The San Francisco call., 1910-03-18
IhCFairyDCtOCtiVC
ny RUPERT HUGHES

bunch that looked like a small fur
mun. So she said:
'Looky at the squirrel! If only had
a bag of peanuts"
Now child should never go into
park without a bag of peanuts any
more than a man should go into
sleeping car without some small
change for the porter. In fact, giving
peanuts to squirrels is only one way
of tipping them for being polite and
letting you walk through their park.
But here was a little girl wandering
through Squirrel City without a pea
nut to her name and no Italian in
sight anywhere. So she felt much
ashamed and rebuked the nurse Sc
verely.
The nurse, whose name was Mary.
said.
Il promise you this is the last time
this will ever happen again"
The little girl tried to whistle, but
her mouth wasn't tuned yet
II wish could make noise like
bag OF peanuts she said, then he'd
come"
But she couldn't. and he didn't.
II 'spose I'll have to bribe him with
something wonder what" She de-
cided that the nurses watch was the
brightest looking object in the neigh
borhood. SO she borrowed it and
stopped down and held it out if it
were a ginger snap.
Then Mr.. Squirrel stuck out his head
and his whole body till he hung side
wise on the tree like Japanese aero
bat. Then he scolded and chittered.
using squirrel language. Then he ran
down the tree, then up again, then
down again, then out on the snow
little, then back, then out again, then
little to the south. then a little to
the north; then he sat up and folded
his arms as much as to say:
Il wonder what you're up to-"
Then he came forward, then he went
back, then he sat up again, his tail
hung over his shoulders like feather
boa, and his nose shivering as If he
had special chill in the tip of it.
.sHe won't come any closer" the
little girl said. Il think I'll just
throw the watch over toward him.
ct think you won't" said the nurse,
ITS my watch"
SO the little girl had to wait till
Mr.. Squirrel was tired of his zigzag,
and finally growing reckless, came
quite close. ran UP the little girls
knee and out on her arm She held
her breath and watched him take the
watch in both hands and sniff it. He
saw it was nothing to eat and started
to run, then paused and listened. The
watch ticked just about as fast as his
nose twinkled. He looked at the face
of the watch a moment and suddenly
exclaimed
"Petrifed peanuts, It's 20 minutes
past 3, If don't scoot I'll be late to
my engagement"
The little girl was so much surprised
to hear a squirrel talk and tell the
time and have engagements that she
sat down hard on the hard walk. The
squirrel made leap but she caught
him by the tail and he remarked:
''Ouchr
II agree with YOU" said the little
girl. making a sorry face.
The squirrel said anxiously For
tree tops sake, don't detain me. I'm
very punctilious and this is an inn
portant business engagement
The little girl only held on the
tighter and said:
II don't know what punch -tilly- what
ever-you- said is. but / know you are
not no squirrel. What are you? Who
are your
Squirrel. Me squirrel? should
say not. This is only a disguise"
You are only a dsguise?" the little
girl said.
No. have on disguise"
"Oh,"
"You see. I'm a detective. l have
badge somewhere--it is on my other
clothes, | think"
"Youc other clothes' Nurse, do you
hear that"
Nurse was all eyes and ears. She
said:
The only other time | ever heard a
squirrel talk English it was par
rot. and he spoke Eyetalian."
But the little girl wasn't listening to
her; she was staring at the squirrel,
who was saying:
And now, if you will be so kind as
to return my tail III be hurrying on. |
wouldn't stop for a little thing like a
tail except that a squirrel would look
funny without one, and I'd probably
catch cold Besides. it' 4 "a kind Of na 4
ancing pole when / run along branch,
and it's a kind OF rudder when I'm
going round a curve | found II pretty
hard TO manage though, at first So
please let me go, I don't want to
have TO bite you; it's impolite."
la..ll ..nil L.. -.