Evening star., 1916-01-22

eat. There was no way of getting
at them. He might surprise Mrs
Grouse or Jumper the Hare over in
the Green Forest. though, just as like
ly as not. Mrs. Grouse had gone to BED
under the snow and was now priS-
onef under, this dreadful crust. He
might go over to the Big River to the
that it never freezes. Sometimes a
dead fish was washed up on the shore
there. And he might visit Farmer
Browns henyard and catch a fat
chicken.
Common sense told him to try the
other places first. but common sense
and terribly empty stomach do not
get along together well. Reddy start
ed for the Green Forest. but all the
time he was thinking how good a fat
up his mind that it would be worth
any risk. and he turned and made
straight for Farmer Browns henyard
AS he drew near he could hear the
hens cluckfng and talking among
themselves, and it seemed to him that
he just must rush among them and
seize the first one he came to. But
this would never do. He must first
make sure that the way was clear-that
Bowser the Hound was not on guard
and that Farmer Brown or his boy
was not in sight.
So. slowly and carefully, every few
steps stopping to look and listen. he
crept along behind the old stone wall
back of the henhouss. Then, crawling
on his stomach, he peeped around the
corner. Bowser the Hound was no.
where in sight. In fact, there was
no one in sight save the hens. and oh.
joy of joys! the door of the henyard
had been left open and most of the
on his stomach to the corner of the
henyard Reddy crouched, his feet fair
ly twitching with eagerness to spring.
Presently fat hen wandered over
a red flash. a frightened squawk cut
short in the middle. and while the
other biddies stared stupidity Reddy
seized the fat hen by the neck, threw
her body over his shoulders and turn
ed to trot away.
It was just at this very minute that
Farmer Browns Boy came from the
other side of the henyard on his way
back from taking good cheer to his
friends of the Green Forest, the Green
was just in time to see Reddy start
of with the fat hen. Hi, there, you
red theft Drop that chicken" he
yelled. and started after Reddy.
indeed! He had seen Farmer Browns
Boy run too often to have any fear of
him and he didn't mean to lose that
dinner. He simply ran a little faster
ana ne 8flnneQ as ne glanced over
his shoulder and saw Farmer Browns
Boy. coming after him. Straight down the
lane toward the Green Meadows. now
all white and shining with crusted
snow. ran Reddy. He wasn't half way
down the lane when with a start Of
surprise he discovered that Farmer
Browns Boy was coming faster than
Reddy had ever known him to move
before. In fact. he was coming so
fast that Reddy realized he had got
to run his very hardest If he would
on that icy, slippery crust. Somehow
his claws wouldn't or couldn't get hold
And then that fat hen was heavy.
7"Drop 1t! Drop it," That yell was
SO close to his heels that Reddy did
drop the fat hen. 1t almost broke his
heart to do it. At least that is the
way he felt. But he had got to run
faster and he couldn't do that and
carry the fat hen. too. So. he let go
and. settled down to run as fast as he
knew how. And then Reddy received
the surprise Of his life. In spite of
all that he could do Farmer Browns
Boy was actually catching up with
him! Yes, sir. he was doing just that
thing.