Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-25


lis quite as true of men as bears
Buster Bear.
Who hit Buster Bear? Buster has
tried his best to find out, but to this
day it has been a mystery. He has
wondered and wondered about it. and
of 1t gives him an uncomfortable feel
ing. For a while after it happened he
was almost afraid to go out nights.
Yes, sir, he was. He didn't know what
he was afraid of, and that is why he
was afraid. The same thing night
happen over again, and he hadn't any
idea how to guard against it. 1t was
all very, very mysterious. and this
made Buster nervous. For a day or
two he was 80 nervous that he would
jump at the faintest rustic Of leaf
stirred up by dancing Merry Little
Breeze.
The day after he was hit Buster
Bear turned his head to look behind
him SO often that his neck became
lame. Every few minutes around would
go his head with such a suspicious
look in his eyes, as if he expected to
find an enemy right at his heels. OF
course, there never was any one there
1t was relief, yet after while Bus
ter almost wished he would find some
one there. 1t would be great deal
than to feel all the time that there
might be one he couldn't see just be-
hind him.
1t all came about in this way: Just
at dusk that evening Buster Bear had
gone down tothe Laughing Brook for
drink. AS Ne approached a little
pool one of Grandfather Frogs grand
children, lively young frog, who was
somewhat more than half grown, had
dived head first into the water. Bus
ter saw him. In fact, that frog had
jumped from almost under Busters
nose.
Now. Buster Bear has liking for
young frogs. They have furnished him
more than one good dinner. So as
Buster got his drink he kept his eyes
on the spot in the middle of the little
pool where that young frog had STIR
red up the mud at the bottom as he
buried himself in it.
THAT silly young frog is bound to
come out by and by" muttered Bus
ter. For while he'll keep himself
and then he'll think all is safe and
he'll swim up and poke his goggly
lleyes above water for look around
II he sees and hears nothing sus-
picious he'll swim right back here
where he jumped from. AS I have
nothing in particular to do l will Just
wait to receive him. A nice, plump
frog will taste good"
So Buster settled himself comfort
ably with his back to the old stump.
head. and waited. It grew darker and
darker. Buster didn't move. Sudden
ly the fierce hunting, call Of Hooty the
Great Horned Owl rang out from Just
behind him. 1t was so sudden and I'M
expected that it startled Buster SO
that he stirred ever so little and a
tiny twig beneath him snapped. Bus
ter, twitched an ear.
second later something struck
Buster Bear terrible blow on the
back OF his head, something with
sharp points that went through his
skin, tough as it was. With a roar of
pain and rage Buster whirled about
to strike back with his great paws.
There was no one there! He rushed
around behind the old stump. but no
one was to be seen. And what was
still more queer he heard no sound.
He could not understand how any one
could run away without. his hearing
them. But all was as still as before
he had been struck.
1t was mysterious, very mysterious
1t gave Buster most uncomfortable
feeling. He hunted all about, but
his wonderful nose found no scent of
an enemy, his keen ears heard no
sound, and, of course, he saw no one
Fear took possession of Buster Bear
How could he be struck like that with
understand it at all. With a grunt
Buster took to his heels. That was no
place for him. Had it not been that.
his head smarted and ached he might
have thought that he had dreamed all
this. But he knew that it was real
AS he ran he wondered and wondered
who had hit him, and he is still won
dering, for he never has found out.
Copyright, 1920 by T. W. Bursess.)