The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-24
LITTLE STORIES FOR
BEDTIME
Too tate Reddy Fox Hears.

Drummer the Woodpecker was pound.
ing out his danger signal SO last ana
40 hard that his red head flew back ana
forth almost too fast to see. Rat-a-tat.
sat "a tat tat, beat Drummer on the old
tree trunk on the edge OF the Green
Forest. When he stopped for breath he
looked down 6nto the scowling race OF
Farmer Browns boy, who was hiding
behind the old tree trunk,
scowl--not a bit. And he didn't like
the looks OF the gun which Farmer
Browns boy had. He knew that Farm
er Browns boy was hiding there 10
shoot Reddy Fox, but Drummer was
Browns boy might guess what all that
drumming meant--that II was a warn
ing to Reddy Fox. And IL Farmer
Browns boy did guess that, why--why--
anyway on the other side of the tree
there was a better, place to drum. SO
Drummer the Woodpecker crept around
10 the other side of the gee and In a
minute was drumming harder than ever.
Whenever he stopped for breath he
see II Reddy Fox had heard his warn
hut II Reddy had heard he hadn't
Needed Just to show off before all the
little meadow and forest people, Reddy
almost reached him. Then with a
saucy flirt of his tail Reddy Yox had
started TO show how fast he can run,
and that is very fast indeed. II made
Bowser the Hound seem very slow. as.
with his nose to the ground, he came
racing after Reddy, making a. tremen-
dous noise with his great voice.
Now Reddy Fox had grown as care.
ies= as he had grown bold. Instead Of
looking sharply ahead he looked this
way and that way to see who was
watching and admiring him. So he took
OF where he was going and started
straight for the old tree trvnk on which
Drummer the Woodpecker was pounding
out his warning of danger.
Now Reddy Fox has sharp eyes and
very quick ears. MY my. indeed he
hast But just now Reddy was as deaf
as II he had cotton stuffed in his ears.
He was chuckling to himself to think
how he was going 70, fool Bowser the
think him. and then, all OF sudden,
he heard the at-a-tat-tat-a-tat-tnt OF
Drummer the Woodpecker, and knew
that that meant danger"
For lust little wee second IL seemed
10 Reddy Fox that his heart stopped
beating. He couldn't stop running. for
he had let Bowser the Hound get too
close for that. Reddys sharp eyes saw
Drummer the Woodpecker near the top
OF the old tree trunk, and that Drum
mer seemed to be looking down below.
Reddy Fox gave one quick look at the
foot of the old tree trunk end saw a
gun pointed at him and behind the gun
the freckled face of Farmer Browns
how Reddy Fox gave little gasp OF
fright and turned so suddenly that he
almost fell fiat. Then he began TO run
as never In his life had he run before
II seemed as II his flying feet hardly
touched the grass, His eyes were pop
ping out with fright as with every jump
he tried to run just a wee bit faster.
Bang! Bangi Two flashes of fire and
two puffs OF smoke Harted from behind
The old tree trunk. Drummer the
Woodpecker gave a frightened scream
and flew deep into the Green Forest
Peter Rabbit flattened hmslf under .
friendly bramble bush. Johnny Chuck
dove head first down his doorway.
Reddy Fox gave a yelp, shrill little
yeip of pain, and suddenly began 70 &c
lame. But Farmer Browns boy didn,i
know that. He thought he had missed
and he growled to himself:
'T'il get that fox yet for stealing my
pet chicken."
Next story; Granny Fox Takes care
OF Reddy.