Page:The Royal Book of Oz.djvu/327

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Chapter Twenty-Four

Ozma laughed heartily as the picture faded away and so did the others. Indeed there was so much to ask and wonder about that it seemed as if they never would finish talking.

"Let's have a party—an old fashioned Oz party," proposed Ozma, when the excitement had calmed down a bit. And an old fashioned party it was, with places for everybody and a special table for the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Toto, the Glass Cat, the Comfortable Camel, the Doubtful Dromedary and all the other dear creatures of that amazing Kingdom.

Sir Hokus insisted upon stirring up a huge pasty for the occasion, and there were songs, speeches and cheers for everyone, not forgetting the Doubtful Dromedary.

At the cheering he rose with an embarrassed jerk the of his long neck. "In my left hand saddle-sack," he said gruffly, "there are a quantity of silken shawls and jewels. I doubt whether they are good enough, but I would like Dorothy and Queen Ozma to have them."

"Hear! Hear!" cried the Scarecrow, pounding a the table with his knife. Then everything grew quiet as Ozma a told how she, with the help of Glinda, the

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