Show J S II I T W J MEN II Stories S By L. L Frank v I King Dox of Foxville I e ehe i he the hea captain a o ot the Pox rox army rl id Dorothy and the Shag Shaggy Man Button Bright tt Bright n and Toto Tot In into the pal- pal ac rot of fhe the King they a room oon that at was was was' broad and l long tg and decor deco- deco fated r ted In gold And It had stained d di i glass lasS a windows ln of ot splendid colors th the center of or tho the room upon a a richly lY carved golden throne throne sa sat t the thew I w I King Fox KIn ox-KIn surrounded by a group of other ther foxes all of whom wore great spectacles over their ey eyes s making th them n look solemn and Important 7 Dorothy knew the King at t once mice n ei because she had seen Been his head carved on 1 the arch and over the doorway of the palace and having met with 1 several veral other kings Icings In her travels she shei knew what to do do and at once made a low bow before the throne The The Shaggy Man bowed too and Button Bright bobbed his h head ad and ands s said ld Hello J Most wise and noble Potentate of r. r said the captain addre addressing ad ad- dressing sIn the King In a pompous voice I 1 h humbly beg to report that I found these strangers on the road leading to your Foxy Majesty's dominions and have have- therefore brought ht them before you you as Is my duty i said Bald the King KIng- looking at 80 0 c so o-so so them keenly What brought you I here strangers Our legs may It please your Royal Hairiness replied the S Shaggy aggy Man What Is your business here was the next question To get away as soon as possible eald the Shaggy Man The King didn't know about the Magnet of course but It made him the Shaggy Man at once Do Just as you please abo about t going away away he said Bald but Id I'd like Uke to show V you the sights of my city and to en entertain en- en V your party while you are here We feel honored to have little Dorothy with us us I 1 assure you and we appreciate her kindness In making us a visit For whatever V country Dorothy visits Is sure to be become beV become be- be V come come famous This speech greatly surprised the little girl who asked How did your Majesty know my 1 n name me V Why everybody knows you my 7 dear said the Fox King Dont you ou realize reaUze that You Tou are quite an Imp Important personage since Princess Ozma of Oz Os z made you her friend Do you know Ozma she asked wondering fI regret to say that I do not ho he hoS answered sadly but I hope to meet V S her soon soon oon You know the Princess 5 Ozma ozni Is to celebrate her birthday on SV the twenty first of this month monthS S gI Ig she said Dorothy I didn't know that V Yes It Is to be the most brilliant r royal yal ceremony ceremony ever held In any any city V In Ini Fairyland and I hope you will V try to o get me an Invitation V S Dorothy thought for a moment V Im sure Ozma would Invite you j V it If I r asked her she saId eald but how V could you get to the Land of Oz and V the Emerald City It Its It's s a good way V I froth from Kansas SP Kansas he exclaimed surprised V Why w yes w we pre are ro In Kansas now now farent V arent aren't we she returned V 1 What W at a queer notion cried the i iE x ox beginning to laugh What V V V yer made you think this Is Kansas V V f I I ii J left Uncle Henrys Henry's farm only about two hours ago that's the rea- rea V son she said rather perplexed V V But ut tell teU me rae my ray dear did you ever see s BO so- wonderful a city as Foxville Fox Fox- ville In Kansas he questioned No your Majesty V V And V haven't you traveled from Oz z V V to Kansas In less than halt half a Jiffy by means of the Silver Shoes and the V Magic l Belt 7 VV V Yes Y s. s i your Majesty she V V VV V edged V V Then why do you wonder wo that an V hour or two could bring you to Fox Foxville ville which Is nearer to Oz than ItIs It Is to Kansas V Dear ear me exclaimed Dorothy Is Is V this another fairy adventure V It seems to be said the Fox King railing 5 1 D Dorothy rothY turned to the Shaggy Man and her face was wal grave and V reproachful V VV V Are you a magician or a fairy in inV V V she asked Did you enI enchant enchant en- en I chant me when you asked the way to Butterfield 7 The Shaggy ran Man ran shook V his head Wife Who ever heard of a shaggy fairy he replied No Dorothy my dear Im I'm not to blame for this V Journey In any any way I I as assure ure you been something strange about me e ever since I 1 owned the Love Loye Magnet Mag Mag- hiet net but I don don't know what It Is any anymore V more nore than you do I 1 didn't try to get you away from fron home at all If It you want to find your way back to 4 J I. I f. f V d t V 5 1 R vc I R the he farm Ill I'll go with you willingly and do my best to help you V I Never mind said the little girl thoughtfully There isn't so so much mucho I to o see in Kansas as there is here and andI I guess Aunt Em wont won't be very much worried that is Is if I dont don't stay away too oo long V V right declared the Fox- Fox King nodding approval Be De contented content content- ed with your lot whatever it happens to o be be If you are wise Which h reminds me that you have a a. a new companion on this adventure adventure he he looks very clever cleverand cleverand cleverand and bright He is ls said Dorothy and the shaggy shag shag- gy man added V his name your our Royal ness ness ness-Bu Button ness t. t It It was amusing to note the expression expression don sion on the face of or King Dox Doxas as as he looked the boy over over from his sailor hat to his stubby shoes and it was equally diverting to V watch Button Button- BrIght stare at the he King In return No fox ever ever beh beheld ld a fresher f fairer childs child's face and no child ia hat haa ever ever before be- be fore ore heard a fo fox talk ox or ot met with one who dressed so handsomely and ruled so big a city I am m sorry to say that no one h had d ever told the little boy much nuch about fairies of any kind this beIng the tho case It is easy to understand how low much this strange experience star star- tied led and astonished him How do you ou like us us 7 asked the King Dont know V said caid V Button Bright Of course you dont Its It's too short an acquaintance returned his Ma- Ma jesty esty What do you s suppose my name names Is s Dont know said paid Button Bright How should you Well Wen Ill I'll tell telI you My private name is Is' Dox Dox but buta a King cant can't be pe called caned by y his private name helas he has las to take one that is official Therefore Therefore There- There fore ore my official name name is King Renard the Fourth Ren-ard Ren with the a accent the Ren fl on V ren asked Button Bright How clever exclaimed the King turning a pleased face toward his co coun coun- unI un- un V I This boy is indeed remarkably I bright What's ren ran he asks and Of at all all itself it it It- It course ren rent Is nothing an by self seIt V Yes he hes he's s very bright Indeed That question your Majesty might call can fox foxy said one of f the counselors counselors counselors coun coun- an old grey fox So it It is declared the King TurnIng Turning Turning Turn Turn- ing again to Button-Bright Button he ask asked d Having told you my name name what would you call me me King Dox said the boy Why Cause Caum rent ran Is nothing at all TV w was as s she the he reply V V Good Very good indeed You certainly certainly certainly have a brilliant mind Do you know knowS why two and two make fourNo fourNo four No said Button Bright Clever clever Indeed Of course you dont don't know Nobody knows why we tonly know its it's so and c cant nf tell why its it's so so Button Bright those curls and blue eyes do not go well with so so much wisdom Th They Ty Y make you look too youthful and hide your real cleverness clever clever- ness Therefore I will do you a a. great favor I will confer upon you the head of a fox so that you may hereafter look as bright as you really reany are As he spoke the King waved his paw toward the boy ard at once t the e pretty curls and and fresh ro round nd face and big blue eyes w were re gone while in their place a foxs fox's head appeared upon But- But head ton ton-Bright's shoulders shoulders-a. a hairy with a sharp nose pointed ears and keen little eyes Oh dont don't do that cried Dorothy shrinking bk from her transformed companion with a shocked and V dismayed dismayed dis dis- dis- dis i face e Too late my dear Its It's done But you also shall have a foxs fox's he head d If you youcan youcan youcan can p prove ove youre you're as as' clever as Button- Button Bright I dont don't want it Its It's dreadful V VI she he exclaimed and hearing this verdict verdI Button-Bright Button began to hoo boo-hoo Just Justas as if he were ere still stIn a a little boy How can you call can that lovely head dreadful asked the King Its a much prettier face than he had before to my notion and d my Y wife says Im I'm Ima a a. good Judge of Do Dont Don't t cry UttIe lit little little lit lit- tle tIe fox boy Laugh and be proud be because because beV be- cause you are areso so highly favored How do you like the new head Button- Button Bright 7 dont don't n-n-n-know n sobbed the the child Please please change him back again your Majesty begged Dorothy King Renard IV shook his head I cant can't do that he ie said I haven't t the power power even even if if I I wanted to No Button Bright must wear his fox head and hell he'll be sure to love it de dearly as soon as he gets used to it It Both the shaggy man and Dorothy looked grave and anxious for the they were sorrowful that such a misfortune had overtaken their little companion Toto barked at the fox-boy fox once or twice not realizing it was hl hi hIs hIs' former friend who now noi wore the animal head but Dorothy cuffed th the dog and made him stop As for th the foxes they all seemed to think Butt Button Button-Bright's m new head dead very becoming and that their King had conferred d a great honor on this little stranger V Copyrighted by y L L. Frank Baum for tor forthe forthe the George Matthew Adams Service Editors Editor's note note Next Next week you shall heat hear about King Dox's Party and of or how our friends started off again on their j Journey Urney along the Road to Oz |