"Melted ! Well, good news, indeed," said the man "Who melted her ? "

" Dorothy," said the Lion gravely

"Good gracious ! " exclaimed the man, and he bowed very low indeed before her

Then he led them into his little room and locked the spectacles great box on all their eyes, just as he had done before Afterward they passed on gate Emerald City people heard Guardian Gates that Dorothy had melted the Wicked Witch West, they all gathered around the travelers and followed them in great crowd Palace of Oz

The soldier green whiskers was still on guard door, but he let them in at once, were again met beautiful green girl, who showed each old rooms at once, so rest until the Great Oz was ready to receive them

The soldier had the news carried straight to Oz that Dorothy other travelers had come back again, after destroying the Wicked Witch; but Oz made no reply They thought the Great Wizard would send at once, but They had no word the , nor the next, nor the next The waiting was tiresome and wearing, and at last they grew vexed that Oz should treat them in so poor fashion, after sending them to undergo hardships and slavery So the Scarecrow at last asked the green girl another message to Oz, saying if let them in him at once call the Winged Monkeys to help them, and find out whether he kept his promises or not Wizard was given this message so frightened that he sent word Throne Room at four minutes after nine o'clock the next morning He had once met the Winged Monkeys Land West, and wish to meet them again

The four travelers passed sleepless night, each thinking gift Oz had promised to bestow on him Dorothy fell asleep only once, and then she dreamed she was in Kansas, where Aunt Em was telling her how glad she was her little girl at home again

Promptly at nine o'clock the next morning the green-whiskered soldier came , and four minutes later they all went Throne Room Great Oz

each expected the Wizard shape he had taken before, and all were greatly surprised looked about and saw no one at all room They kept close door and closer to one another, stillness empty room was more dreadful than any forms they had seen Oz take

Presently they heard solemn Voice, that seemed from somewhere near the top great dome, and it said:

" Oz, the Great and Terrible Why seek me ? "

They looked again in every part room, and then, seeing no one, Dorothy asked, "Where ? "

" everywhere," answered the Voice, "but eyes of common mortals invisible now seat myself upon my throne, that converse with me " Indeed, the Voice seemed just then straight throne itself; so they walked toward it and stood in row while Dorothy said:

" come to claim our promise, O Oz "

"What promise ? " asked Oz

"You promised to send me back to Kansas Wicked Witch was destroyed," said the girl

"And you promised brains," said the Scarecrow

"And you promised heart," said the Tin Woodman

"And you promised courage," said the Cowardly Lion

" Wicked Witch really destroyed ? " asked the Voice, and Dorothy thought it trembled little

"Yes," she answered, "I melted her with bucket of water "

"Dear me," said the Voice, "how sudden ! Well, come tomorrow, for time it over "

"You've had plenty already," said the Tin Woodman angrily

"We shan't wait day longer," said the Scarecrow

" keep your promises ! " exclaimed Dorothy

The Lion thought it to frighten the Wizard, so large, loud roar, so fierce and dreadful that Toto jumped away in alarm and tipped over the screen that stood in corner As it fell with crash they looked that way, next moment all were filled with wonder For they saw, standing in just the spot the screen had hidden, little old man, with bald head and wrinkled face, who seemed surprised were The Tin Woodman, raising his axe, rushed toward the little man and cried out, "Who ? "

" Oz, the Great and Terrible," said the little man, in trembling voice "But don't strike me--please don't--and I'll do anything me to "

Our friends looked at him in surprise and dismay

" Oz was great Head," said Dorothy

"And Oz was lovely Lady," said the Scarecrow

"And Oz was terrible Beast," said the Tin Woodman

"And Oz was Ball of Fire," exclaimed the Lion

"No, all wrong," said the little man meekly " making believe "

"Making believe ! " cried Dorothy " not Great Wizard ? "

"Hush, my dear," "Don't speak so loud, or overheard--and ruined I'm supposed Great Wizard "

"And aren't you ? " she asked

"Not bit of it, my dear; I'm just common man "

"You're more than that," said the Scarecrow, in grieved tone; "you're humbug "

"Exactly so ! " declared the little man, rubbing his hands together it pleased him " humbug "

"But terrible," said the Tin Woodman "How shall I ever get my heart ? "

"Or I my courage ? " asked the Lion

"Or I my brains ? " wailed the Scarecrow, wiping the tears eyes coat sleeve

"My dear friends," said Oz, "I pray you not little things Think of me, terrible trouble I'm in at being found out "

"Doesn't anyone else know you're humbug ? " asked Dorothy

"No one knows it but you four--and myself," replied Oz " fooled everyone that never be found out great mistake my ever letting you Throne Room Usually see even my subjects, and so they believe something terrible "

"But, I don't understand," said Dorothy, in bewilderment "How that you appeared as great Head ? "

"That was one tricks," answered Oz "Step , please, tell you all "

He led the way to small chamber rear Throne Room, all followed him He pointed to one corner, lay the great Head, made out of many thicknesses of paper, and with carefully painted face

"This I hung ceiling by wire," said Oz "I stood behind the screen and pulled thread, to eyes move mouth open "

"But how voice ? " she inquired

"Oh, ventriloquist," said the little man " throw the sound voice wherever , you thought coming Head Here are the other things I used to deceive you " He showed the Scarecrow the dress mask he had worn when the lovely Lady Tin Woodman saw that his terrible Beast was nothing but lot of skins, sewn together, with slats their sides out As Ball of Fire, the false Wizard had hung that also ceiling really ball of cotton, but when oil was poured upon it the ball burned fiercely

"Really," said the Scarecrow, "you ashamed of yourself for being such humbug "

" --I certainly am," answered the little man sorrowfully; "but do Sit down, please, plenty of chairs; tell you my story "

So they sat down and listened while the following tale

" born in Omaha--"

"Why, that isn't very far from Kansas ! " cried Dorothy

"No, but it's farther from here," , shaking his head at her sadly "When I grew up I became ventriloquist, and trained by great master imitate any kind of bird or beast " Here he mewed so like kitten that Toto pricked up his ears and looked everywhere where she was "After time," continued Oz, "I tired , and became balloonist "

"What ? " asked Dorothy

"A man who goes up in balloon on circus day, so draw crowd of people together and get them the circus," he explained

"Oh," she said, " "