Evening star., 1918-07-09

can lump as far as I can for his size
excepting my cousin. Jumper tho
Hare"
The twinkling little eyes Of Danny
Meadow Mouse sparkled with mischief.
"If had the legs of one Of my cousins
is" said Danny. II venture to say
that would jump twice az far as you
can despite my small size. I wish that
cousin of mine were here now. He
would show you how to jump"
Peter grinned good-naturediy.
II wish he were here: said ne.
would like to see the Mouse who can
show me anything about jumping.
what did you say~ This was q
new voice. a thin. soueaky voice. very
much like the voice Of Danny Meadow
Mouse. Peter would have thought
that 1t most certainly was the voice OF
Danny was in front of him and this
voice came from behind him. He
turned his head fully expecting to see
Nanny Meadow Mouse there. Instead
he saw a perfect stranger. very neat,
trim. pretty little person;
Hello! Who are your exclaimed
Peter, staring very rudely.
The pretty little stranger looked
frightened. It was plain to see that
he was very. very timid. more timid
even than Danny Meadow Mouse. de-
spite the fact that he had spoken
was a relative OF Danny. He was
smaller than Danny, and wore . sleek
little coat of reddish brown. and Q
white waistcoat His face was sharp
and his hands were small ana dainty.
His hind legs were long. somewhat
after the Of pstss ,Ss hne hs
surprise at the length Of the
strangers tail. You know Peter 10
always interested in tails. This was
the longest, slimmest tail for the size
of the possessor that Peter ever had
seen. Somehow Peter couldn't be-
lieve that It belonged to this pretty
"Where did you get thatr" he de-
manded so abruptly that the stranger
backed away hurriedly.
where did I get whatf he
squeaked family.
THAT TAIL" replied Peter.
"Old Mother Nature gave 1t to him.
Where did you suppose he got ftf'
broke in Danny Meadow Mouse. by
the way, Peter. let me make you 6c-
quainted with my cousin, Nimble-
heels the Jumping Mouse. He is the
one meant when said that wished
can show you how to jump. Peter"
Peter looked at Nimbleheels moro
closely than before and for the lrst
time noticed the long hind legs. He
knew right away that these meant
that Nimbleheels was jumper. Still,
that Peter hadn't the least idea that
he could jump anything at all like
himself.
"Oh," said Peter with q very grand
air, az have no doubt he II q very
good jumper. but I hardly think he
can show me anything about Jump
FRY hin. and See" said = new voice.
It was the voice Of Old Mr.. Toad.
TRY him and see"
1--WE dare you to! We dare you to q
jumping match with little Nimble-
heelsI" cried the Merry Little Breeses.
dancing around Peter in great ex-
Timid little Nimbleheels began to
look uneasy. TT don't believe
care to jump against Peter Rabbit"
said he in his funny. squeaky voice.
you mean you are afraid to, be-
cause you know ! can out1Imp you.
on! I'm not afraid to jump with any
Mouse who thinks he can jump. Come
on. and I'll show you how it 10 doneF'
AZ he spoke Peter glanced At OLD
Mr.. Toad. There was q queer sort of
pleased look In Mr.. Toad's beautiful
Mouse. In Danny's eyes was the eame
sort Of look. Johnny Chuck. who had
come up in time to hear what had
been said. looked as II he were enjoy
ing secret joke. AS for the Merry
Little Breeses. they were dancing
from pure Joy.
Slowly It began to enter Peters head
that there was q Joke he didn't under
stand. He began to suspect that his
boasting tongue had tripped him up.
Could it be possible that Nimbleheeis
could outtump himf Suddenly Pstsr
somehow didn't care about jumping.
He remembered something important
to attend ITO in the dear Old Braer