Evening star., 1917-11-28
tI1IILES0RlEs t1IILE
%rBEDTInE
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
Copyright. 1917. by T. ". BurgessJ
Almost, But Not Quite.

Almost. but not quite-how often it's SO!
Almost, wee Slip and you've missed don't you
know.
Having become quite discouraged
with trying to catch the Gobblers on
their feeding-grounds because some
how he couldn't guess which one they
would go to, Yowler the Bob-cat de-
cided to try another plan. He had set
his heart Cor should say his stomach?)
on having one of those handsome Cob
b1ers to eat. He didn't care whether
1t was for breakfast. dinner or supper.
so long as he got one. 1t would taste
equally good for. either. Whenever he
thought of them his mouth watered
and he licked his lips. The result was
that he was licking his lips most Of
the time.
In prowling about and studying the
ways of the Gobblers he had discov-
cred that they use certain paths quite
often, some more than others. So Vow
ler's new plan was to stretch out on a
branch Of big tree beside one of these
paths-a branch which was right over
the path. Then. when the Gobblers
came along under him all he would
have to do would be to drop on one of
| them. 1t seemed a very simple plan.
1t was a simple plan. To 'Yowler. who
is sneak and has no honor, it seemed
very good plan.
path which he knew the Gobblers used
most often and stretched out fiat along
a big branch that hung over the path.
There he lay as still as If he were part
of the tree. Only the CLEAN in his
fierce yellow eyes showed that there
was any living thing there. He had
waited long when at last he saw Big
Tom Gobbler and behind him all the
other members of the Gobbler family
coming along that path. Big Tom was
cautious-very cautious. His keen eyes
were watching on both sides and from
time to time he turned his head that
he might better listen for suspicious
sounds. Straight on he came. 1t was
clear that he had no thought Of danger
from above.
Slowly and very carefully YowIer
jumping. His eyes glowed. Nearei
ard nearer came the Gobblers. Yow-
ler's stubby tail twitched with eager
ness. Yowler felt that he was about
for his former disappointments. In
just ane little minute moro Big Tom
would be within easy jumping dis
tance.
1t was right then that Sammy Jay
arrived. Sammy was on his way to
another part of the Green Forest and
it just happened that ne chose that
very tree in which to rest for a few
minutes. He saw the Gobblers COM
! ing and he decided to stay to watch
them pass beneath him. They are al
| imposing sight always and Sammy
never tires Of watching them. Now
J Sammy had arrived silently and Vow
| Ter was so intently watching the Cob
b1ers that he knew nothing Of Sammy !
arrival in the top of the tree. Vow
ler's tail twitched faster as the Cob
blers drew nearer. Sammy. glancine
Gown. saw something moving. He
| leaned over to see better what It might
be. It ives YowIer's twitching tail. In
| a second Sammy understood what Yow-
| Ter was planning to do.
sammy at the top of his lungs.
instantly all the Gobblers STOPPED
stretching their necks and looking
| from side to side to see what danger
sammy was warning them of. Big
Tom Gobbler saw that Sammy was
looking down and he looked where
sammy was looking. He. too, saw that
twitchinE tail and in a Hash he un-
derstood what it meant.
"Ouit, Quit" said he sharply and
with two or three quick steps took to
his wings and sailed away over the
tree-tops. all the other Gobblers fol-
lowing him. Yowler had almost sue
ceeded. but not quite.