The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-06-18

Hardly had Jimmy Skunk entered
the hole under Farmer Browns hen
house. following close on the heels
Of inc Billy Possum, than along
came Bowser the Hound sniffing and
shining In a way that made Unc'
Billy nervous. When BoWser reach
ed that hole OF course he smelled
the tracks OF Unc' Billy and Jimmy
and right away he became excited
lie began 10 dig Goodness, how he
did make the dirt ny All the time
he whined. with eagerness.
Unc' Billy wasted no time in
squeezing thru hole in the floor
way over in one corner. a hole that
Farmer Browns Boy intended 10
nail a board over long before. but
never had. Unc' Billy knew that
Bowser couldn't get thru the even
II he did manage 10 dig his way I'M
dor the henhouse. Once thru that
and fairly In the henhouse Unc' Billy
drew a long breath. He felt safe
for the time being anyway, and he
didn't propose TO worry over the
future.
Jimmy Skunk hurried after Unc'
Billy. II wasn't fear that caused
Jimmy 20 hurry. No. indeed Il
wasn't fear. lie had been startled
by the unexpectedness OF Bowser's
appearance. It was this that had
caused him TO struggle TO bee FIRST
thru that hole under the henhouse.
But once thru he had felt bit
ashamed that he had been so undig
nified. He wasn't afraid OF Bowser
lie was sorely tempted to turn
around and send Bowser about his
business "a ne knew he very well
could. But he thought better OF H..
Resides Unc Billy was already
thru that hole In the floor and jim
my didn't for minute forget what
had brought him there. He had
come for eggs and so had inc Bill.
". II would never do 10 let INC
Billy be alone up there FOR long
SO Jimmy Skunk did what he very
seldom hurried. Yes, sir he
hurried after Unc' Billy Postum He
meant 20 make sure Of his share Of
the eggs ne Was sure were up there.
There was a row Of nesting boxes
along one side close TO the floor.
Above these was another row, and
above these third row. Jimmy
doesn't climb. but Unc Billy Is a
famous climber
'Ili take these lower nests" and
Jimmy, and lifted his tail in way
that rrade inc Bills nervous.
"All right replied Unc' Billy
promptly. AN right. brer skunk
It's just as yo' say"
With this Unc' Billy scrambled up
% the next row OF nests. Jimmy
grinned and started 10 look IN the
lower nests lie took his time about
n. for that il Jlmmy's way There
was nothing in the first one ana
nothing In the second one and moth
ing IN the third one. This was dis
appointing 20 say the least. and
Jimmy began 10 move little faster
Meanwhile Unc' Billy had hurried
from one nest 10 another in the
second row with no better success.
BY the time Jimmy was half way
along his row Unc' Billy had begun
on the upper row and the only eggs
he had found were hard china nest
eggs put there by Farmer Brown 8
Boy 10 tempt the hens TO lay IN
those particular nests. Disappolnt-
ment was making Unc Billy lose his
temper. Each time he peeped in
nest and saw one OF those china
eggs he hoped Il vas a real egg and
each time when he found II wasn't
he grew angrier.
AT last he so lost his temper that
when he found another Of those eggs
ne angrily pulled It out Of the nest.
Now il happened that Jimmy SKUNK
was Just underneath. Down fell that
hard china egg squarely on Jimmy
skunks head For just a minute
Jimmy saw stars. Al least he
thought he did. Then he saw the
egg and knew that inc Billy had
Knocked n down and that II was
his that had hit bini Jimmy was
sore al heart boosase he bad found
no eggs. and now he had a bump
on the head that was also sore
Jimmy Skunk lost his temper.
thing be rarely does.