Even as Polychrome was speaking she tripped lightly side Ugly One and quickly touched his cheek with her lips

"Oh, -- ! " he fervently cried "I've changed, , feel it ! I'm different Shaggy--dear Shaggy-- myself again ! "

Files, who was near the opening, touched the spring that released the big rock and it suddenly swung backward and let in flood of daylight

Everyone stood motionless, staring hard at Shaggy's brother, who, no longer masked polka-dot handkerchief, met their gaze with glad smile

"Well," said Shaggy Man, breaking the silence at last and drawing long, deep breath of satisfaction, " no longer the Ugly One, my dear brother; but, entirely frank , the face that belongs is no more handsome than it "

" he's rather good looking," remarked Betsy, gazing man critically

"In comparison with what ," said King Kaliko, " really beautiful You, who never beheld his ugliness, may not understand that; but my misfortune to look Ugly One , and again that, in comparison with what , the man is now beautiful "

"All right," returned Betsy, briskly, "we'll take your word , Kaliko And now get out tunnel and world again "

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ruggedo Reforms

It take them long to regain the royal cavern Nome King, where Kaliko ordered served the nicest refreshments the place afforded

Ruggedo had come trailing along rest party and while no one paid any attention old King offer any objection presence or command him to leave them He looked fearfully eggs were still guarding the entrance, but they had now disappeared; so he crept cavern others and humbly squatted down in corner room

There Betsy discovered him All little girl's companions were now so happy success of Shaggy's quest brother, laughter and merriment seemed so general, that Betsy's heart softened toward the friendless old man who had once been their bitter enemy, and she carried to him food and drink Ruggedo's eyes filled with tears unexpected kindness the child's hand own and pressed it gratefully

"Look here, Kaliko," said Betsy, addressing the new King, "what's the use of being hard on Ruggedo ? All his magic power is gone, so 't do any more harm, and I'm sure he's sorry he acted so badly to everybody "

" ? " asked Kaliko, looking down at his former master

" ," said Ruggedo "The girl speaks truly I'm sorry and I'm harmless I don't want to wander wide world, on top ground, for I'm nome No nome can ever be happy any place but underground "

"That being the case," said Kaliko, " let you stay here as long behave yourself; but, try to act badly again, drive you out, as Tititi-Hoochoo has commanded, and you'll have to wander "

"Never fear I'll behave," promised Ruggedo " hard work being King, and harder still good King But now that common nome lead blameless life "

They were all pleased to hear this and that Ruggedo had really reformed

" he'll keep his word," whispered Betsy to Shaggy; "but if he gets bad again far away Nome Kingdom and Kaliko to 'tend old nome himself "

Polychrome little restless hour or two The lovely Daughter Rainbow knew that she had now done all in her power to assist her earth friends, and so she began to long for her sky home

" ," she said, after listening intently, " beginning to rain The Rain King is my uncle, , and perhaps he has read my thoughts going to help me Anyway take look sky and make sure "

So she jumped up and ran passage outer entrance, all followed after her and grouped themselves on ledge mountain-side Sure enough, dark clouds had filled the sky and slow, drizzling rain had set in

"It can't last for long," said Shaggy, looking upward, "and when it stops lose the sweet little fairy learned to love Alas," he continued, after moment, "the clouds are already breaking west, and--see ! --isn't Rainbow coming ? "

Betsy didn't look sky; she looked at Polychrome, whose happy, smiling face surely foretold the coming of her father her Cloud Palaces moment later gleam of sunshine flooded the mountain and gorgeous Rainbow appeared

With cry of gladness Polychrome sprang upon point of rock and held out her arms Straightway the Rainbow descended until its end was at her very feet, when with graceful leap she sprang upon it and was at once clasped arms of her radiant sisters, the Daughters Rainbow But Polychrome released herself to lean over the edge glowing arch and nod, and smile and throw dozen kisses to her late comrades

"Good-bye ! " she called, all shouted "Good-bye ! " in return and waved their hands pretty friend

Slowly the magnificent bow lifted and melted sky, until the eyes earnest watchers saw only fleecy clouds flitting across the blue

"I'm dreadful sorry Polychrome go," said Betsy, who felt like crying; "but I s'pose she'll be happier with her sisters sky palaces "

" ," returned Shaggy, nodding gravely "It's her home, , and those poor wanderers who, like ourselves, have no home, can realize what that means to her "

"Once," said Betsy, "I, too, had home Now, I've only--only--dear old Hank ! "

She twined her arms around her shaggy friend who was not human, and : "Hee-haw ! " in tone that showed he understood her mood shaggy friend who was human stroked the child's head tenderly and said: "You're wrong , Betsy, dear never desert you "

"Nor I ! " exclaimed Shaggy's brother, in earnest tones

The little girl looked up at them gratefully, and her eyes smiled through their tears

"All right," she said "It's raining again, so let's go back cavern "

Rather soberly, for all loved Polychrome and would miss her, they reentered the dominions Nome King

Chapter Twenty-Four

Dorothy is Delighted

"Well," said Queen Ann, when all were again seated in Kaliko's royal cavern, "I wonder what do next If find my way back to Oogaboo I'd take my army home at once, for I'm sick and tired dreadful hardships "

"Don't to conquer the world ? " asked Betsy

"No; I've changed my mind ," admitted the Queen "The world is too big person to conquer and happier with my own people in Oogaboo --Oh, how earnestly --that back there this minute ! "

"So do I ! " yelled every officer in fervent tone

Now, time reader that far-away Land of Oz the lovely Ruler, Ozma, following the adventures of her Shaggy Man, and Tik-Tok, and all the others they had met Day by day Ozma, wonderful Wizard of Oz seated beside her, had gazed upon Magic Picture in radium frame, which occupied one side Ruler's cosy boudoir palace Emerald City The singular thing Magic Picture it showed whatever scene Ozma wished , figures all in motion, just as taking place So Ozma Wizard had watched every action adventurers time Shaggy had met shipwrecked Betsy and Hank Rose Kingdom, the Rose Princess, distant cousin of Ozma, exiled by her heartless subjects

When Ann and her people so earnestly wished to return to Oogaboo, Ozma was sorry and remembered that Oogaboo was corner Land of Oz She turned to her attendant and asked:

"Can not your magic take these unhappy people old home, Wizard ? "

"It can, Your Highness," replied the little Wizard

" the poor Queen has suffered enough in her misguided effort to conquer the world," said Ozma, smiling absurdity undertaking, "so she will hereafter be contented in her own little Kingdom Please send her there, Wizard, and with her the officers and Files "

"How Rose Princess ? " asked the Wizard

"Send her to Oogaboo with Files," answered Ozma " become such good friends that it would make them unhappy to separate them "

" ," said the Wizard, and without any fuss or mystery whatever he performed magical rite that was simple and effective Therefore those seated Nome King's cavern were both startled and amazed when all the people of Oogaboo suddenly disappeared room, and the Rose Princess At first understand it at all; but presently Shaggy suspected the truth, and believing that Ozma was now taking an interest party he drew pocket tiny instrument which he placed against his ear

Ozma, observing this action in her Magic Picture, at once caught up similar instrument from table beside her and held it to her own ear The two instruments recorded the same delicate vibrations of sound and formed wireless telephone, an invention Wizard Those separated by any distance were thus enabled to converse together with perfect ease and without any wire connection

" hear me, Shaggy Man ? " asked Ozma

"Yes, Your Highness," he replied

" sent the people of Oogaboo back own little valley," announced the Ruler of Oz; "so worry over their disappearance "

"That was very kind of you," said Shaggy "But Your Highness must permit me to report that my own mission now ended found my lost brother, and now beside me, freed enchantment of ugliness which Ruggedo cast upon him Tik-Tok has served me and my comrades faithfully, requested him , and now transport the Clockwork Man back to your fairyland of Oz "

" ," replied Ozma "But how about yourself, Shaggy ? "