The Detroit times., 1916-08-31
LITTLE STORIES FOR BEDTIME
Peter Discovers the Secret of Rattles.
Copyright 1915. by T. w. Burgess)

Peter Rabbit was so 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 was
Rattles the KingHsher coming
straight down the Laughing Brook
with a minnow in his bill. and OF
course he was bringing IL TO his
cables i'm their secret home, In
minute or two he, Peter. would
know the secret. In his excitemen.
Peter started TO sit up so as 10 see
better Just in time he remembered
that he wasn't supposed 10 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
fish. 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 SUN thing
as that wouldn't be good sense.
SO just in 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
he oh ln1 q
gled down 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 flew straight toward
It, and a second later had disap-
peared. Peter couldn't believe II,
but II was so. 4 seemed somehow
as IL that bank OF sand had swal-
lowed Rattles the Kingfsher. 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 II
was yellow and smooth, and no
where could he SEQ 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
Klngfisher had disappeared as com
pletely as IL 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
ed down out OF sight, and then peer
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
II be hole? II might be. Peter
decided that he would watch II.
He didn't have 10 watch long In
fact, II 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 a queer
rough topknot. II was the head OF
Rattles he Klnga,her. There was
no doubt about this, for no one else
has head like his. For moment
Rattles was perfectly still. looking
this way and looking that way up
and down the Laughing Brook.
Then. as II satisfied that no one
saw him, he shot out into the air
and was away toward the Laughing
Brook. rafting rs only he can rattle.
There was no doubt I'm Peters mind
now, He had found the home OF
Rattles, and It was in a hole in the