The age-herald., 1902-01-05

breath. It is very unpleasant to have your ears boxed by 200 guards, and skeezicks was so angry that as soon as they let him go he changed himself into a huge black cloud. Then he swooped down on the Prn. cess and carried her away to his castle, where he shut her up, with only two or three servants, and locked all the doors, so that none of them could get out He hired a great dragon that breathed fire and smoke to stand in front of the castle and drive away anyone who should try to rescue the Princess He told her that as soon as she would let him take picture of her to put on his baking powder box he would let her go home, and she could just stay there until she made up her mind to do it. The Prin- cess said she never would consent, and she really didn't mind much, for there were plenty of looking glasses in the castle so she could see how beautiful she was, and that was very great comfort
 The King, the Princess father, was in a fearful state of mind when his daughter was carried on by this black cloud, and, of course, no one could see where it went. He sent out all his armies to find the Princess and bring her back. They started out in all directions, with their flags flying and drums beating, but 1t was a very long distance and very bad walking to the edge of the world, where Skeezicks' castle stood, and so the army that started in that direction changed their minds and marched somewhere else.
 Of course, none of the armies found the Princess, and they all went back and told the King so. He felt very badly about it, and he issued proclamation that anyone who should find the Princess and bring her safely back could marry her and have half of the kingdom. great many young men
 who thought they. would like beautiful Princess and half a Kingdom started out to find the lovely lost Princess Alice but only three of them were in the right direction.
 One day the dragon was sitting in front of the castle playing solitaire, when up came young fellow all dressed in armor from head to foot and carrying a great sword. Now. this dragon was very nice dragon and fond of company, and he was more tender-hearted than you could imagine draf,.n could nos. siby be. The young man seemed to be q nice, quiet young man, so the dragon was quite glad to see him. Good morning" he said. Have you time enough to stop and play game of pinochle?" and he smiled iust us nicely as he could and showed ali his 47,0OO teeth. The young man stopped when he saw all those teeth and stood still. as if he did not know what to do next. The dragon was so tender hearted that he hated to emDarrass anyone, and, as he saw the young man was shy and not used to talking 10 strangers he went up to introduce him, self. The young man did not wait for that, but he dropped his sword and climbed to the top of tree that stood near. The dragon was so tender hearted that he could not bear to see that young man away up there, where he might fall down and burt himself and so he just sat up on his tail and picked that young man off the tree and swal- lowed him whole. Then he went back to his game of solitaire.
 The next morning the dragon was sitting out In his accustomed place picking pieces of armor out of bis teeth when another young man rode up. Good morning." said the dragon. Nice day, isn't It? That's a hne horse you have there. Is he afraid of the carsY' Then he blew great cloud of fire and smoke out of his nostrils just to see If the horse was afraid of the cars. guess the horse must have been just little bit afraid of the cars, for he threw the young man over his head and galloped off at great rate. The young man got up and ran to little river near by and jumped in to get away from all that fire and smoke. The dragon was so tender hearted that he was dreadfully afraid the young man would get drowned, so he just tished him out and swallowed him whole to keep him out of mischief.
 The morning after that the dragon was sitting under a tree reading fairy story when up came another young man. Good morning." said the dragon. Isn't this beautiful weather we are having? How are things In your part of the country?"
 Pretty we'll" said the young man. 'I'm , glad to see you enjoying such good health. I've come to see the Princess. How Is she? Just take her my card, like a good fellow, will you?"
 She's not at home,'' said the dragon.
 Fl know she s not at home" said the young man, but I've come to get her and take her home." Then he started to walk around the dragon so as to get to the front door of the castle. The dragon knew that the door was locked, and he was such tender hearted dragon that he just could not bear to see that young man disappointed, so he opened his jaws to swallow him whole; but the young man caught the dragons great scaiy tail and showed 1t in his great open jaws, and before the dragon knew It ne had swai- lowed himself whole, and there he was! Then the young man tried the doors Of the castle, and when he found that they were locked he climbed up a lightning rod and got in one of the upper windows. Then he lowered the Princess down In clothes bas- ket<and took her home The King was so glad to see his daughter that he had her marry the young man at once, and named him Prince Dragonkiller. He said he could