The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-30
Little Stories For Bedtime
Sammy Jay Does Some Shrewd
 Guessing
By rHoRNToN W. BURGESS

GAMMY JAY is a queer fellow. Al
 " though he is scamp himself,
 and dearly loves to make trouble for his neighbors, he is always ready to take their part when others make trou
 ble for them. Many are the times he has given them warning of danger. This is one reason they are quite will ing to overlook his own shortcomings. So, though in many ways he is no bet
 ter than Reddy Fox, he dearly loves to upset Reddy's plans and is very apt to rejoice when Reddy gets into trou ble. Of course, being right there, he saw all that happened when Reddy ran against the old barrel at the top of the hill and sent it rolling down with Jim my Skunk inside. He had been quite as much surprised as Reddy had to find that there was some one inside and he had followed Reddy to see who it was. So, of course, he had seen what happened to Reddy when Jimmy Skunk faced him.
 Now, instead of being sorry for Reddy, he had openly rejoiced. It seems to be just that way with a great many people They like to see others, who are considered very smart, get into trouble. So Sammy had laughed and made fun of poor Reddy. In the first place it was very exciting, and Sammy dearly loves excitement. And then, 1t would make such a splendid story tD tell, and no one likes to carry tales more than does Sammy Jay. He watch ed Reddy sneak away to the Green Forest and Jimmy Skunk slowly walk away in a very dignified manner. Then Sammy flew back to the Old Orchard to spread the news among the little people there. It wasn't until he reach ed the Old Orchard that he remember ed Peter Rabbit. Instead of flying about telling every one what had hap pened to Jimmy Skunk and Reddy Fox he found a comfortable perch in an old apple tree and, was strangely si- lent The fact is, Sammy Jay was do ing some hard thinking. Like Reddy Fox, he had suddenly begun to wonder. It had suddenly popped into that shrewd little head of his. that it was very strange how suddenly Peter Rab- bit had disappeared.
 "Of course thought Sammy, Jim my Skunk was sure that Reddy rolled that barrel down hill purposely, and I don't wonder that he did think sos But I saw it all and I know that itEwas all an accident, so far as Reddy wasI concerned. I didn't know that Jimmy was in that barrel and Reddy couldn't t. have known it because he didn't come up here until after I did,. But Peter Rabbit may have known. Why did Pc ter run so that he would have to jump over that barrel when he could have run right past itz Of course he may have thought if he could make Reddy run right slam bang against that bar rel it would stop Reddy long enough to give him chance to get away. That would have been pretty smart of Peter, and quite like him. But somehow, I have a feeling that he knew all the time that Jimmy Skunk was taking nap inside and that something was bound to happen if he was disturbed. The more I think of it the more l be- lieve that Peter did know and that he planned the whole thing If he did it was one of the smartest tricks l ever heard of didn't think Peter had it in him. It was rather hard on Jimmy | Skunk, but it got rid of Reddy Fox for a while. He won't dare show his face around here for sometime. That means that Peter will have one less worry on his mind. Hello Here | comes Jimmy Skunk. I'll ask him few questions"
 Jimmy came ambling along in his usual lazy manner. He had quite re- covered his good nature. He felt that be was more than even with Reddy Fox and, as he was none the worsei for his wild ride in the barrel, he had i quite forgotten that he had lost his temper.
 Hello, Jimmy. Have you seen Pc. ter Rabbit this morning." cried Sam my Jay.
 Jimmy looked up and grinned. Yes" said he. II saw him up here early this Why?"
 Did he see you go into that old | barrel?" persisted Sammy.
 T don't know" confessed Jimmy. He may have. What have you got on | your mind, Sammy Jay?"
 Nothing much, only Reddy Fox was chasing him when he ran against that barrel and sent you rolling down the hill" replied Sammy. l
 Jimmy pricked up his ears. Then Hyde thinks, and I could not leave