"The Nome King ! he ? "

"Why, he's sometimes called the Metal Monarch, name is Ruggedo Lives in some underground cavern Claims to own all the metals hidden earth Don't ask me why "

"Why ? "

"Cause I don't know But this Ruggedo gets wild with anger if anyone digs gold earth, and my private opinion he captured brother and carried him off underground kingdom No--don't ask me why you're dying to ask me why But I don't know "

"But--dear me ! -- case never find your lost brother ! " exclaimed the girl

"Maybe not; but it's my duty ," answered Shaggy "I've wandered without finding him, but that only proves where I've been looking What I seek now hidden passage underground cavern terrible Metal Monarch "

"Well," said Betsy doubtfully, "it strikes me that ever manage there the Metal Monarch will make you, too, his prisoner "

"Nonsense ! " answered Shaggy, carelessly "You mustn't forget the Love Magnet "

"What ? " she asked

" fierce Metal Monarch sees the Love Magnet, love me dearly and do anything I ask "

"It wonderful," said Betsy, with awe

" ," the man assured her "Shall I show it ? "

"Oh, do ! " she cried; so Shaggy searched shaggy pocket and drew out small silver magnet, shaped like horseshoe

The moment Betsy saw it she began to like the Shaggy Man better than before Hank also saw the Magnet and crept Shaggy to rub his head lovingly against the man's knee

But they were interrupted Royal Gardener, who stuck his head greenhouse and shouted angrily:

" all condemned to death ! Your only chance to escape is to leave here instantly "

This startled little Betsy, but the Shaggy Man merely waved the Magnet toward the Gardener, who, seeing it, rushed forward and threw himself at Shaggy's feet, murmuring in honeyed words:

"Oh, you lovely, lovely man ! How fond of you ! Every shag and bobtail that decorates you is dear --all is yours ! But for goodness' sake get out of here die the death "

"I'm not going to die," declared Shaggy Man

" It's the Law," exclaimed the Gardener, beginning to weep real tears "It breaks my heart you this bad news, but the Law says that all strangers condemned Ruler to die the death "

"No Ruler has condemned us yet," said Betsy

" not," added Shaggy "We haven't even seen the Ruler Rose Kingdom "

"Well, the truth," said the Gardener, in perplexed tone of voice, "we haven't any real Ruler, just now , all our Rulers grow on bushes Royal Gardens, last one we had got mildewed and withered before his time So we had to plant him, and no one growing Royal Bushes ripe enough to pick "

"How ? " asked Betsy

"Why, I'm the Royal Gardener Plenty of royalties are growing, I admit; but just now all green Until one ripens, supposed to rule the Rose Kingdom myself, that its Laws are obeyed Therefore, much as I love you, Shaggy, put you to death "

"Wait minute," pleaded Betsy "I'd like those Royal Gardens before I die "

"So would I," added Shaggy Man "Take us there, Gardener "

"Oh, 't ," objected the Gardener But Shaggy again showed him the Love Magnet and after one glance at it the Gardener could no longer resist

He led Shaggy, Betsy and Hank end great greenhouse and carefully unlocked small door Passing they came splendid Royal Garden Rose Kingdom

all surrounded by tall hedge and enclosure grew several enormous rosebushes having thick green leaves texture of velvet Upon these bushes grew the members Royal Family Rose Kingdom--men, women and children in all stages of maturity They all seemed light green hue, unripe or not fully developed, their flesh and clothing being alike green They stood perfectly lifeless upon their branches, which swayed softly breeze, and their wide open eyes stared straight ahead, unseeing and unintelligent

While examining these curious growing people, Betsy passed behind big central bush and at once uttered an exclamation of surprise and pleasure For there, blooming in perfect color and shape, stood Royal Princess, whose beauty was amazing

"Why, she's ripe ! " cried Betsy, pushing aside broad leaves to observe her more clearly

"Well, perhaps so," admitted the Gardener, who had come girl's side; "but she's girl, and so 't use her for Ruler "

"No, indeed ! " came chorus of soft voices, and looking around Betsy discovered that all the Roses had followed them greenhouse and were now grouped entrance

" ," explained the Gardener, "the subjects of Rose Kingdom don't want girl Ruler King "

"A King ! King ! " repeated the chorus of Roses

"Isn't she Royal ? " inquired Shaggy, admiring the lovely Princess

" , for she grows on Royal Bush This Princess is named Ozga, as distant cousin of Ozma of Oz; and, were she but man, joyfully hail her as our Ruler "

The Gardener then turned away Roses and Betsy whispered to her companion: "Let's pick her, Shaggy "

"All right," said he "If she's royal, she right to rule this Kingdom, and pick her she will surely protect us and prevent our being hurt, or driven away "

So Betsy and Shaggy each took an arm beautiful Rose Princess and little twist of her feet set her free branch she grew Very gracefully she stepped down bush ground, where she bowed low to Betsy and Shaggy and said in delightfully sweet voice: " "

But sound words the Gardener Roses turned and discovered Princess picked, and was now alive Over every face flashed an expression of resentment and anger, and Roses cried aloud

"Audacious mortals ! What done ? "

"Picked Princess , that's all," replied Betsy, cheerfully

"But we won't have her ! King ! " exclaimed Jacque Rose, and another added with voice of scorn: "No girl shall rule over us ! "

The newly-picked Princess looked from one to another of her rebellious subjects in astonishment grieved look came over her exquisite features

"Have I no welcome here, pretty subjects ? " she asked gently "Have I not come from my Royal Bush your Ruler ? "

"You were picked by mortals, without our consent," replied the Moss Rose, coldly; "so we refuse to allow you to rule us "

"Turn her out, Gardener, others ! " cried the Tea Rose

"Just second, please ! " called Shaggy, taking the Love Magnet pocket "I guess win their love, Princess Here--take it in your hand and let the roses see it "

Princess Ozga took the Magnet and held it poised eyes of her subjects; but the Roses regarded it with calm disdain

"Why, what's the matter ? " demanded Shaggy in surprise "The Magnet never failed to work before ! "

" ," said Betsy, nodding her head wisely "These Roses have no hearts "

"That's it," agreed the Gardener "They're pretty, and sweet, and alive; but still Roses Their stems have thorns, but no hearts "

The Princess sighed and handed the Magnet Shaggy Man

"What shall ? " she asked sorrowfully

"Turn her out, Gardener, others ! " commanded the Roses " no Ruler until man-rose--a King--is ripe enough to pick "

" ," said the Gardener meekly " excuse me, my dear Shaggy, for opposing your wishes, but you others, including Ozga, must get out of Rose Kingdom immediately, before "

"Don't you love me, Gardy ? " asked Shaggy, carelessly displaying the Magnet

" I dote on thee ! " answered the Gardener earnestly; "but no true man will neglect his duty sake of love My duty is to drive you out, so--out you go ! "

he seized garden fork and began jabbing it strangers, to force them to leave Hank the mule was not afraid fork and when he got his heels near Gardener the man fell back to avoid kick

But now the Roses crowded around the outcasts and soon discovered that beneath their draperies of green leaves were many sharp thorns which were more dangerous than Hank's heels Neither Betsy nor Ozga nor Shaggy nor the mule cared to brave those thorns and pressed away they found themselves slowly driven garden door greenhouse From there they were forced out entrance and so territory flower-strewn Rose Kingdom, not of very great extent

The Rose Princess was sobbing bitterly; Betsy was indignant and angry; Hank uttered defiant "Hee-haws" Shaggy Man whistled softly to himself

The boundary Rose Kingdom was deep gulf, but drawbridge in one place and this the Royal Gardener let down until the outcasts had passed over it Then he drew it up again and returned Roses greenhouse, leaving the four queerly assorted comrades to wander bleak and unknown country that lay beyond

"I don't mind, much," remarked Shaggy, as he led the way over the stony, barren ground "I've got to search long-lost little brother, anyhow, so it won't matter where I go "

"Hank find your brother," said Betsy in her most cheerful voice "I'm away from home now that I don't s'pose I'll ever find my way back; and, the truth, it's more fun traveling around and having adventures than sticking at home Don't so, Hank ? "

"Hee-haw ! " said Hank, Shaggy Man thanked them both

" part," said Princess Ozga of Roseland, with gentle sigh, " remain forever exiled from my Kingdom So I, too, to help the Shaggy Man find his lost brother "

"That's very kind of you, ma'am," said Shaggy "But unless find the underground cavern of Ruggedo, the Metal Monarch, never find poor brother "

(This King was formerly named "Roquat," but after he drank "Waters of Oblivion" he forgot his own name and had another )

"Doesn't anyone know where ? " inquired Betsy