Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-28

OF course uou DON'T Aims!e
asreed.
s1e feared that Cufiy Bear might be
IN soae sort OF trouble.
Nimble looked al about Tor help
But there wasn't sign OF anybody
stirring anywhere. All tho noun
tain people seemed TO have sought
shelter from the storm.
At last. however, Peter Ming came
sneaking up from the spring. lie
had set out 10 follow Broad Brook
all the way up TO its beginning. on
hunt for meadow mice. And when
he set out TO do thing, he always
finished II, no matter what the wea-
ther might be.
You're just the person ] want TO
see" Nimble cried. "Will you do
me favors' .raz
Now, Peter Mink never did any,
body favor il he could help it. So
he promptly said, "No"
Wont you go inside this cave
for me and see what's happened TO
Cuffy Bear?" Nimble implored him.
He went inside the cave. PROM
ised to wait for him here. And he
has been gone for hours
II won't go into that cave for
anybody" Peter Mink declared.
How do ] know you're not trying
TO play a trick on me? | don't sec
any bear tracks in the snow"
"Of course YOU don'tw Nimble
agreed. "All this snow has fallen
since Cufy crawled into the cave"
"Why don't you go inside your
self" Peter Mink inquired with
something very like sneer.
I'm too tall" said Nimblc. Be
sides. don't like caves. | keep out
OF them" N -r.
$50 do Iv' Peter Mink declared
though everybody knew that he went
evcrywhere-evcn under the ice
along Broad brook and Swift river.
Pc3rwlt,pble didn't know what to
do He felt mat he ought to go for
help, somewhere. But he had
promised Cuffy Bear to wait for
him. E
Then all at once an idea came to
him. Why not send Peter Mink for
help?
won't you please go down to
Cedar swamp and ask Fatty Coon
to come up here:" Nimble begged
Peter.
Il can't" Peter answered. II
must go home now" And every
body knew that Peter Mink had no
home at all He was the vagabond
OF the woods.
Nimble saw then ,that it was use
less to look for help from him. And
after Peter Mink had gone his surly
way, Nimble still fingered there. He
was hungry. So he began to paw
the snow away here and there, to
uncover the ground growths. And
lust as he was nibbling beside a
bush somebody said. Don't step
on mel"
1T was Mr.. Grouse, half buried
in the snow.
Il wondered why you we're wait
ing here so long" Mr.. Grouse told
Nimble. "When / heard you talk
ing to that rascal, Peter Mink,
knew the reason. But didn't dare
speak while he was about"
"Are you going to spend the night
here!" Niu1ble asked him.
"Yesp said Mr.. Grouse. II shall
be snug and warm after the snow
covers me-"
"Well, your head won't be cover
ed for ssne time" Nimble told him.
/ Are you willing to Keep an eye out
cEA Cuffy Bear? I'm going down
t% Cedar Swamp to get help. And
Cuffy Bear might come out Of the
cave while Pm gone"
I'D be glad to watch for you,"
Mr.. Grouse replied, "but it wouldn't |
be any use"
"Why not?', Ninble asked him.
Don't you think we're going to see
Cuffy Bear again?"
"Oh. we'll see him. Mr.. Grouse
answered. But it won't be till to-
wards spring. For there's no doubt
that Cuffy has fallen into his win
ter's sleep"
And then Nimble exclaimed that
Cuify Bear had yawned as he turned
away to enter the cave. He hadn't
even begged pardon, nor covered his
mouth with paw.
mo doubt he was very, very
sleepy" said Mr.. Grouse.
(Copyright, ls92.3