The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-16

knocking over those who stood below
them.
Even while the King was still yelling
FOE help his throne room became emp
tied of every one of his warriors. and
before the monarch had managed to
clear the egg away from his left eve
the Scarecrow threw the second egg
against his right eye, where ii smashed
and blinded him entirely. The King was
unable to flee because he could not see
which way to run; SO he stood still and
howled and shouted and screamed in
abject fear.
While this was going on, Billina flew
over to Dorothy, and perching herself
upon the Lions back the hen whispered
eagerly to the girl;
Get his belt! Get the Nome Kings
ieweled belt In unbuckles in the back.
Quick, Dorothy-quick!"
Dorothy obeyed. She ran at once be-
hind the Nome King, who was still try
Ing to free his eyes from the egg and
In a ~twinkling she had unbuckled his
| splendid jeweled belt and carried it away
with her to her place beside the Tiger
and Lion. where, because she did not
know what else to do with it, she
fastened 1t around her own slim waist,
Just then the Chief Steward rushed
In with a sponge and a bowl Of water.
and began mopping away the broken
VbES HUH his uldSl6T y IHce. In a lew
minutes, and while all the party stood
looking on, the King regained the use
of his eyes. and the first thing he did
was to glare wickedly upon the Scare
crow and exclaim:
I'll make you suffer for this, you
h~ay-stuffed dummy! Don't you know
eggs are poison to Nomes?"
"Really," said the Scarecrow, 'they
don't seem to agree with you, although
I wonder why"
They were strictly fresh and above
suspicion" said Billina. you ought to
be glad to get them"
TN transform you all into scorpions"
cried the King, angrily, and began wav-
ing his arms and muttering magic
words.
But none of the people became scor-
pions, so the King stopped and looked
at them in surprise.
What's wrong" he asked.
why, o are not wearing your
magic belt replied the Chief Steward,
after looking the King over carefully.
Where is it2 What have you done
with it,"
The Nome King clapped his hand to
his waist, and his rock coIored face
turned white as chalk.
ITS gone" he cried helplessly. ITS
gone, and am ruined"
Dorothy now stepped forward and
said:
Royal Ozma, and you. Queen Of Ev,
! welcome YOU and your reople back to
the land of the living. Billina has saved
you from your troubles. and now we will
leave his dreadful place and return to
Ev as soon as possible"
While the child spoke they could all
see that she wore the magic belt. and a
great cheer went up from all her friends,
which was led by the voices of the
Scarecrow and the private. But the
Nome King did not join them. He crept
back onto his throne like a whipped dog,
and lay there bitterly b%emoaning his
defeat.
But we have not vet found. my faith
full follower, the Tin Woodman," said
Ozma to Dorothy, land without him |
do not wish to go away"
Nor L." replied Dorothy, quickly.
wasn't he in the palace?"
Gle must he there" said Billina "but
| had no clew TO guide me in guessing
the Tin Woodman. SO l must have
missed him"
we will go back into the rooms"
aid Dorothy, This magic belt, am
sure, win help us TO find our dear old
friend
Editors Note--NeNt week we shall
learn The Fate of the Tin woodman,''
and OF the return of Ozma's rescue party
to. the Land of Ev.
Copyright by r. Frank Baum for the
George Mathew Adams Service.)