"Good advice ! " laughed Polychrome, dancing

" happy ? " asked the Tin Soldier

" ," said Nimmie Amee; "I'm the mistress of all I survey -- the queen little domain "

"Wouldn't you like the Empress Winkies ? " asked the Tin Woodman

"Mercy, no," she answered " lot of bother I don't care for society, or pomp, or posing All I ask left alone and not annoyed by visitors "

The Scarecrow nudged Woot the Wanderer

"That sounds like hint,"

"Looks we'd had our journey for nothing," remarked Woot, who was little ashamed and disappointed because he had proposed the journey

" , however," said the Tin Woodman, "that found Nimmie Amee, and discovered that already married and happy relieve me of any further anxiety concerning her "

" part," said the Tin Soldier, " not sorry free that really annoys me is finding my head upon Chopfyt's body "

"As , I'm pretty sure my body, or part of it, anyway," remarked the Emperor Winkies "But never mind, friend Soldier; be willing to donate our cast-off members to insure the happiness of Nimmie Amee, and be thankful our fate to hoe cabbages and draw water --and be chided -- place creature Chopfyt "

"Yes," agreed the Soldier, " much thankful for "

Polychrome, who had wandered outside, now poked her pretty head through an open window and exclaimed in pleased voice:

"It's getting cloudy Perhaps going to rain ! "

Chapter Twenty-Three

Tunnel

It didn't rain just then, although the clouds sky grew thicker and more threatening Polychrome hoped for thunder-storm, followed by her Rainbow, but the two tin men relish the idea of getting wet They even preferred to remain in Nimmie Amee's house, although they felt they welcome there, rather than go out and face the coming storm But the Scarecrow, who was very thoughtful person, said friends:

" remain here until storm, and Polychrome goes away on her Rainbow, then prisoners inside the Wall of Solid Air; so it seems best to start upon our return journey at once If I get wet, my straw stuffing ruined, and two tin gentlemen get wet, perhaps rust again, and become useless But even better than to stay here Once free barrier, Woot the Wanderer to , and oil your joints and restuff my body, becomes necessary, boy is made of meat, which neither rusts nor gets soggy or moldy "

"Come along, then ! " cried Polychrome window, others, realizing the wisdom Scarecrow's speech, took leave of Nimmie Amee, who was glad rid , and said good-bye to her husband, who merely scowled and made no answer, and then they hurried house

"Your old parts very polite, say," remarked the Scarecrow, were garden

"No," said Woot, "Chopfyt is regular grouch wished us pleasant journey, very least "

"I beg you not to hold us responsible creature's actions," pleaded the Tin Woodman " through with Chopfyt and nothing further "

Polychrome danced ahead party and led them straight burrow Blue Rabbit, which they had some difficulty in finding without her There she lost no time in making them all small again The Blue Rabbit was busy nibbling cabbage leaves in Nimmie Amee's garden, so ask his permission but at once entered the burrow

Even now the raindrops were beginning , but quite dry inside the tunnel and they had reached the other end, outside the circular Wall of Solid Air, the storm was at its height rain was coming down in torrents

" wait here," proposed Polychrome, peering hole and then quickly retreating "The Rainbow won't appear until storm and make you big again in jiffy, before I join my sisters bow "

"That's good plan," said the Scarecrow approvingly " save me from getting soaked and soggy "

" save me from rusting," said the Tin Soldier

" enable me to remain highly polished," said the Tin Woodman

"Oh, as , I myself prefer not my pretty clothes wet," laughed the Rainbow's daughter

"But while we wait bid you all adieu also saving me dreadful Giantess, Mrs Yoop good and patient comrades and enjoyed our adventures together, but never so happy as when on my dear Rainbow "

"Will your father scold you for getting left earth ? " asked Woot

"I suppose so," said Polychrome gaily; "I'm always getting scolded mad pranks, called My sisters are so sweet and lovely and proper never dance off our Rainbow, and so they never have any adventures Adventures are good fun, only I never like to stay too long on earth, because I really don't belong here tell my Father the Rainbow that I'll try not so careless again, and forgive me because sky mansions always joy and happiness "

They were indeed sorry to part with their dainty and beautiful companion and assured her devotion ever chanced to meet again She shook hands Scarecrow Tin Men and kissed Woot the Wanderer lightly upon his forehead

And then the rain suddenly ceased, and tiny people left the burrow Blue Rabbit, glorious big Rainbow appeared sky end arch slowly descended and touched the ground just where they stood

Woot was so busy watching score of lovely maidens -- sisters of Polychrome -- who were leaning over the edge bow, and another score who danced gaily amid the radiance splendid hues, that notice growing big again But now Polychrome joined her sisters Rainbow huge arch lifted and slowly melted away sun burst clouds and sent its own white beams dancing over the meadows

"Why, she's gone ! " exclaimed the boy, and turned his companions still waving their hands in token of adieu vanished Polychrome

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Curtain Falls

Well, the rest story is quickly told, return Journey adventurers was without any important incident The Scarecrow was so afraid of meeting the Hip-po-gy-raf, and having his straw eaten again, that he urged his comrades to select another route Emerald City, willingly consented, so Invisible Country was wholly avoided

, reached the Emerald City their first duty was to visit Ozma's palace, where they were royally entertained The Tin Soldier and Woot the Wanderer were welcomed as warmly as any strangers who the traveling companions of Ozma's dear old friends, the Scarecrow Tin Woodman

banquet table that evening they related the manner they had discovered Nimmie Amee, and told how they had found her happily married to Chopfyt, whose relationship to Nick Chopper and Captain Fyter was so bewildering asked Ozma's advice what

" not consider Chopfyt at all," replied the beautiful girl Ruler of Oz "If Nimmie Amee is content misfit man for husband, even just cause to blame Ku-Klip for gluing him together "

" idea," added little Dorothy, "for if Ku-Klip hadn't used up your castoff parts, been wasted It's wicked wasteful, isn't it ? "

"Well, anyhow," said Woot the Wanderer, "Chopfyt, being kept prisoner by his wife, is too far away from anyone to bother either of you tin men in hadn't gone where and discovered him, never have worried about him "

"What care, anyhow," Betsy Bobbin asked the Tin Woodman, " as Nimmie Amee is satisfied ? "

"And just ," remarked Tiny Trot, "that any girl would rather live with mixture like Chopfyt, on far-away Mount Munch, than the Empress Winkies ! "

" her own choice," said the Tin Woodman contentedly; "and, after all, I'm not sure the Winkies would care an Empress "

It puzzled Ozma, for time, to decide what Tin Soldier If he went Tin Woodman Emperor's castle, she felt two tin men to live together in harmony, and moreover the Emperor so distinguished if he had double constantly beside him So she asked Captain Fyter if willing her as soldier, and he promptly declared that nothing would please him more After he in her service for , Ozma sent him Gillikin Country, with instructions order wild people who inhabit some parts unknown country of Oz

As for Woot, being Wanderer by profession, allowed to wander wherever he desired, and Ozma promised watch over his future journeys and to protect the boy as she was able, he ever got into more trouble

All this having been happily arranged, the Tin Woodman returned tin castle, chosen comrade, the Scarecrow, accompanied him way The two friends many pleasant hours together in talking over their recent adventures, for neither ate nor slept they found their greatest amusement in conversation