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various pieces that lay scattered around. She would examine the Lord

High Chigglewitz and see which piece of him was next needed, and then

hunt around until she found it. So before an hour had passed old Larry

was standing complete before them.

I congratulate you, my friends," he said, speaking in a cheerful voice.

You are certainly the cleverest people who ever visited us. I was never

matched together so quickly in my life. I'm considered a great puzzle,

usually."

Well," said Dorothy, "there used to be a picture puzzle craze in Kansas,

and so I've had some 'sperience matching puzzles. But the pictures were

flat, while you are round, and that makes you harder to figure out."

Thank you, my dear," replied old Larry, greatly pleased. "I feel highly

complimented. Were I not a really good puzzle, there would be no object

in my scattering myself."

Why do you do it?" asked Aunt Em, severely. "Why don't you behave

yourself, and stay put together?"

The Lord High Chigglewitz seemed annoyed by this speech; but he

replied, politely:

Madam, you have perhaps noticed that every person has some

peculiarity. Mine is to scatter myself. What your own peculiarity is I will

not venture to say; but I shall never find fault with you, whatever you

do."

Now you've got your diploma, Em," said Uncle Henry, with a laugh, "and

I'm glad of it. This is a queer country, and we may as well take people as

we find them."

If we did, we'd leave these folks scattered," she returned, and this retort

made everybody laugh good-naturedly.

Just then Omby Amby found a hand with a knitting needle in it, and

they decided to put Grandmother Gnit together. She proved an easier

puzzle than old Larry, and when she was completed they found her a

pleasant old lady who welcomed them cordially. Dorothy told her how

the kangaroo had lost her mittens, and Grandmother Gnit promised to

set to work at once and make the poor animal another pair.

The Emerald City of Oz