wide corridor to a carved doorway. Here the
servant paused, and opening the door said with polite deference:

"Be good enough to enter, sir, and make yourself at home in the rooms
our Royal Ozma has ordered prepared for you. Whatever you see is for you
to use and enjoy, as if your own. The Princess dines at seven, and I
shall be here in time to lead you to the drawing-room, where you will be
privileged to meet the lovely Ruler of Oz. Is there any command, in the
meantime, with which you desire to honor me?"

"No," said the shaggy man; "but I'm much obliged."

He entered the room and shut the door, and for a time stood in
bewilderment, admiring the grandeur before him.

He had been given one of the handsomest apartments in the most
magnificent palace in the world, and you can not wonder that his good
fortune astonished and awed him until he grew used to his surroundings.

The furniture was upholstered in cloth of gold, with the royal crown
embroidered upon it in scarlet. The rug upon the marble floor was so
thick and soft that he could not hear the sound of his own footsteps,
and upon the walls were splendid tapestries woven with scenes from the
Land of Oz. Books and ornaments were scattered about in profusion, and
the shaggy man thought he had never seen so many pretty things in one
place before. In one corner played a tinkling fountain of perfumed
water, and in another was a table bearing a golden tray loaded with
freshly gathered fruit, including several of the red-cheeked apples that
the shaggy man loved.

At the farther end of this charming room was an open doorway, and he
crossed over to find himself in a bedroom containing more comforts than
the shaggy man had ever before imagined. The bedstead was of gold and
set with many brilliant diamonds, and the coverlet had designs of
pearls and rubies sewed upon it. At one side of the bedroom was a dainty
dressing-room, with closets containing a large assortment of fresh
clothing; and beyond this was the bath--a large room having a marble
pool big enough to swim in, with white marble steps leading down to the
water. Around the edge of the pool were set rows of fine emeralds as
large as door-knobs, while the water of the bath was clear as crystal.

[Illustration: THE SHAGGY MAN ADMIRES HIS NEW CLOTHES]

For a time the shaggy man gazed upon all this luxury with silent
amazement. Then he decided, being wise in his way, to take advantage of
his good fortune. He removed