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."Why, it looks just like down town at home, Carter.""Home in Oz?" quened the Vegetable Man, pressing his nosePage 43ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlagainst the bars."No, in Oklahoma!" laughed Betsy hastily."But let's go in.Isee stores and hotels and everything!""Hotels?" gulped the Hungry Tiger, pricking up his ears."Hotels! B-r-r-r!" And before Betsy or anyone else could stop him, he hadhurled himself headlong at the gates of Down Town.With a creak and bang, theyburst open and the whole Rash company fell through."Food!" roared the Hungry Tiger, charging at full speed downthe main street."Give us food!" At the tiger's roars, such citizens as werein the streets stopped in horror and astonishment.Then, right and left likestartled hares, they darted, huddling into doorways, scurrying into sidealleys, tumbling over one another in their frenzy to get away.In fact theywere as amazed and terrified to see a tiger in their Down Town, as we would beto see one in ours, and when they glimpsed Carter Green, they ran faster thanever."Stop!" shouted Betsy, flinging both arms around the tiger'sneck to keep from falling off."You're scaring everyone away.Stop! Here's arestaurant!"But the Hungry Tiger had already seen the tempting display ofpies and roast turkey in the window.Turning so sharply that the Prince ofRash tumbled off backward, he rushed through the swinging doors and nextminute they had the establishment to themselves.One look at the Hungry Tigerhad been enough for the early morning customers.Grabbing their hats, andwithout waiting for their change, they pelted out the rear door of the shop,followed by three waiters and the screaming proprietor."Oh, well," sighed Betsy, helping herself capably to a springchicken that was turning slowly on a spit, "if they won't stay to wait on us,we must just help ourselves.""What fun!" chuckled Reddy, burying his nose in a cherry tart,while the barber and sad singer divided a huge sausage between them.TheVegetable Man, not requiring food, busied himself with counting the orangesand apples in the window and wondered wistfully whether he could not find acart somewhere and stir up some trade.But it was the Hungry Tiger who enjoyed himself most of all.At one side of the room a dozen roasts were waiting their turn at the ovens.These, the famished tiger snapped up in so many bites.After his long fast inPage 44ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlRash, they tasted perfectly delicious and, while Reddy looked at him inastonishment and admiration, he swallowed three roast turkeys, a bowl ofpotato salad and a tray full of biscuits.He was just starting on a huge ham,when a commotion in the doorway made them all spin round.It was theproprietor, and with him were twenty tall officers.They had a great net, and as the Hungry Tiger gave aconvulsive swallow, they flung it over him and dragged the huge beast, thesinger, the barber, Betsy, the Vegetable Man, and the little Prince of Rashout into the street."Robbers!" screamed the proprietor savagely, as they werehustled away."Wait till Dad hears of this.""Why don't you bite them?" wailed Betsy, trying to wriggle outof the grasp of the officer who had her by the arm."Too full," mumbled the Hungry Tiger in a stuffy voice."Couldn't eat another bite, not even a policeman.But it was worth it andwho's afraid of Dad? We've been arrested before and gotten away.We'll get offsomehow, trust me."Maybe the ruby will help," said the little Prince, squirmingabout so he could see Betsy.Carter, on the other side, gave her such anencouraging wink that the little girl stopped worrying and began to lookaround with real interest.Down Town, as Betsy had said in the first place,was quite like other down towns, except that there were no motors nor wagonsand the men who crowded the streets were gaily costumed in green and yellowbills.Four of the Down Officers had hold of the net entangling the HungryTiger, one officer had hold of each of the others and the rest trampedimportantly ahead of the procession."Who's Dad?" asked Betsy, as they were propelled through theswinging doors of a large white bank."The King," answered the officer haughtily."Is he a kind King?" sniffed the sad singer nervously."Whatkind of a King is Dad.Will he make us happy or make us sad?""You'll soon see," grunted the officer, pushing him roughlyinto an elevator.The others were thrust as unceremoniously after him, the carPage 45ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlshot upward and the next minute they were all marched out upon the roof.In aswivel chair on top of the bank, sat Dad.He was reading a paper and besidehim on a high stool sat the most curious lady Betsy had ever seen."Their Majesties the King and Queen of Down Town!" boomed theofficer, who had hold of Betsy Bobbin."Robbers, your Highness!" he announcedwith a low bow.CHAPTER 9The Indus TreeAT the officer's ringing words, King Dad lowered his paper,and as he got a good look at the Hungry Tiger, his chair fell forward with acrash."A tiger, Nance!" stuttered Dad, rolling his eyes wildly atthe Queen."But it's tied," answered the Queen of Down Town calmly."Whatare the charges officer?""Ninety-nine dollars and sixty-eight cents," answered theofficer hoarsely, and leaning over he handed Dad a long slip of paper."But we only wanted a little breakfast," began Betsytremulously, "and"A little breakfast!" wheezed Dad, and putting on his specsstarted to read off the list:"Twelve roasts, Four turkeys, One spring chicken, Three dozentarts, Fourteen doughnuts One ham and twenty-four biscuits, Three quarts ofpotato salad, One six-pound sausage.""Monstrous!" muttered the Queen, tapping her foot indignantlyon the floor."They shall pay well for this."Page 46ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Why, that's a mere bite for a fellow like me," rumbled theHungry Tiger, impatiently, "and I ate most of it.""Wh-who are you?" demanded Dad, holding on to the arms of hischair and blinking nervously at the great beast
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