Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-23
SANDMAN STORY.
By Mrs. +. A. Walker.
Copvriybt 1913 by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate. New York City.
BILLY DUCKS WITS.


The farmer went TO town one day
and before he left the barnyard he called
all the hens and chickens, and all the
ducks and geese and locked them in
the poultry house So Mr. Fox could
not carry any of them of.
That is, the Farmer thought he had
all of his pou try safe from MIR. Fox,
but Billv duck did not want to be locked
up so early in the day. so when the
others ran as fast as their legs would
carry them to answer the call OF the
master. Billy Duck ran behind clump
of thick bushes and hid.
Look at those silly things running,
said Billy Duck "The master ism GO
ing to feed them at all. They have had
their dinner, but the foolish creatures
don't know it.
81 know what the master Is going
to do, he is going to lock them all III,
but he won't get me for | am going 10
stay out this fine day, no dark, old poui-
try house for Billy Duck.
Billy Duck waited until the master
was well out of sight and then he came
out from his hiding place.
"Quack, quack, he wen' right by
the poultry house.
In to the window flew all the hens
that could reach the rail 1t ls Billy
Duck" they gasped; che must have
hidden from the master.
Old Grandmother Duck looked out
through n tinv crack III the side nf the
house at Billy Duck. Where were you
when the master ealled2 she inquired
"Oh, hid, " said Billy Duck. :. WASH
going to he shut up IN that Old house
this fine day.
The master took Rover with hun,
Il 1t al
MIR Fox calls YOU may wish YOU had
NOT hidden from the master You had
better get under the barn and stay there
oh who is afraid? said Billy Duck.
nufTing up as big as he could, and struttine
around My, what a Ing yard tins i
when YOU are the on y one III IL he
ouacked. But his quack Of delight ended
in one of fright for under the gate he
saw the nose of Mr. Fox, and III another
minute Mr.. Fox was standing III the
yard looking around
He soon saw Billy Duck and started
toward him. Billy tapped his wings
and ran behind big bright milk can
standing beside the fence
The pan was 50 new and bright thai
when Mr.. Fox came along he saw HIM
self in it and stopped second 70 ad-
m,irc himself, for he Was very VAN
fe low.
Billy Ducks wits came to his rescue
night then ". Fox, y, nf ,,,. aa,d' and eSl y
course. cannot escape. but don
mind taking your picture hrstf u yoh
would like to have II taken
How can YOU take my picture
asked Mr. Fox, IN no hurry 70 carry
Rilly off for he felt perfectly sure he
/ could not escape hnn
/ Don't YOU see yourself III tins cam
! era?" asked Billy Duck.
Il thought this was milk pan
said Mr. Fox.
1T does look like one. sad Billy.
| but If YOU will wait minute VIII
] take your picture.
4 We'll be quick about 1t, SAID Mr..
Fox coming closer.
OH YOU have TO stand farther away
i Don't YOU sec how dreadful you look
when YOU get SO close. said Billy
! Now stand 7 rfectly still, Mr. foN,
and smile, and III / minute when | count
three | will take your picture.
+ Mr.. Fox's idea IF smile was 10 open
/ wide his mouth and show his big teeth,
and when he did so Billy Duck almost
fell over backward with fright.
"Oh. Mr. Fox, he gasped, 4 want
to take picture OF your face. not Sohr
! ...outh. Close it and look pleasant, You
need not smile
There that IS better, now stand still.
/ Onel Two Three
Wait a minute. Mr.. Fox, said Billy
as Mr. Fox started toward him Nonldn I
you ike picture Of your beautiful,
bushy, long tail, too.
Yes. would but | cannot wait all
day, said Mr. Fox Hurry up
1t won take minute, said Billy
Just stand sideways and look over
your shoulder and hold up Your tail
turn your body little further around,
! please. now. very still Onet Two Three
Mr. Fox turned with a jerk for the
..three" sounded far away. and. II was.
for under the barn went Billy Duck
through such u small space that Mr.
Fox, try as he would, could not get At
him
lie began to scratch and dig, hut be-
fore he got very far the master and Rover
drove into the ward and Mr. Fox ran.