Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
10. The Braided Man of Pyramid Mountain
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"Haveyouafactoryinthisplace?"askedtheWizard,whohadbeenexaminingthestrangepersonagecarefully.
"Tobesure,"saidtheother."Iamagreatinventor,youmustknow,andImanufacturemyproductsinthislonelyspot."
"Whatareyourproducts?"enquiredtheWizard.
"Well,ImakeAssortedFluttersforflagsandbunting,andasuperiorgradeofRustlesforladies’silkgowns."
"Ithoughtso,"saidtheWizard,withasigh."Mayweexaminesomeofthesearticles?"
"Yes,indeed;comeintomyshop,please,"andthebraidedmanturnedandledthewayintoasmallercave,whereheevidentlylived.Here,onabroadshelf,wereseveralcard-boardboxesofvarioussizes,eachtiedwithcottoncord.
"This,"saidtheman,takingupaboxandhandlingitgently,"containstwelvedozenrustles—enoughtolastanyladyayear.Willyoubuyit,mydear?"heasked,addressingDorothy.
"Mygownisn’tsilk,"shesaid,smiling.
"Nevermind.Whenyouopentheboxtherustleswillescape,whetheryouarewearingasilkdressornot,"saidtheman,seriously.Thenhepickedupanotherbox."Inthis,"hecontinued,"aremanyassortedflutters.Theyareinvaluabletomakeflagsflutteronastillday,whenthereisnowind.You,sir,"turningtotheWizard,"oughttohavethisassortment.OnceyouhavetriedmygoodsIamsureyouwillneverbewithoutthem."
"Ihavenomoneywithme,"saidtheWizard,evasively.
"Idonotwantmoney,"returnedthebraidedman,"forIcouldnotspenditinthisdesertedplaceifIhadit.ButIwouldlikeverymuchabluehair-ribbon.
