Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-14
The Eleven
Guesses.


Nome King. Ozma Of Or turned
to her friends. and the Nome
King calmly reseated himself on
his rock throne.
ut would be foolish for us to
night" the girl said to the Tin Wood
man. For our brave Twenty-Seven
would be quickly destroyed. I'm
sure I do not know how to act in
this emergency.
ASK the King where his kitchen
Is" suggested the Tiger. I'm
hungry as a bear"
IL might pounce upon the king
and tear him in pieces" remarked
the Cowardly Lion.
ing his pipe with another hot coal,
which he took from his pocket
& * y x X
The Lion crouched low and tried
to spring upon the Nome King: but
he hoped only a little way into the
air and came down again in the
same place. not being able to ap-
proach the throne by even an inch.
1T seems to me-" said the Scare
crow. thoughtfully. that our best
plan is to wheedle his Majesty into
giving up his slaves. since he is too
great a magician to oppose"
= 'This is the most sensible thing
any OF you have suggested" de-
clared the Nome King. ut Is folly
to threaten me. but I'm so kind
hearted that. l cannot stand coaxing
or wheedling. If you really wish to
accomplish anything by your Jour-
ney. 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 mArrily
II am very anxious" she con-
tinued, ito liberate the Queen Of Ev
and her children, who are now orna-
ments and brio a-brac. in your
Madesty's palace. and to restore
them to their people. Tell me. sir.
how this may be accomplished"
The king remained thoughtful for
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, II
will make you this offer: You shall
60 alone and unattended into my
palace and examine carefully all
that the rooms contain. Then you
shall have permission to touch
eleven different objects. pronounce
ing at the time the word 'Ev.' and
II any one of them. or more than
one, proves to be the transformation
OF the Queen of Ev or any of her
ten children, then they will instant
ly be restored to their true forms
and may leave my palace and my
kingdom in your company, without
any objection whatever. 1t is pos
sible for you. in this way. to free
the entire eleven: but If you do not
guess all the objects correctly, and
some of the slaves remain trans
formed, then each one OF your
friends and followers may, in turn,
enter the palace and have the same
privileges ! grant you"
"Oh. thank you. thank you for
this kind offer" said Ozma eagerly.
4 make but one condition." added
the Nome King, his eyes twinkling.
What is it?" she inquired.
III none of the eleven objects you
touch proves to be the transforma-
ton Of any of tn royal family of Ev,
then. instead of freeing them. you will
yourself become enchanted. and trans
formed into an article of brio -brac or
an ornament This is only fair and just,
and is the risk. YOU declared you
were willing to take"
Hearing this condition imposed by
+ the Nome King. Ozma became silent
and thoughtful, and all her friends
looked at her uneasily.
Don't you do it," exclaimed Dor
othy. III you guess wrong, you will
~ enslaved yourself"
"Rut I shall have eleven guesses."
answered Ozma. Surely I ought to
guess one object in eleven correct
ly: and, II l do, shall rescue
one OF the royal family and be safe
myself. Then the rest Of you NAV
attempt it, and soon we shall free
al those who are enslaved."
z What IL we shall fail?" inquired
tho Scarecrow. "rd look nice in a
piece OF bric-a-brac, wouldn't II"
I'VE must not fall" cried Ozma.
oil