Shaggy Man of Oz

<p><SPAN name="CHAPTER_24" id="CHAPTER_24"></SPAN></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illus97.jpg" width-obs="525" height-obs="350" alt=""/></div> <h2>CHAPTER 24<br/> <small>Twink and Tom in Oz</small></h2> <p>The remainder of the day was given over to sightseeing for Twink, Tom, the King of the Fairy Beavers, and the young beavers.</p> <p>Dorothy and the Shaggy Man loaded the party into the Red Wagon, which was drawn by the Sawhorse, and conducted their guests on a tour of the beautiful City of Emeralds and the nearby countryside.</p> <p>When they reached the gates of the Emerald City, the Shaggy Man ordered the Sawhorse to stop while he, with the aid of Omby Amby, a bright new nail and a hammer, proudly restored the Love Magnet to its position over the entrance to the city.</p> <hr class="chap" /> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illus98.jpg" width-obs="650" height-obs="342" alt=""/></div> <hr class="chap" /> <p>The company then drove out to call on Miss Cuttenclip and her famous village whose inhabitants were artfully cut out of magic paper and moved about and talked like living people. Next they visited Professor Wogglebug in his College, where the students learned their lessons by swallowing sugar-coated pills.</p> <hr class="chap" /> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illus99.jpg" width-obs="251" height-obs="350" alt=""/></div> <hr class="chap" /> <p>On the return journey they met the Scarecrow who had been spending the day with a Munchkin Farmer for the purpose of being re-stuffed with fresh new straw&mdash;all except his head, of course, which was filled with the marvelous brains the Wizard had given him. Twink and Tom were delighted with this droll personage, who took an instant liking to them.</p> <p>That evening there was a great dinner in honor of Twink, Tom, and the King of the Fairy Beavers. Many of the most famous personages of Oz were there. Among these were the Patchwork Girl, the Tin Woodman who had traveled from his tin castle in the Winkie country for the occasion, Princess Ozana, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, Ojo, Button Bright, Betsy Bobbin, Trot, Cap'n Bill, the Woozy, and many, many others.</p> <p>It was a wonderful dinner, and Twink and Tom were fascinated by all the curious and unusual personalities. The twins felt as if they were among old friends, since they had read so much about the famous people of Oz and their exciting adventures.</p> <p>On such occasions as this, it was always the custom of the Wizard to put on a display of his magic. Tonight he did not. In fact the Little Wizard seemed silent and worried throughout the dinner.</p> <p>As the guests began to leave the table, the Wizard approached Ozma unhappily. "I can't imagine what Conjo did with my Black Bag of Magic Tools," he said. "We should have questioned him before you sent him back to the Isle of Conjo."</p> <hr class="chap" /> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/illus100.jpg" width-obs="650" height-obs="322" alt=""/></div> <hr class="chap" /> <p>Ozma shook her head. "That would have done no good. Conjo lost all memory of his former actions when he drank of the waters of the Fountain of Oblivion."</p> <p>The only others remaining around the table now were Dorothy, Shaggy, Twink, Tom, and the beaver King.</p> <p>"Did you look in the Magic Picture to see where Conjo might have hidden the Black Bag?" Ozma asked.</p> <p>"No," said the Wizard, "we were so excited and things happened so swiftly that we never thought of the Magic Picture."</p> <p>"Then let us consult the picture immediately," said Ozma.</p> <p>The Girl Ruler rose and motioned the rest to follow her as she made her way to her suite of rooms and the Magic Picture.</p> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />