Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-28

and sometimes in the afternoon. but not
another glimpse had he had of either
Mr.. or Mrs. Quack. He had even tramp
ed down the Laughing Brook clear to
the Big River without seeing a sign of
either of them. Had it not been for
that hurt wing of Mr. Quack's he would
have felt sure that they had gone on
their way to their usual home in the
far northlani. but. remembering that
wing, he knew they couldn't have done
this. Then he made up his mind that
they had gone down to the Big River.
and if they had escaped the hunters
there were probably hiding in some
lonely place along the banks of the Big
River.
But every day he brought with him
a pocketful of yellow corn and scat
tered it among the bulrushes in the
Smiling Pool. IF they should happen
to come back, or if any other ducks
should HAPPEN to drop in here they'll
find something to eat. anyway" said
he. out of the goodness of his heart.
Then, one morning, he happened to
think that it was foolish to waste his
corn. He would see how much there
was out there among the bulrushes be-
fore he threw any more there. Slip
ping off his shoes and stockings, he
waded out and looked and looked. Not
single yellow kernel could he find.
Back on the bank. he sat down to think.
That corn has disappeared, SO some
one has taken it," thought he. Now.
W
the Smiling Pool or visit it who would
pick all that corn out of the mud at the
bottom of the Smiling Pool?" He look
ed over at Jerry MuSkrat Suspiciously.
Then he shook his head. Il don't be-
lieve he would bother with it," said he
There isn't any one else unless"
He paused and frowned. Unless those
ducks are not so far away after all"
he finished. I'll try it ONCE more and see
what happens He stood up and scat
- q q
and then tramped off home. Quite early
the next morning he was back at the
Smiling Pool. Not a single kernel of
yellow corn could he find.
Farmer Browns boy clruckled. That
settles it he said. Those ducks are
somewhere around. though where
can't imagine. They are too smart to
come here in daylight. so they must
come after dark. think I'll do a little
spying"
So, just about the time that jolly.
round. red Mr. Sun was going to bed be-
hind the purple hills that night Farmer
Browns boy was making himself com
Portable in his old hiding place among
the alder bushes. The black shadows
crept over the Green Meadows and
across the Smiling Pool Little Friend
the Song Sparrow sang a sleepy good
night song. and then for u long. long
time there wasn't a sound save for the
chorus of the Hylas in the Smiling
Pool and once the slap of Jerry Musk
rats tail as Hooty the Owl drifted like
a shadow over the Smiling Pool.
Farmer Browns boy had about de-
cided that he would have to give up
and go home when he heard a sharp.
whistling sound coming from behind
him, from up the Laughing Brook. 1t
passed over his head and a moment la
ter Mrs. Quack was among the bull
rushes diving for the corn he had left
there. Farmer Browns boy gave A lit
tie sigh of satisfaction as he watched
her eat the dinner he had provided for
her. When she had eaten the last kerr
mel of corn she could find she took to
her stout wings again. Dimly Farmer
Browns boy could see her against the
sky as she passed over him straight to-
ward the Green Forest. AS the whistle
of her wings died away he got up and
stretched and on his freckIed' face was
a smile of satisfaction.
i've got your secret, old lady" said