Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-27

N'N tNi ol lIlt Nome
King. ozma of Oz turned to her
friends, and the Nome King calmly
reseated himself on his rock throne.
1T would be foolish for us to
fight" the girl said to the Tin Wood
man. For our brave Twenty Seven
would be quickly destroyed. I'm
sure l do not know how to act in
this emergency.
ASK the King where his kitchen
is suggested the Tiger. I'm
hungry as bear"
Il might pounce upon the King
and tear him to pieces" remarked
the Cowardly Lion.
Try it," said the monarch. light
ing his pipe with another hot coal
which he took from his pocket.
The Lion crouched low and tried
TO spring upon the Nome King; but
he hoped only n little way into the
air and came down again in the same
place, not being able to approach
the throne by even an inch.
| 1T seems to me-" said the Scare
crow, thoughtfully, that our best
is to wheedle his Majesty into Civ
ing up his slaves, since he is too
great a magician to oppose"
This is the most sensible thing
| any of YOU have suggested" declar-
| ed the Nome King. 1T is folly to
threaten me. but I'm so kind-heart-
ed that l cannot stand coaxing or
wheedling. If you really wish to ac-
complish anything by your journey.
my dear OZma. you must coax me-"
Very we'll" said Ozma, more
| cheerfully. Let us be friends, and
talk this over in a friendly manner"
ITO be sure" agreed the King,
his eyes twinkling merrily.
| Il am very anxious" she continu-
ed, Ito liberate the Queen of Ev and
her children who are now ornaments
and bric-a-brac in your Majesty's
! palace, and to restore them to their
people. Tell me. sir, how this may
/ be accomplished"
| The King remained thoughtful for
a moment. after which he asked:
| Are YOU willing to take few
chances and risks yourself. in order
to set free the people of Ev?
Yes. indeed" answered Ozma
eagerly.
Then" said the Nome King. ar
will make you this offer: You shall
go alone and unattended into my
nalace and examine carefully all that
the rooms contain. Then you shall
have permission to touch eleven diff
ferent objects. pronouncing at the
time the word 'Ev,' and il any one
OF them. or more than one, proves
to. be the transformation of the
Queen of Ev or any Of her ten chill
dren, then they will instantly be
restored to their true forms and
may leave my palace and my king
dom in your company. without any
objection whatever. II is possible for
you. in this way. to free tn entire
eleven: but if you do not guess all
> the objects correctly. and some of
the slaves remain transformed, then
each one of your friends and follow
ers may. in turn. enter the palace
land have the same privileges I grant
YOU"
"Oh. thank YOU. thank you for
this kind offer" said Ozma eager
ly.
IT make but cne condition" add :
cd the Nome King. his eyes twing-
ling"
What is it?" she inquired.
IF none of the eleven objects
Won touch proves to he the trans
formation ot any of the royal
family of Ev. then. insted Of free
ing them. YOU will vnurse'f become
erohancod. and transformed into an
article of hric-a-brac or an ornoment.
This in only fair and just, and is the
risk you declared you were willing
to take"
Hearing this condition imposed by
1.-THE Nome King, Ozma became silent
and thoughtful. and all her friends
looked at her uneasily.
L. - 1t.
thy. "If you guess wrong. you will
be enslaved yourself"
But 7 shall have eleven guesses, -
Nswered OZma. Surely I ought to
'-.-o@s one object in eleven correctly
nd if I do, I shall be safe myself.
Then the rest of you may attempt 1t,
and soon we shall free all those who
are enslaved."
What if we fail?" inquired the
Scarecrow. I'D look nice as a piece
of bric-a-brac, wouldn't -"
1--WE must npt fall" cried Ozma,
courageously. Having come all this
distance to free these poor peop'e
it would be weak and cowardly in
lis TO abandon the adventure. There
fore I will accept the Nome Kings
offer. and go at once into the royal
palace"
Come along, then, my dear"
| said the King. climbing down fror,
hh\ throne with some difficulty, be-
cause he was so fat; I'll show you
the way"
He approached the wall of the
cave and waved his hand. Instantly
an opening appeared, through which
Ozma after q smiling farewell 10 her
friends boldly passed.
She found herself in n splendid
hall that was more beautiful and
grand than ANYTHING she had ever
beheld. The ceilings were composed,
her head, and all the walls and
floors were polished marble en-
quisitely tinted in many colors. Thick
velvet carpets were on the floor and
heavy silken draperies covered the
arches leading to the various rooms
of the palace. The furniture was
made of rare old woods richly carved
and covered with delicate satins, and
the entire palace was lighted by a
mysterious rosy glow that seemed to
come from no particular place but
flooded each apartment with its soft
and pleasing radiance.
Ozma passed from one room to all
other. greatly delighted by all she
saw. The lovely palace had no other
occupant. for the Nome King had
left her at the entrance, which closed
behind her. and In all the magnifi-
cent rooms there appeared to be no
other person.
Upon the mantles, and on many
shelves and brackets and tables,
were clustered ornaments of every