The Detroit times., 1917-04-07
BIZ THORNTON W. BURGESS.

zone was EeltI haDplN hhu sohN
was Bobby Coon. Buster Bear
knew well enough that there wasn't
the least use In trying to follow
either one OF them. He knew he
couldn't catch Peter. and he didn't
know where Bobby Coon bad gone
lie might just as we'll forget that
he ever had laid eyes on them. OF
course all this didn't improve Bus.
ter Bears temper a hit II made
4, worse II anything. Deep down In
his throat Buster Bear growled
grumbiy. rumbly grovls AZ be shut
fed along back 10 the tall. old
stump In which he had found Bobby
Coon. lie might as we'll have a
look al that stump while he was
there. he thought. OF course Bobby
Coon had eaten up any food that
might have been In II. but anyway
he would look.
Now Bobby Coon hadn't done any
thing OF the kind. as you and
know. In the FIRST place. when he
had climbed into that hollow stump
hiG stomach had been too full OF
csh caught in the Laughing Brook
for him 10 even think OF eating. In
the second place he was too sleepy.
All he had thought OF or wanted IN
that old stump was n place 20 sleep.
So he hadn't even dug over the sur
face OF the rotted wood AT the bot
tom TO see what might be in IL.
This Buster Bear found out Gs
soon as he got back 10 the old stump
ard looked Al Il For a minute he
was ashamed 10 think he had treat
cd Bobby so. At least a look Of
shame crept over HIS face. Then
he eagrely began to tear that stump
all To pieces with his great claws.
He tore out all that rotted wood AZ
the bottom and In n he found the
very thing he most wanted--a nest
OF ants.
yum. yum. yum" muttered Bus
ter Bear as his long tongue swept
the hurrying scurrying ants into his
mouth. II didn't trouble him at Ell
that a lot OF rotted wood went with
them Yum. yum, yum" said he
smackinE his lips and clawinE away
a. the old stump and sweeping up
the ants with his tongue.
When he couldn't and another ant
Buster sat up and grinned Al moth
Ing and no one in particular. He
grinned Just because he felt good.
Hc was his usual good natured self.
To be sure. those ants were not very
Cling. but they were something,
and they had tasted good You
know there Is nothing Buster II
more fond Of unless Il 10 honey or
sugar
II guess wasn't fair 20 my eous-
In Bobby Coon" said Buster
thoughtfully ION the whole. In.
glad I didn't catch the scamp. /
certainly should have eaten him II
I had. and that would have been
the end Of him. AZ II II he Is safe.
ard I'm glad Of II. don't want 10
hurt him ! don't want to hurt any
body. n always had plenty %
eat no one would have any need 20
fear me NJ all It's an empty stom.
ech that makes me cross and sAs-
age and hateful Hunger is about
the worst thing | know OF. II al
ways did make me cross. guess
n always will certainly gave
that scamp. Peter Rabbit. a scare.
wonder II he Is still running I
don't suppose he will dare come
within speaking distance OF me
AGAIN this summer That will be
too bad n certainly VIII like
tie little scamp. like 10 sec him
around And he Is such a gossip
that he IL quite useful AZ times
Well. I'm sorry lost my temper.
hut I've got Il back now. think
I'll go hshing"
go Buster Bear shufned or IN
the direction OF the Laughing Brook.
HIS good nature quite restored.
Meanwhile Peter Rabbit made his
way homo 10 the dear Old Brier
Patch and the scoldinE he knew
Mrs. Peter would give him Bobby
Trnn waa huut{ng Far a vIarn 80