[Illustration: THIS BOOK BELONGS TO] [Illustration] The Gnome King of Oz THE GNOME KING _of_ OZ _By_ RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON Founded on and continuing the Famous Oz Stories _By_ L. FRANK BAUM “Royal Historian of Oz” [Illustration] _Illustrated by_ JOHN R. NEILL The Reilly & Lee Co. Chicago Copyright 1927 _by_ The Reilly & Lee Co. _All Rights Reserved_ _Made in U. S. A._ [Illustration] Well, Boys and Girls! After Betsy’s adventures last year with the Hungry Tiger and the Prince of Rash, I did think _everything exciting_ that could happen _had_ happened in the Land of OZ. I rather expected this year’s history would be a drowsy record of birthdays, visitings and trips to undiscovered countries. But scarcely had I begun on the first birthday, which happened to be Cap’n Bill’s and which Dorothy had written me all about, when a special radiogram arrived from the Emerald City. Ruggedo, the old Gnome King, had escaped from Runaway Island. The Patchwork Girl had disappeared from the Capital. You can imagine how anxiously I waited for further news. Would Ruggedo succeed in capturing Oz? Where was Scraps? How would the adventure end? Well, even I did not guess the way it _did_ end, and as you are probably as curious as I was, I’ll only say that it’s the most unexpected and mysterious happening yet! Really! There’s a treasure ship, a new little boy from Philadelphia, a magic cloak and an Oztrich in it! How are you all? Happy? As for me, I kinda feel like Scraps to-day, full of rhymes and jingles. I feel that way When I think of you and the folks I’ve met in Oz and the letters I’m sure to get When you’ve read this book. Three cheers! Hurray! I’m looking for letters. Looking right your way! RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON 254 S. Farragut Terrace, West Philadelphia, Penna. May, 1927. [Illustration] _This Book Is Dedicated to My Nephew Richard Shuff Thompson, Jr._ With lots of love and a little laugh, For a little boy almost three and a half! If I had a wish, I’d wish it quick And keep him always “Little Dick.” R. P. T. [Illustration] List of Chapters Chapter Page 1 Queen Cross Patch Flits 15 2 The New Queen of the Quilties 35 3 Duties of the Quilty Queen 51 4 Peter Flies with an Odd Bird 67 5 Sea Tips Upside Down in Quake 85 6 Ruggedo Discovers Pirate’s Treasure 97 7 Kaliko Falls as King of Gnomes 111 8 Peter Meets Kuma Party 129 9 Queen Scraps Meets Peter 143 10 Escape from Patch at Last 155 11 Scraps Meets Sultan of Suds 169 12 Friend Oztrich Offers to Help 185 13 Tune Town Sings The Wanderers Onward 199