"Yes, it ," assented Kaliko "No one else inhabits this splendid dome, so there no mistake "

"But why does he hide among those green trees, instead of enjoying all these glittery golden ones ? " asked Betsy

"Because he finds food natural trees," replied Kaliko, "and I remember that he has built little house there, to sleep in As glittery golden trees, admit very pretty at first sight One cannot fail to admire them, rich jewels scattered beneath them; but if one look at them always, they become pretty tame "

"I believe true," declared Shaggy "My dear brother is very wise to prefer real trees imitation ones But come; go there and find him "

Shaggy started green grove at once, others followed him, being curious to witness the final rescue long-sought, long-lost brother

Not far edge grove they came upon small hut, cleverly made of twigs and golden branches woven together approached the place they caught glimpse of form that darted hut and slammed the door tight shut after him

Shaggy Man ran door and cried aloud:

"Brother ! Brother ! "

"Who calls," demanded sad, hollow voice from within

" Shaggy--your own loving brother--who searching and has now come to rescue you "

"Too late ! " replied the gloomy voice "No one can rescue me now "

"Oh, but mistaken ," said Shaggy " new King nomes, named Kaliko, in Ruggedo's place, and he has promised you shall go free "

"Free ! I dare not go free ! " said the Ugly One, in voice of despair

" , Brother ? " asked Shaggy, anxiously

" what they ? " came the answer closed door

"No Tell me, Brother, what have they done ? "

"When Ruggedo first captured me very handsome Don't you remember, Shaggy ? "

"Not , Brother; you were so young when I left home But I remember that mother thought you were beautiful "

"She was right ! she was right," wailed the prisoner "But Ruggedo wanted to injure me-- me ugly eyes of all the world--so he performed wicked enchantment I went to bed beautiful--or say handsome-- very modest merely claim that good- looking--and I wakened the next morning the homeliest man in all the world ! so repulsive that when I look in mirror I frighten myself "

"Poor Brother ! " said Shaggy softly, and all the others were silent from sympathy

" so ashamed looks," continued the voice of Shaggy's brother, "that I tried to hide; but the cruel King Ruggedo forced me to appear before all the legion of nomes, : 'Behold the Ugly One ! ' But nomes saw my face they all fell to laughing and jeering, which prevented them from working at their tasks Seeing this, Ruggedo became angry and pushed me into tunnel, closing the rock entrance get out I followed the length tunnel until I reached this huge dome, where the marvelous Metal Forest stands, and here remained "

"Poor Brother ! " repeated Shaggy "But I beg you now forth and face us, your friends None here will laugh or jeer, however unhandsome "

"No, indeed," they all added pleadingly

But the Ugly One refused the invitation

" ," said he; "indeed, face strangers, ugly as "

Shaggy Man turned group surrounding him

"What shall ? " he asked in sorrowful tones " leave my dear brother here, and he refuses out house and face us "

"I'll tell you," replied Betsy "Let him put on mask "

"The very idea seeking ! " exclaimed Shaggy joyfully; and then out: "Brother, put mask over your face, and then none of us what your features are like "

" no mask," answered the Ugly One

"Look here," said Betsy; " use my handkerchief "

Shaggy looked little square of cloth and shook his head

"It isn't big enough," he objected; "I'm sure it isn't big enough to hide man's face But use mine "

Saying this pocket his own handkerchief and went door hut

"Here, my Brother," , "take this handkerchief and make mask of it also pass you my knife, cut holes eyes, and then tie it over your face "

The door slowly opened, just far enough Ugly One to thrust out his hand and handkerchief knife Then it closed again

"Don't forget hole for your nose," cried Betsy " breathe, "

For time silence Queen Ann and her army sat down ground to rest Betsy sat on Hank's back Polychrome danced lightly up and down the jeweled paths while Files Princess wandered groves arm in arm Tik-Tok, who never tired, stood motionless

By and by noise sounded from hut

" ready ? " asked Shaggy

"Yes, Brother," came the reply door was thrown open to allow the Ugly One to step forth

Betsy laughed aloud had she not remembered how sensitive to ridicule Shaggy's brother was, handkerchief he had masked his features was red one covered with big white polka dots two holes cut--in front eyes--while two smaller ones nostrils allowed the man to breathe freely The cloth was then tightly drawn over the Ugly One's face and knotted back neck

dressed in clothes that had once been good, but now were sadly worn and frayed His silk stockings had holes , shoes were stub-toed and needed blackening "But what expect," whispered Betsy, " poor man prisoner for years ? "

Shaggy had darted forward, and embraced his newly found brother with both his arms The brother also embraced Shaggy, who then led him forward and introduced him to all the assembled company

" new Nome King," when to Kaliko " our friend, and has granted you your freedom "

" kindly deed," replied Ugly in sad voice, "but I dread back world direful condition Unless I remain forever masked, my dreadful face would curdle all the milk and stop all the clocks "

"Can't the enchantment be broken in some way ? " inquired Betsy

Shaggy looked anxiously at Kaliko, who shook his head

" 't break the enchantment," "Ruggedo was fond of magic, and learned enchantments that we nomes know nothing of "

"Perhaps Ruggedo himself might break his own enchantment," suggested Ann; "but unfortunately allowed the old King to escape "

"Never mind, my dear Brother," said Shaggy consolingly; " very happy found you again, although never see your face So the most joyful reunion "

The Ugly One was affected to tears tender speech, tears began to wet the red handkerchief; so Shaggy gently wiped them away coat sleeve

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kindly Kisses

"Won't you be dreadful sorry to leave this lovely place ? " Betsy asked the Ugly One

"No, indeed," said he "Jewels and gold are cold and heartless things, and presently have died of loneliness had I not found the natural forest edge artificial one Anyhow, without these real trees soon have starved to death "

Betsy looked around quaint trees

"I don't just understand that," she admitted "What could you find to eat here "

"The best food ," Ugly answered "Do that grove at your left ? " he added, pointing it out; "well, such trees grow in your country, or in place but this cavern named them 'Hotel Trees,' because they bear certain kind of table d'hote fruit called 'Three-Course Nuts ' "

"That's funny ! " said Betsy " the 'Three-Course Nuts' like ? "

"Something like cocoanuts, to look at," explained the Ugly One "All is to pick and then sit down and eat your dinner You first unscrew the top part and find cupfull of good soup After you've eaten that, you unscrew the middle part and find hollow filled with meat and potatoes, vegetables and fine salad Eat that, and unscrew the next section, and you come dessert bottom nut , pie and cake, cheese and crackers, and nuts and raisins The Three-Course Nuts all exactly alike in flavor or in contents, but all good and in found complete three-course dinner "

"But how about breakfasts ? " inquired Betsy