The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-23
BURGESS BED-
 TIME STORY
PETER REMAINS BEHIND
By THORNTON W. BURGESS
Watch a Fox, but do not he Filled with faith in what you see.
 -Peter Eahhtf

Peter Rabbit.
 For several days neither Reddy Fox nor Mrs. Reddy was seen from the dear Old Briar-patch. Peter Rabbit grew more and moro suspicious. But he didn't say anything about his sus- picions; he kept them to himself. Every day the baby Chucks and Polly Chuck went out to the patch of sweet clover while Jonnny sat on the door step keeping watch. Every night Mrs. Peter took the baby Rabbit while Peter kept watch. All the time Peter was doing great deal of thinking
 Late one afternoon Mrs. Peter took If Into her head to take the babies over to the patch of sweet clover. Tho Chuck family was already over there Everthing seemed perfectly safe. Johnny Chuck was sitting up on guard on his doorstpep as usual. Peter went as far. as the edge of tho Briar-patch and there stopped. It was betting along toward time for jolly. round. bright Mir. Sun to go to bed behind the Purple Hills. Peter had a feeling that something was go- ing to happen.
 Presently Johnny Chuck began to look very hard off across the Green Meadows, Peter looked in that direc- tion. There was Reddy Fox. He was trotting along and not even looking over toward the Old Briar-patch. He was headed toward the Green Forest. Johnny Chuck gave little sigh of relief. Johnny felt that there was nothing to fear now.
 But a sudden thought popped into Peter Rabbits head. It occurred to Peter that Reddy Fox intended to be seen. It was very queer that Reddy had not been near the Old Brlar- patch when he knew that there were babies therel It was very queer that he should trot past in plain sight without even glance that way.
 Unnoticed Peter slipped back into the dear Old Briar- patch and hurried along one of his private little paths that led straight through 1t to the other side. He did his best not to rustic q leaf. When he reached the other side of the Old Briar-patch he sat up behind tangle of brambles and peeped out. At first everything seemed all right. Peter looked this way and looked that way and looked the other way. He saw nothing of which to be afraid.
 guess, thought F6teF 10 nlu- self. T was too suspicious this time But 1t Is better to be too suspicious of danger than not suspicious enough. Just the same. don't understand why Reddy Fox and Mrs. Reddy have kept away from here so long"
 It was just then that Peter thought he saw something move close to the edge of the Old Briar-patch and near its upper end. Some bushes were in his way. Peter changed his position so that he might see better. Then his heart gave great jump. Flat tened down In the grass and creeping slowly and. oh, 90 carefullyl around the end of tho Briar-patch was Mrs. Reddy Peter understood instantly. He know that Reddy Fox had shown himself knowing that Johnny Chuck would keep his eyes on him until he was out of sight. That would give Mrs. Ready . chance to creep around from the ether side of the dear old Briar-pasch and by a sudden rush get between the Old Briar-patoh and tho patch of clover where the baby Chucks and baby Rabbits wsrs hay ing such . good time. Instantly Peter dumped. He thumped with all his might. It was a loud thump. He thumped again. He knew that Mrs. Peter would know what those thumps meant He knew that she would know that they meant danger. Copyright, 1922. by T. W. Burgress) The next story: The Disapppint- ment of Mrs. Reddy."