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”

Illustrated by
JOHN R. NEILL

The Reilly & Lee Co.
Chicago

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.

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.

THE GNOME KINGof OZ

THE GNOME KING
of OZ