Chapter I: Front Matter

HANDY MANDY IN 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

COPYRIGHT 1937
By
THE REILLY & LEE CO.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

PRINTED IN THE U. S. A.

[Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any
evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]

* * * * *

_Hello there!_

Another spring, another book and another old Wizard in Oz! Imagine! And with Ruggedo mixed up in the story there's bound to be fun and excitement.

Now I do hope you like Handy Mandy and Nox. I'm very fond of the Royal Ox, myself. He rather reminds me of Kabumpo, while Kerry is as nice a young King as I've met in an Oz age. But tell me what YOU think. No one, not even Ozma, receives as fine letters as you all write me, and I can hardly wait to hear all this year's news and those interesting Ozzy suggestions. My news comes from the palace of the Red Jinn, today. It seems that he and Kabumpo are really going to pay that long-promised visit to Randy in Regalia. My--y, I'll have to look into this. Meanwhile, best and merriest wishes and a high old happy-go-lucky year to you!

RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON.

254 S. Farragut Terrace,
West Philadelphia, Pa.

* * * * *

This book is lovingly dedicated to all
the boys and girls who have written
me letters! Yes, here's to YOU and
cheers to you!

RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON

April, 1937

* * * * *

Handy Mandy in Oz

On many a day had Handy, the Goat Girl of Mern, pursued her goats up and down the rocky eminences of her native mountain. And never--NEVER--in her fourteen or so years' experience had she been blown up by a mountain spring. But there comes, in every one's experience a day which is unlike every other day, and so it was with the Goat Girl. As she was pursuing What-a-butter, her favorite goat, there was a sudden crash, a whish, and up flew the slab of rock on which she was standing, up and away.

The adventures into which she was carried by this simple though awefull beginning take a whole book to relate. How she met Nox the Royal Ox of Keretaria, how together they went in search of little King Kerry, how at last they rescued him and found themselves feted guests of Ozma of Oz, all these things you must read for yourselves.

Read what the University of Washington Chapbooks have to say about the famous Oz series. They _have taught American children to look for the elements of wonder in the life around them, to realize that even smoke and machinery may be transformed into fairy lore if only we have sufficient energy and vision to penetrate to their significance and transform them to our use.... Some day we may have better fairytales but that will not be until America is a better country._

(_Edward Wagenknecht._)

CONTENTS

1 Mandy Leaves the Mountain

2 The End of the Ride

3 The King of Keretaria

4 The Message in the Horn

5 Out of Keretaria!

6 Turn Town!

7 A Horn of Plenty

8 Handy Mandy Learns about Oz!

9 The Magic Hammer

10 The King of the Silver Mountain

11 Down to the Prisoners' Pit!

12 Prisoners of the Wizard

13 In the Emerald City of Oz

14 The Robbery Is Discovered

15 The Pilgrim Returns to the Mountain

16 The Wizard's Bargain!

17 Out of the Prison Pit

18 Wutz and the Gnome King Leave for the Capital!

19 At the Bottom of the Mountain!

20 Just in Time!

21 The Hammer Elf Explains