Evening star., 1921-08-05
LTTL.E.Sto,RlEs !.
6BEDTlnE
Reddy Fox Tries an Old Trick
7 sY rHoRNToN ". BURGESS.

Beware of tricky people: they
Cannot be trusted night or Day;
Peter Rabbit.
Reddy Fox was mad. He was mao
clear through. Yes. sir. he was for
fact. You see. he had been sure, Just
as sure as that he was alive, that ne
would catch Peter Rabbit. and Peter
had escaped. Peter had reached an
old hollow log on the edge OF the
swamp Just in the very nick OF time.
Reddy had forgotten all about that
hollow log. Had he remembered 1t ne
might have run just wee bit faster
and that would have been enough to
have caught Peter. You see, Reddy
Knew that Peter had been running
lust as fast as he possibly could.
So this is what made Reddy mad
clear through He wasn't mad with
Peter: he was mad with himself. He
had been sure that there WASH
single place of safety anywhere in
that swamp for Peter. and so he had
felt that Peter was just as good as
caught. And now Peter was safe. and
an because he. Reddy, had forgotten
that old log. Reddy ground his teeth
in anger, but he took care to do 1t SO
that Peter shouldn't hear him..
v
through which Peter had escaped. but
his nose was about all he could get
in; his head was too big. peter.
said Reddy, you are great runner.
Reddy's voice was smooth and pleas
ant. To have heard him you would
he was and how angry inside.
sYes. indeed. Peter, you are great
runner. Yon surprised me. You did.
indeed. believe you could beat me
m another race. You did this time,
and / believe you could DO 1t again.
race when you have got your breath?
To beat me twice would be something
to boast about in the Green Forest
and on the Green Meadows. 1 tell
you what. Peter, I'll give you just the
same start of me you had before. You
Ill tell everybody that you are
better runner than !. What do you
say?',
Now. Reddy had said all this in the
friendliest voice imaginable. Peter
inside the hollow log, painting for
breath. grinned as he listened. He
must think I have grown simple
minded il he has the least idea that
he can get me out with any such
talk as that" thought Peter. Aloud
he said. mo. thank you, Reddy. I'm
satisfied to have won one race. and
it will take me the rest of the morn
ing- to get my breath. Just tell the
folks. that beat you this time. Some
other day, perhaps. 1 will do it
again."
Reddy drew back his lips in an
ugly snarl, but he turned his head so
that Peter couldn't see. Just as you
say. Peter" said he. and his voice was
smooth and friendly. 'It is getting
late and l must be getting back to
the Old Pasture. SO long. Peter. un-
til next time. I promised Mrs. Reddy
that I would be back early. and 1
must hurry
with this Reddy turned and trotted
away toward the Green Meadows,
which he would have to cross to
reach the Old Pasture. Peter crept
to the opening in the end of the old
log to watch him. He could see Red
dy for quite a distance, and not once
did Reddy look back. He trotted
straight along as if he had no
thought of anything but getting
home, as he had said. Finally he
behind some tall ferns on
the very edge of the swamp.
Once behind those ferns Reddy ran
swiftly, but hot toward the Old Pas
ture. Instead he made wide circle
= as to come in back of that old log.
As he approached 1t he moved as eau
as only Fox can. Finally
he crept almost on his stomach until
he reached hiding place among
sone ferns from which he could
watch that old log. Then he lay
down, grinning wickedly. He was
trying an old trick that had caught
him many dinner. s
Copyright, 1921, by 7. W. Burgess.)