Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-21

ANY "OA0 6iCotay
the failure Of their girl Ruler. and
the knowledge that she was now an
ornament in the Nome Kings pal
ace--a dreadful. creepy place in spite
Of all It's magnifcence. Without
their little leader they did not know
what to do next and each one. down
to the trembling private Of the army,
began to fear he would soon be
more ornamental than useful.
Suddenly. the Nome King began
laughing.
"Ha. ma, ha! He. he. he! Ho. no.
ho!" ,-.T
" WHATS happened?" asked the
Scarecrow.
why, your friend, the Tin Wood
man. has become the funniest thing
you can ina CINE" replied the King.
wiping the tears OF merriment from
his eyes. mo one would ever be-
lfeve he could make such an anus
ing ornament. Next!"
: They gazed at each other with
: sinking hearts. One of the generals
began to weep dolefully.
: what are you crying for?" asked
the Scarecrow. indignant at such a
display of weakness.
HE owed me six weeks back pay"
said the general, land hate to lose
him"
'Then you shall go and find him."
declared the Scarecrow.
< ME" cried the general. greatly
alarmed.
Certainly. It is your duty to fol-
low your commander. March"
II won't" said the general. I'D
like to. Of course; but just simply
won't" a7.s t-"
The scarecrow looked inquiringly
at 1.-The Nome King. =
''Never mind" said the /5olly mon
arch. III he doesn't care to enter
the palace and make his guesses I'll
throw him into one OF my fiery fur
anaces." t,f!1A
"Tll go. Of course I'm going"
yelled the general. as quick as scat.
Where is the entrance-where Is It?
Let me go at once"
So the Nome King escorted him
into the palace; and again returned
to await he result. What the gem
eral did. no one can tell: but it was
not long before the King called for
the next victim. and colonel was
forced to try his fortune.
= Thus. one after another, all of the
.twentySsix officers filed into the pal
ace and made their guesses-and be-
came Ornaments.
Meantime the King ordered re-
'freshments to be served to those
waiting, and at his command rude
ly shaped Nome entered. bearing a
tray. This Nome was not unlike the
others that Dorothy had seen. but he
wore a heavy gold chain around his
neck to show that he was the chief
steward Of the Nome King, and he
assumed an air of much Importance,
and even told his majesty not to eat
too much cake late at night, or he
would be ILL.,
Dorothy, however. was hungry, and
she was not afraid of being Ill; so
she ate several cakes and found them
good. and also she drank cup Of
excellent coffee made OF q richly
favored clay. Drowned in the fur
naces and then ground fine. and
found 1t most refreshing and not at
al muddy.
Ak
OF all the party which had started
upon this adventure, the little Kansas
gtrl was now left alone with the
Scarecrow, Tiktok.. and the private
Tor counselors and companions. OF
course the Cowardly Lion and the
Hungry Tiger were still there. but
they. having also eaten some Of the
cakes, had gone to sleep at one side
Of the cave. while upon the other
side stood the Sawhorse. motionless
and silent, as became q mere thing
Of wood. Billina had quietly walked
around and picked up the crumbs Of
cake which had been scattered. and
now. az 1t was long after bedtime.
she tried to find some dark place in
which to 60 to sleep.
Presently the hen espied q hollow
underneath the Kings rocky throne.
and crept into 1t unnoticed. She
could still hear the chattering of
those around her. but 1t was almost
dark underneath the throne. SO that
soon she had fallen fast asleep.
Next" called the King. and the
private. whose turn 1t was to enter
the fatal palace, shook hands with
Dorothy and the Scarecrow and babe
them q sorrowful goodbye and