"Well, well, well ! " he exclaimed "Where did you come from and how did you get here ? "

Betsy tried to answer him, for Queen Ann was surly and silent

" 't say, exac'ly where we came from, cause I don't know the name place," said the girl, "but the way we got here was Hollow Tube "

"Don't call it 'hollow' Tube, please," exclaimed the Peculiar Person in an irritated tone of voice " 's tube, it's sure hollow "

"Why ? " asked Betsy

"Because all tubes are made that way But this Tube is private property and everyone is forbidden "

"We didn't on purpose," explained Betsy, and Polychrome added: " that Ruggedo, the Nome King, pushed us down that Tube "

"Ha ! Ruggedo ! Did you say Ruggedo ? " cried the man, becoming much excited

" what she said," replied Shaggy, "and I believe right We were way to conquer the Nome King when suddenly we fell Tube "

"Then enemies of Ruggedo ? " inquired the peculiar Person

"Not exac'ly enemies," said Betsy, little puzzled question, "'cause we don't know him at all; but we started out to conquer him, which isn't as friendly as it "

"True," agreed the man He looked thoughtfully from one to another for while and then he turned his head over his shoulder and said: "Never mind the fire and pincers, my good brothers best these strangers Private Citizen "

" , Tubekins," responded Voice, deep and powerful, that seemed air, speaker was invisible

All our friends gave jump, Even Polychrome was so startled that her gauze draperies fluttered like banner in breeze Shaggy shook his head and sighed; Queen Ann looked very unhappy; the officers clung to , trembling violently

But soon they gained courage to look more closely Peculiar Person As type of all the inhabitants extraordinary land whom they afterward met, try you what he looked like

His face was beautiful, but lacked expression His eyes were large and blue in color teeth finely formed and white as snow His hair was black and bushy and seemed inclined to curl ends no one could find any fault appearance He wore robe of scarlet, which cover his arms and extended no lower than his bare knees bosom robe was embroidered terrible dragon's head, as horrible to look at man was beautiful His arms and legs were left bare skin of one arm was bright yellow skin other arm vivid green He had one blue leg and one pink one, while both his feet--which showed open sandals he wore--were jet black

Betsy decide whether these gorgeous colors were dyes or the natural tints skin, but while she was thinking it over the man who called "Tubekins" said:

"Follow me Residence--all of you ! "

But just then Voice exclaimed: "Here's another , Tubekins, lying water fountain "

"Gracious ! " cried Betsy; "it Tik-Tok, and he'll drown "

"Water is bad thing clockworks, anyway," agreed Shaggy, as with one accord they all started fountain But could reach it, invisible hands raised Tik-Tok marble basin and set him upon his feet beside it, water dripping from every joint copper body

"Ma--ny tha--tha--tha--thanks ! " ; and then his copper jaws clicked together and he no more He next made an attempt to walk but after several awkward trials found move his joints

Peals of jeering laughter from persons unseen greeted Tik-Tok's failure, new arrivals strange land found it very uncomfortable to there were many creatures around them who were invisible, yet heard plainly

"Shall I wind him up ? " asked Betsy, feeling very sorry for Tik-Tok

" his machinery is wound; but oiling," replied Shaggy

At once an oil-can appeared before him, held on level eyes by some unseen hand Shaggy took the can and tried to oil Tik-Tok's joints to assist him, strong current of warm air was directed against the copper man which quickly dried him Soon "Ma-ny thanks ! " quite smoothly joints worked fairly well

"Come ! " commanded Tubekins, and turning his back upon them he walked up the path toward the castle

"Shall we go ? " asked Queen Ann, uncertainly; but just then she received shove that almost pitched her forward on her head; so she decided The officers who hesitated received several energetic kicks, but who delivered them; therefore they also decided--very wisely-- The others followed willingly enough, for unless they ventured upon another terrible journey Tube best unknown country they were in, best seemed to obey orders

Chapter Eleven

The Famous Fellowship of Fairies

After short walk through very beautiful gardens they came castle and followed Tubekins entrance and into great domed chamber, where he commanded them seated

crown which he wore, Betsy had thought this man the King country they were in, yet after he had seated all the strangers upon benches that were ranged in semicircle before high throne, Tubekins bowed humbly vacant throne and in flash became invisible and disappeared

The hall was an immense place, but there seemed no one beside themselves Presently, however, they heard low cough near them, and here and the faint rustling of robe and slight patter as of footsteps Then suddenly there rang out the clear tone of bell and sound all was changed

Gazing around the hall in bewilderment they saw filled with hundreds of , all with beautiful faces and staring blue eyes and all wearing scarlet robes and jeweled crowns upon their heads , these people seemed exact duplicates of Tubekins and difficult any mark them apart

"My ! what lot of Kings and Queens ! " whispered Betsy to Polychrome, who sat beside her and appeared much interested scene but not bit worried

" certainly strange sight," was Polychrome's reply; "but I how there more than one King, or Queen, in country, for were these all rulers, no one could tell who was Master "

Kings who stood near and overheard this remark turned to her and said: "One Master of himself is always King, if only to himself favored land all Kings and Queens are equal, and our privilege to bow before one supreme Ruler--the Private Citizen "

"Who's he ? " inquired Betsy

to answer her, the clear tones bell again rang out and instantly there appeared seated throne the man who was lord and master of all these royal ones This fact was evident when with one accord they fell upon their knees and touched their foreheads floor

The Private Citizen was not unlike the others, except that his eyes were black instead of blue and centers black irises glowed red sparks that seemed like coals of fire But his features were very beautiful and dignified manner composed and stately Instead prevalent scarlet robe, he wore one of white, same dragon's head that decorated the others was embroidered upon its bosom

"What charge lies against these people, Tubekins ? " he asked in quiet, even tones

"They came forbidden Tube, O Mighty Citizen," reply

" , it way," said Betsy "We were marching Nome King, to conquer him and set Shaggy's brother free, when on sudden--"

"Who ? " demanded the Private Citizen sternly

"Me ? Oh, I'm Betsy Bobbin, and--"

" the leader party ? " asked the Citizen

"Sir, Queen Ann of Oogaboo, and--"

"Then keep quiet," said the Citizen " the leader ? "

No one answered for moment Then General Bunn stood up

"Sit down ! " commanded the Citizen " that sixteen of merely officers, and of no account "

"But an Army," said General Clock, blusteringly, for he didn't like told of no account

"Where is your Army ? " asked the Citizen

"It's me," said Tik-Tok, his voice sounding little rusty "I'm the on-ly Pri-vate Sol-dier par-ty "

Hearing this, the Citizen rose and bowed respectfully Clockwork Man

"Pardon me for not realizing your importance before," said he " oblige me by taking seat beside me on my throne ? "

Tik-Tok rose and walked over throne, all the Kings and Queens making way for him Then with clanking steps he mounted the platform and sat broad seat beside the Citizen

Ann was greatly provoked mark of favor shown humble Clockwork Man, but Shaggy seemed much pleased that his old friend's importance recognized ruler remarkable country The Citizen now began to question Tik-Tok, who told mechanical voice about Shaggy's quest lost brother, and how Ozma of Oz had sent the Clockwork Man to assist him, and how they had fallen in with Queen Ann and her people from Oogaboo Also how Betsy and Hank and Polychrome Rose Princess had happened to join their party

"And you intended to conquer Ruggedo, the Metal Monarch and King Nomes ? " asked the Citizen

"Yes That seemed the on-ly thing ," was Tik-Tok's reply "But too cle-ver When we got close cav-ern our path lead Tube, and made the op-en-ing in- vis-i-ble, we all fell in- be-fore there an eas-y way rid of us and now Rug-gedo is safe and far a- way in strange land "

The Citizen was silent moment and seemed thinking Then :