Evening star., 1917-04-11
LI1ILLESoRlEs L1L
@rBEDDTInE @rBD
By THORNTON w. BURGESS.
Copyright, 1917. by 7. W. Burgess)
Buster Bear Finds Bobby Coon

Bobby Coon was back in his new
house-the little cave in the rocky
ledge deep in the Green Forest, and
never before was he or any member OF
his family ever more upset than he was
You see, he had started out in nigh
spirits to see what was to be seen about
his new home and to find out who his
neighbors might be, and he hadn
much more than started when he DIS
| covered that his nearest neighbor was
T one other than Buster Bear. Wasn't
that enough to upset anybody? 1t was
enough to upset Bobby Coon, for 1t
was only a few hours before that Bus
! ter Bear had tried to catch him and had
Threatened to eat him. SO all desire to
spend the night looking about left
Bobby the very instant he found Bus
ter Bears home not very far along in
: that very same rocky ledge in which
his new home was.
What dreadful f1 what a dread
full fix I'm in," whined Bobby. Here
I've found the best home I've ever had.
and now l find that Buster Bear lives
almost next door. l don't dare stay
here and | haven't any place to go
I oh. dear, oh, dear, what can a poor
[ little fellow like me do? / wish l were
! as big as Buster Bear. 1 do. Then I'd
| fight him. | would. I'd fight him
Who would you fght?" demanded a
great, deep, grumby. rumbly voice
| from outside his doorway.
| Bobby just dropped right down where
| he was and shook with fright. But he
/ .1yA ,rv,1
| not the teeniest, weeniest sound. Per-
! haps Buster Bear didn't know whom he
! had overheard. Perhaps II he kept
perfectly still Buster would think he
/ had been mistaken.
/ who are you in there, anyway" de-
manded the deep. grumbly. rumbly
( voice. Il didn't know any one was liv-
ing here. Why don't you come out
! and he sociable?"
/ Bobby simply shivered and kept his
tongue still. For a minute or two
there was no sound from outside. Then
there We're three long sniffs-sniff
sniff. sniff, They made Bobby shiver
more than ever.
It's my little cousin Bobby" ex
claimed the deep. grumbly, rumbly
1 voice of Buster Bear. followed by a
chuckle. Welcome to the old rock
/ ledge, Bobby. Welcome to the old rock
/ ledge. If / am to have such a near
neighbor I'm glad it is to be you. Come
out and shake hands. Don't be so
| bashful. l won't hurt you"
| At that Bobby pricked up his ears
a little. He knew that Busters nose
rhad told him all he wanted to know
and that there was no use in pretend
ing any longer. do you really mean
| that, Cousin Buster" he asked, in a
faint voice.
Certainly I mean it. OF course. Why
not? l usually mean what l say"
grumbled Buster Bear.
That's just the trouble" replied
Bobby. timidly. Just a little while
ago you tried to catch me and said
that you would eat me, and l thought
you meant it. You acted as if you did"
Buster Bear began to chuckle and
then to laugh. and his laugh was deep
and grumbiy, rumbly like his voice
| when he spoke. That's so, Bobby!
| That's So. said he. But that was
when my stomach was so empty that
it made me lose my temper. Now my
| stomach is full and I'm really myself.
| You know you don't need to be afraid
of me when / am myself Just forget
that little affair. l should have If you
hadn't reminded me of it. I'm glad
you've decided to be neighborly. You
couldn't make your home in a safer
place. I'm going to take a nap now.
Come over and see me when you feel
like 1t. Be neighborIy, Cousin Bobby,
be neighborly."
With this Buster Bear went shut
i fling along to his own house and bed.