The Ordway new era., 1909-12-03

Our friends looked at him In sur.
prise and dismay.
Il thought Or was great Head.
said Dorothy.
And thought Or was lovely
Lady" said the Scarecrow.
And | thought OF was terrible
Beast" said the Tin Woodman.
And | thought Or was Ball oi
Fire" exclaimed the Lion.
NO: you are all wrong" said the
little man. me KY. Il have been ma
king believe"
Making bclieve," cried Dorothy
Are YOU not great Wizard?"
Hush. my dear" he said; don't
sneak so loud or you will be over
heard-and | should be ruined. I'm
supposed to be a great Wizard"
And aren't you?" she asked.
Not bit of 1t. my dear: I'm Just
common man"
You're more than that" said the
Scarecrow. in a Grieved tone; you're
a humbug."
Exactly So" declared the little
man. rubbing his hands together as II
II pleased him: Il am humbug"
But this is terrible" said the Tin
Woodman: how shall | ever get my
heart?"
"Or my courage?" asked the Lion.
"Or my brains?" walled the Scare
crow. wipinc the tears from his eyes
with his coat.sleeve.
My dear friends" said Or. Il
pray you not to speak OF these little
things. Think of me. and the ter
rible trouble I'm In at being found
out"
Doesn't any one else know you're
n humhug?" asked Dorothy.
No enc knows it but you four-and
myself" replied OF. Il have fooled
every one so long that ! thought !
should never be found out. II was a
great mistake my ever letting you into
the throne room. Usually will not
see even my subjects. and SO they be
lieye | am something terrible"
But. don't understand" said Doro-
thy. in bewilderment. How was II
that you appeared TO me as a great
Head?"
THAT was one OF my tricks" an
swered OF. Step this way. please,
and | will tell you all about It,"
He led the way to a small chamber
in the rear OF the throne room. and
they all followed him. He pointed to
one corner. in which lay the Great
Head made out of many thiCkncsses
of paper. and with n carefully painted
face.
I tho f.aFiipf, hy n
wire" said Or: Il stood behind the
screen and pulled n thread. TO make
the eyes move and the mouth open
But how about the voice." she in
quired.
"Oh. ! am n vcntriloquist." said the
little man, and | can throw the sound
of my voice wherever I wish: SO that
you thought 1t was coming out OF the
Head. Here are the other things
used to deceive you" He showed the
Scarecrow the dress and the mask he
had worn when he seemed to be the
lovely Lady; and the Tin Woodman
saw that his Terrible Beast was moth.
ing but lot of skins. sewn together
with Stats to keep their sides out As
for the Ball of Fire. the false Wizard
had hung that also from the ceiling
II was really ball CT cotton. but
when oil was poured upon 1t the ball
BURNED fiercely.
Really" said the Scarecrow. you
ought TO be ashamed of yourself for
being such humbug."
Il AMI certainly am" answered
the little man. sorrowfully: but II
was the only thing | could do. Sit
down. please. there are plenty OF
chairs and will tell you my story"
So they sat down and listened while
he told the following tale:
Il was born in Omaha
why. that isn't very far from Kan
sas." cried Dorothy.
mo: but it's farther from here" he
said. shaking his head at her. sadly
When | grew up became n ventrilo
Quist, and ut that | was very wei
trained by great master. | can imi
tate any kind of a bird or beast
Here he mewcd so like kitten thai
Toto pricked up his ears and looked
everywhere to see where she was
After a time" continued Or, Il tiret
OF that. and became balloonist."
What Is that?" asked Dorothy.
A man who goes up in a balloon
on circus day, so as to draw a crowt
of people together and get them t.
pay to see the circus" he explained
oh" she said; - know"
We'll, one day went up in n bal
loon and the ropes got twisted. 81
that I couldn't come down again.
went way up above the clouds. so ia
that current OF air struck it an,
carried 1t many, many miles away
For n day and a night | Travelled
through the air. and on the morning
of the second day awoke and foun,
the balloon floating over strang
and beautiful country"
CTO BE CONTINUED.)