The Detroit times., 1916-08-30
LITTLE STORIES FOR BEDTIME
Peter Discovers the Secret of Rattles
Copyright. 1915. by T. W. Burgess)

Peter Rabbit was 80 excited that
he almost forgot that he was spying
and that II he showed himself he
might miss the very thing for which
he had waited so long. There wa
Rattlos the Kinglisher coming
straight down the Laughing Brook
with minnow I'm his bill, and OF
course he was bringing it to his
cables i'm their secret home. In a
minute or two he, Peter, would
know the secret. In his excitemen.
Peter started 10 sit up so as 10 see
better. Just in time he remembered
that he wasn't supposed TO be there
at all. II Rattles should see him he
certainly wouldn't go TO his home
in spite of the hungry babies Peter
knew must be there waiting for a
Ash. He wouldn't be so foolish as
to show where his home was by en-
tering II when he knew that he was
being watched To do suSh a thing
as that wouldn't be good sense.
SO Just I'm the very nick OF time
Peter ducked down among the
grasses. and peeping between them
watched Rattles. He could see the
sharp eyes OF Rattles looking sus-
piciously al both banks as he came
swiftly on. Peter knew without be-
ing told that Rattles was trying to
make sure that no one was watching
him, and he Chuckled as he snug
gled down a little closer to the warm
earth among the grasses Il won
der what he would do and say II
he knew he was being watched,
thought he.
But Rattles didn't know, and he
saw nothing TO make him the least
BIT suspicious He came straight on
until he was right opposite the big
sandbank across from Peter. Then
he turned and few straight toward
IL, and second later had disap-
peared Peter couldn't believe il,
but n was So Z seemed somehow
as il that bank OF sand had swal-
lowed Rattles the Kinghsher. He
had disappeared so quickly that Pc
ter hadn't seen exactly where he
did go Peter raised his head and
stared across at the sandbank 1t
was yellow and smooth, and no
whore could he see a hole.
Great jumping Jupiter" ex-
claimed Peter, and rubbed his eyes
that he might look better. But this
didn't help him any. Rattles the
Kingfisher had disappeared as com
pletely as II he never had been.
Peter was still staring foolishly
when he saw a few grains OF sand
trickle down from the very edge OF
the bank where some grass and
weeds hung over the edge. With
out thinking why he did It, he duck
ing between the grasses watched the
spot from which he had seen the
sand trickle down. Was there
dark spot there just below the edge
OF the bank half hidden by the grass
and weeds? Peter blinked and
stared again. Yes, there certainly
was a small dark spot there. Could
il be a hole? II might be. Peter
decided that he would watch Il.
He didn't have 10 watch long. In
fact, It was hardly a minute before
he saw something move over there.
He held his breath Then what do
you think he saw? Why. he saw
first big stout spear-like bill thrust
out and then a head with queer
rough topknot II was the head OF
Rattlcs he KirgG-her There was
no doubt about this, for no one else
has head like his For a moment
Rattles was perfectly still. looking
this way and looking that way mp
and down the Laughing Brook
Then. rs II satisfied that no one
saw him, he shot out into the air
and was away toward the Laughing
Brook, rafting as only he can rattle
There was no doubt In Peters mind
now. He had found the home ot
Rattles, and it was in hole in the