputtering candles on each side book sent creepy shadows dark cave Dark chests, books, bundles of herbs, and heaps of gold and silver were everywhere Whenever the Gheewizard turned his back, rheumatic silver-scaled old dragon would crawl toward the fire and swallow mouthful of coals, until the old Gheewizard caught him act and chained him to ring corner cave