ive sports.

[Illustration]

"I'm going to search for Ozma," remarked Dorothy, "for she isn't in
her rooms and I want to ask her a question."

"I'll go with you," said Scraps, "for my eyes are brighter than yours
and they can see farther."

"I'm not sure of that," returned Dorothy. "But come along, if you like."

Together they searched all through the great palace and even to the
farthest limits of the palace grounds, which were quite extensive, but
nowhere could they find a trace of Ozma. When Dorothy returned to where
Betsy and Trot awaited her, the little girl's face was rather solemn and
troubled, for never before had Ozma gone away without telling her
friends where she was going, or without an escort that befitted her
royal state.

She was gone, however, and none had seen her go. Dorothy had met and
questioned the Scarecrow, Tik-Tok, the Shaggy Man, Button-Bright, Cap'n
Bill, and even the wise and powerful Wizard of Oz, but not one of them
had seen Ozma since she parted with her friends the evening before and
had gone to her own rooms.

"She didn't say anything las' night about going anywhere," observed
little Trot.

[Illustration]

"No, and that's the strange part of it," replied Dorothy. "Usually
Ozma lets us know of everything she does."

"Why not look in the Magic Picture?" suggested Betsy Bobbin. "That will
tell us where she is, in just one second."

"Of course!" cried Dorothy. "Why didn't I think of that before?" and at
once the three girls hurried away to Ozma's boudoir, where the Magic
Picture always hung.

This wonderful Magic Picture was one of the royal Ozma's greatest
treasures. There was a large gold frame, in the center of which was a
bluish-gray canvas on which various scenes constantly appeared and
disappeared. If one who stood before it wished to see what any
person--anywhere in the world--was doing, it was only necessary to make
the wish and the scene in the Magic Picture would shift to the scene
where that person was and show exactly what he or she was then engaged
in doing. So the girls knew it would be easy for them to wish to see
Ozma, and from the picture they could quickly learn where she was.

Dorothy advanced to the place where the picture was usually protected by
thick satin curtains, and pulled the draperies aside. Then she stared in
amazement, while her two friends uttered exclamations of
disappointment.

The Magic Picture was gone. Only a blank space on the wall behi