Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-27
"DREAWLAND
ADVENTURES"
BY DADDY
SECRET OF THE
HOLLOW TREE
. ,,,,,te uc,y ndrrnturc each pcek, begin
mino Monday aud ending Saturday.
CHAPTER II
The Bag Of Gold

fpcoou ;s urged by Blue Jdu to uisit
Bandits .RooSt to see PROOF 1uut 'ne
.JoUs hare earned the right to return 10
Birdland; she 'catms ;hrt ,no1 Lam 'u"" ,noney %
and Blue jag thinks ne hho"S ""e'e
the robber isl
T1LOATING along in thistledowh oaiiooh'
II SO Peggy found. produced dif1ereht sen
sation from flying in an airplahe OF oe.ls
carried by a bird. There was no orruNe, ,ltn
FOR she was borne by the wind itself rms
created the feeling that she was standing
utiU Oulv when she looked down at the
trees and fences racing by far oeiow olu
she realize that she was really moving d.
train speed 49,, ,,
The balloon jumped about lot, just IKE
hit of fluff from a milkweed pod. Al
one moment it. would be just above the lree-
tops. and the next instant current ol an
would shoot it up towards the sky. once
che drifted over country church steepIe
which threatened to catch and hold her, put
n vigorous shove of her toe on the very up
of the spire sent her bounding upward.
Altogether, Peggy found this very de-
lghtful way to travel .
Soon they sailed over Birdland but 1t
was so very early in the morning that the
Birds were not yet stirring. Peggy thought
what fun It would be to wake 'em all up by
dropping a fire-cracker among them, like an
aviator drops bomb But then she reflected
that the fire-cracker might land right in
nest and blow baby birds all to pieces. So,
after all she was glad she didn't have one.
Far I'D the river was the lonesome hill
which the Birds called Bandits Roost. Here
stood the hollow tree in which Blue Jay and
his gang had their refuge when danger
threatened.
The balloon skinned along high above
the hill and Peggy wondered how she
going to get down. She didn't have a para
chute and there seemed no way to stop
her queer airship.
But the Jays knew how to manage it. They
caught hold of the thistledown in their claws
and pulled with all their might. Slowly they
dragged the balloon to earth; anchoring be-
meath a spreading tree. Peggy swung her
trapeze until she could reach wild grape
vine and down this she slid in safety.
Come, see our orchards screamed Blue
Jay, leading the way to a burned-over slope.
Peggy wondered what he could mean. but
followed eagerly among the blackened
stumps. There, isn't that fine job he
cried, pointing to rows OF small green
sprouts arranged in an orderly way amid
the ruins of the fre-wrecked forest.
What are they?" asked Peggy.
"Cherry trees" declared Blue Jay proud
". while the other Jays gtggled at Peggy's
look of surprise. See how vigorous they
husky young trees. We Jays planted every
one of them
How splendid" exclaimed Peggy. Where
did you get the seed?"
CHERRY DltS tnat tne women s canning
army threw over" exulted Blue Jay. I'VE
worked hard for weeks bringing them here
and planting them"
why did you do it?" asked Peggy Won
deringly.
that Jays can be useful citizens when they
want to be. I guess now you'll admit that
we can be crop producers as we'll as de-
stroyers."
II surely will'' agreed Peggy, I guess
into Birdand." All the Jays gave happy
chuckle and hoped about In queer little
dance of joy.
"And that isn't all we've done" continued
Blue Jay, leading her to a part of the hill
too rugged to be used as an orchard. Look
at these nut trees we've planted, hickory.
walnut and beech
wonderful" !" cried Peggy.
"And we've gathered big store of beech
and hazel nuts. too. You can give them to
humans for food They are in our hollow
tree"
OF the Jays flew, SO fast that Peggy had
difficulty following them. When Peggy
reached the hollow tree, she found the Birds
in a council of indignation.
"See what's happened! !" screamed Blue
Jay. Some one has piled up rocks so that
we can't get at our storehouse. call that
mean"
'It surely is" agreed Peggy. "'rll clear
them away for you"
She went vigorously at the rocks and soon
opened hole through them. Reaching in
TO get a grip on a particularly large stone.
her fingers touched piece Of cloth. Inside
the cloth was something hard. Wondering
what 1t could be she drew 1t out. 1t was
| a small bag, heavily loaded. As she lifted
| 1t from the hole, several gold pieces fell
| from hole in the side.
There's the bandits money" cried Blue
| Jay. I'D forgotten all about it,"
I'm the nert chapter Pe00v plans to
recover the stolen money!