Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-07
The Nome King.
7 HEN Ozma cried out her
M imperious demand that the
Nome King appear there

M imperious demand that the
Nome King appear there
was no reply. except that
the shifting MONIES upon the noun
tain laughed in derision.
You must not command the Nome
King" said Tiktok. for you do not
! guile him. as you do your own people"
So Ozma called again, saying:
Il request the Nome King to appear
to us" g..
Only the hooking laughter replied
to her, and the shadowy MONIES con-
tinued to fit here and there upon the
rocky cliff
Try en-treat-y." said Tiktok to
Ozma. If he will not come at your
request then the Nome King may
listen to your pleading"
Ozma looked around her proudly.
do you wish your ruler to plead
With this wicked Nome King" she
asked. Shall Ozma of OF humble
herself to Creature who lives in an
Underground Kingdom"
mo" they all shouted, with big
voices, and the Scarecrow added:
IF he will not come we will dig
him out of his hole, like fox. and
conquer his stubbornness. But our
sweet little ruler must always main
tain her dignity, just as l maintain
mine
I'm not afraid to plead with him."
said Dorothy, I'm only a little girl
from Kansas, and we've got more dig
nifty at home than we know what to
. do with. I'll call the Nome King
! DO" said the Hungry Tiger; "and
If he makes hash of you III willingly
eat you for breakfast tomorrow morn
ing"
So Dorothy stepped forward and
said:
please, Mr.. Nome King, come here
and see US
The MONIES started to laugh again,
but a low growl came from the noun
tain, and in fash they had all
vanished from sight and were silent
Then door in the rock opened and
. voice cried;
Enter"
isn't it trick" asked the Tin
Woodman.
Never mind" replied Ozma. I'VE
came here to rescue the poor queen
Of Ev and her ten children, and we
must run some risks to do So"
1.-THE Nome King is honest and
good na-tured," said Tiktok. You
can trust him to do what is right
So Ozma led the way, hand in hand
with Dorothy, and they passed
through the arched doorway OF rock
and entered a long passage which
was lighted by jewels set in the walls
and having lamps behind them. There
was no one to escort them. or to show
them the way. but all the party
pressed through the passage until
they came to a round. domed cavern
that was grandly furnished.
Il 4 y
throne carved out Of solid boulder
Of rock, rude and rugged in shape but
1littering with great rubies and dia-
monds and emeralds on every part of
its surface And upon the throne sat
the Nome King.
This important monarch of the
Underground World was little fat
fnan, clothed in gray-brown gar
ments that were the exact color of
the rock throne in which he was seat
ca. His bushy hair and flowing beard
Also were colored like the rocks, and
30 was his face. He wore no crown
Of any sort, and his only ornament
was broad, jewel-studded belt that
encircled his fat little body. AS for
his features, they seemed kindly and
good -humored, and his eyes were
turned merrily upon his visitors as
Ozma and Dorothy stood before him
with their followers ranged in close
order behind them.
why, he looks just like Santa
Claus-only he isn't the same color"
whispered Dorothy to her friend but
the Nome King heard the speech, and
|, 1t made him laugh aloud.
"'He had red face and u round lit
- tie belly
That shook when he laughed like
bowl full of jelly"
quoted the monarch, in a pleasant
voice, and they could all see that he
really did shake like jelly when he
laughed.
Both OZma and Dorothy were much