The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-26
THE TIN wooDMAN PLuCKs A


On the following morning they
again appeared before Glinda, who
said to them:
II have searched carefully thru the
records of the Wizards actions. and
among them I can find but three that
appear to have been suspicious. He
ate beans with a knife. made three
secret visits to old Mombi. and Hmped
slightly on his left foot"
"Ah! that last is certainly suspi-
cious"' exclaimed the PunApkinhead.
Not necessarily" said the Scare
crow, "he may have had corns. Now
it seems to me his eating beans with
a knife is more suspicious"
Perhaps it is a polite custom in
Omaha, from which great country the
Wizard originally came" suggested
the Tin Woodman.
'It may be-" admitted the Scare
crow.
But why" asked Gunda, "did he
make three secret visits to old
Mombi?"
"Ah! Why, indeed" echoed the
Woggle- Bug, impressively.
I'VE know that the Wizard taught
the old woman many of his tricks of
magic" continued Glinda; "and this
AAC WOhAu AAOl nave uOlS ndQ En6 not
assisted him in some way. So we may
suspect with good reason that Mombi
aided him to hide the girl Ozma, who
was the real heir to the throne of
the Emerald City, and constant dan
ger to the usurper. For, If the people
knew that she lived, they would
quickly make her their Queen and
restore her to her rightful position"
IAN able argumenti" cried the
Scarecrow. II have no doubt that
Mombi was mixed up in this wicked
business. But how does that knowl-
edge help us?''
I'VE must find Mombi." replied
Glinda, and force her to tell where
the girl is hidden
"Mombi is now with Queen Jinjur
in the Emerald City" said Tip. at
was she who threw so many obstacles
in our pathway, and made Jinjur
threaten to destroy my friends and
give me back into the old witch's
power"
Then" decided Glinda. 'T will
march with my army to the Emerald
City, and take Mombi prisoner After
that We can. perhaps. force her to tell
the truth about Ozma."
"She is a terrible old womani" re-
marked Tip, with shudder at the
thought of Mombi's black kettle; land
obstinate, too"
"I am quite obstinate myself" re-
turned the SOrcereSS. with a sweet
smile; 80 I do not fear Mombi in the
least. Today 1 will make all neces-
sary preparations. and we will march
upon the Emerald City at daybreak
tomorrow"
The Army of Glinda the Good looked
very grand and imposing when it as
sembled at daybreak before the palace
gates. The uniforms of the girl SOL
diers were pretty and of gay colors.
and their silver-tipped spears were
bright and glistening. the long shafts
being inlaid with mother of-pearl. All
the officers wore sharp. cleaning
swords, and shields edged with pea
cock-feathers; and it really seemed
that no foe could by any possibility
defeat such a brilliant army.
The Sorceress rode in a beautiful
palanquin which was like the body
of a coach, having doors and windows
with silken curtains; but instead of
wheels, which a coach has, the palan-
quin rested upon two long, horizontal
bars, which were borne upon the
shoulders of twelve servants.
The Scarecrow and his comrades
decided to ride in the Gump, in order
to keep up with the swift march of
the army; so, as soon as Glinda had
started and her soldiers had marched
away to the inspiring strains of music
played by the royal band. our friends
climbed into the sofas and followed.
The Gump flew along slowly at a
point directly over the palanquin in
which rode the Sorceress.
BE careful" said the Tin Woodman