Show V VV V V VV V V j d dIns Ins C V VA FTER the conversation with the S soldier ChIC AFTER A went back to the hall ot of the tho castle and told John Dough and Para Bruin Brain what the man had said sald They all expect a wise and just ruler who Is not made of flesh and blood reported the little one se SC I guess Its up to you John to run this Island Im surprised said Para Bruin Brain that they do not prefer a King who is made of pure puro rubber and can bounce But if they want John Dough Instead ot of me Im willing wifling to yield In his to vor 4 You shall be my Chief Chiet Counselor replied Johnj only I reserVe the right to act as I please in case JOhnl do not like your counsels That Is entirely fair tair and reason reasonable ble declared V Para Bruin and I 1 thank you for tho honor you have conferred u upon on me Inc Tm Im gOing to bo Head S said Chick gravely that asked John Its the ono that rules th the ruler said the smiling Cherub So just and your Chief Chiel both find 1 know my bust busi ness V Thereupon the child led John Dough to the Kings attiring room and hunted In the tho closets until a fine ermine robe and a crown and sceptre were discovered The Tho crown was a little lIttI tarnished from lack ot of use but the jewels In it still sparkled so the tho bear set it upon Johns gingerbread head nd put the sceptre in his tIght right hand Chick folded the ermine robe around V him In s1 such h a 0 way that his missing left hand was not V V noticed arid and then their they led the tho gingerbread man to the tho great h hall and placed him him In tile tho royal throne lie lIo might have hae looked more dignified had bad not hi his nose been badly chipped and his left glass eye ee so 50 loose In It Its socket that it rolled every way but the right way however the robe concealed the fact that his was soiled and cracked and that several lozenge buttons had broken off of during his recent ad ventureS But kingly robes and a kingly Crown rown cover many detects defects and when Para Bruin and the Cherub st stood od back and took a critical look at their friend they felt quite proud of his regal appearance When all had been beon made ready and John was seat ed In the throne Chick went to the tho west door ot of the castle hail and threw It open and at the same time Pars ara Bruin opened wide the tho east door Then to gether they cried out to the people The King has come Enter his castle all 11 ye je HI landers anders and and greet tile the new ruler in a fitting manner V V V So the tho tall and slender people trooped In at one door and the thc short and fat people trooped in at the theother theother other and all gazed with a we and roy qu V strange form or of the gingerbread King who was surely not flesh and blood and might easily bo be a wise and just ruler There was no disputing the fulfilment of the prophecy so nU all bowed humbly before John whom Chick Introduced to sUbjects Ina in a shrill childish voice oleo King Dough th the ruler of the tho Twin Kingdoms ot of inland Ulland and Loland V Afterward there were feasting and rejoicing In both bolh cities and John ma macic e a ro royal nl procession on both ide idec to It Ito V o I I V V a V c I tHe He might have looked more dignified or of the tho treat great wall being ever everywhere received with V shouts of enthusiastic joy The gingerbread man proved a very l ruler and as neither he ha nor Para Bruin Brain ate anything and Chick returned to a diet of oatmeal and cre cream m the Kings expenses were very light and ho was I ot obliged to tax his to Monsieur Jules bakeshop Ills his frosting and fastened The also repaired woman buttons to his waistcoat after some Borne new lozenge which John presented s sO neat and respectable an ap appearance appearance ot of hIm that all his people very Pars Para Bruin also became a great favorite in the thc two cities and the tall and short loved to watch him stand upon the high wall that divided the two nations natone from which he would leap to the ground and imme bound back again to his station on the walL HP 1441 wa always and cheerful quite win winning ning the hearts of the by poking fun at the thu V landers and afterward th the l V jeering at the V V Z So Pars Para Bruins life lite was a happy one and for countless years he remained the close friend and com coin companion panion 0 of King Dough the the popular and worthy worth ruler or of Hiland and Loland The records ot of the kingdom say very vory little of Chicks later hIstory merely mentIoning the tho fact that the Kings most assistant was the Head Boo who grew up to be the especial favorite of aU all aUthe the Inhabitants ot of the island But curIously enough the he records fall fail to tate state whether the Head s n or n a woman r V THE END r |