Just then bell rang, green girl said to Dorothy, " signal go Throne Room alone "

She opened little door and Dorothy walked boldly through and found herself in wonderful place big, round room with high arched roof, walls and ceiling and floor were covered with large emeralds set closely together center roof was great light, as bright sun, which made the emeralds sparkle in wonderful manner

But what interested Dorothy most big throne of green marble that stood middle room shaped like chair and sparkled with gems, as did everything else center chair was an enormous Head, without body to support it or any arms or legs whatever no hair head, but it had eyes and nose and mouth, and was much bigger head biggest giant

As Dorothy gazed in wonder and fear, the eyes turned slowly and looked at her sharply and steadily Then the mouth moved, and Dorothy heard voice say:

" Oz, the Great and Terrible Who , and why seek me ? "

not such an awful voice as she had expected big Head; so she took courage and answered:

" Dorothy, the Small and Meek come for help "

The eyes looked at her thoughtfully for full minute Then said the voice:

"Where did you get the silver shoes ? "

"I got them Wicked Witch East, when my house fell on her and killed her," she replied

"Where did you get the mark upon your forehead ? " continued the voice

" where the Good Witch North kissed me when she bade me good-bye and sent me ," said the girl

Again the eyes looked at her sharply, saw she was telling the truth Then Oz asked, "What wish me ? "

"Send me back to Kansas, where my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are," she answered earnestly "I don't like your country, although so beautiful And Aunt Em dreadfully worried over my being away "

The eyes winked three times, and then they turned ceiling and down floor and rolled around so queerly seemed every part room And at last they looked at Dorothy again

"Why should I ? " asked Oz

"Because strong and weak; because Great Wizard and only little girl "

"But you were strong enough to kill the Wicked Witch East," said Oz

"That just happened," returned Dorothy simply; " help it "

"Well," said the Head, " my answer no right to expect me to back to Kansas unless something in return country everyone must pay for everything he gets me to use my magic power to home again do something first Help me "

"What must ? " asked the girl

"Kill the Wicked Witch West," answered Oz

"But ! " exclaimed Dorothy, greatly surprised

"You killed the Witch East and you wear the silver shoes, which bear powerful charm now but one Wicked Witch left in all this land, and can tell me dead back to Kansas--but not before "

The little girl began to weep, she was disappointed; eyes winked again and looked upon her anxiously, as Great Oz felt that help him if

"I never killed anything, willingly," she sobbed "Even if to, how could I kill the Wicked Witch ? , Great and Terrible, cannot kill her yourself, how expect me ? "

" know," said the Head; "but my answer, and until the Wicked Witch dies see your uncle and aunt again Remember Witch is Wicked--tremendously Wicked -and killed Now go, and ask me again until you your task "

Sorrowfully Dorothy left the Throne Room and went back where the Lion Scarecrow Tin Woodman were waiting to hear what Oz had said to her " no hope ," she said sadly, "for Oz will not send me home until killed the Wicked Witch West; never do "

Her friends were sorry, but could do nothing to help her; so Dorothy went to her own room and lay down bed and cried herself to sleep

The next morning the soldier green whiskers came Scarecrow and said:

"Come with me, for Oz has sent "

So the Scarecrow followed him and was admitted great Throne Room, where , sitting emerald throne, most lovely Lady She was dressed in green silk gauze and wore upon her flowing green locks crown of jewels Growing from her shoulders were wings, gorgeous in color and so light fluttered slightest breath of air reached them

Scarecrow had bowed, as prettily as his straw stuffing would let him, before this beautiful creature, she looked upon him sweetly, and said:

" Oz, the Great and Terrible Who , and why seek me ? "

Now the Scarecrow, who had expected the great Head Dorothy had told him of, was much astonished; but he answered her bravely

" only Scarecrow, stuffed with straw Therefore no brains, and I come praying that put brains in my head instead of straw, become man as in your dominions "

"Why should I ? " asked the Lady

"Because wise and powerful, and no one else can help me," answered the Scarecrow

"I never grant favors without some return," said Oz; "but this much promise kill the Wicked Witch West, bestow upon you brains, and such good brains that the wisest man in all the Land of Oz "

" you asked Dorothy to kill the Witch," said the Scarecrow, in surprise

"So I don't care who kills her But until dead grant your wish Now go, and seek me again until earned the brains you so greatly desire "

The Scarecrow went sorrowfully back friends and told them what Oz had said; and Dorothy was surprised Great Wizard was not Head, as she had seen him, but lovely Lady

"All the same," said the Scarecrow, "she needs heart Tin Woodman "

next morning the soldier green whiskers came Tin Woodman and said:

"Oz has sent Follow me "

So the Tin Woodman followed him and came great Throne Room know whether find Oz lovely Lady or Head, but he hoped it the lovely Lady "For," to himself, "if head, given heart, since head has no heart own and therefore cannot feel But if lovely Lady beg hard for heart, for all ladies are themselves said kindly hearted "

But Woodman entered the great Throne Room neither the Head nor the Lady, for Oz had taken the shape of most terrible Beast nearly as big as an elephant, green throne seemed hardly strong enough to hold its weight The Beast had head like that of rhinoceros, only there were five eyes in its face There were five long arms growing out body, and it also had five long, slim legs Thick, woolly hair covered every part of it, and more dreadful-looking monster imagined fortunate the Tin Woodman had no heart moment, beat loud and fast from terror But being only tin, the Woodman was not at all afraid, although much disappointed

" Oz, the Great and Terrible," spoke the Beast, in voice that was one great roar "Who , and why seek me ? "

" Woodman, and made of tin Therefore no heart, and cannot love I pray you heart that as other men are "

"Why should I ? " demanded the Beast

"Because I ask it, and you alone can grant my request," answered the Woodman