New Britain herald., 1928-12-20

Buster Bear didn't put his foot down where he had expected to. You see. just as he was going to take step his ears caught a sound back of him, and instantly he turned to look in that direction and to sniff the air It had sounded to him as if ] stick had snapped. but it wouldn't have been surprising if that had been true, for the wind was blowing and storm was coming up. Buster stood up and looked and listened. r. vas difficult to hear much, for the branches of the trees were thrash ing together more or less. You see, the wind was steadily increasing
 For several minutes, Buster stood there without motion. From a short distance away he looked like a black stump. Then he caught sight of q white spot moving and he knew it at once for the tail of Deer. Tt must be that that Deer stepped on a stick and broke it, thought Buster. q am glad 1t was only Deer l
 
 hunter coming back. My. how the wind does blow. There is going to . be a storm and guess I had better get home. That cave is nice and dry , and doon't feel like getting wet to- night"
 Buster half turned. as if to con- tlnue on his way, when there came an extra hard puff of wind and dead limb was snapped off high above Busters head. Down it came and fell just where Buster would have been had he taken one more step. When it hit the ground, a most startling thing occurred. It seemed to Buster that something jumped . right out of the ground at him and two great jaws came together with horrid snap. Never had Buster . been more frightened. He didn't know what to make of it at all. < Now, you know and I know just what had happened. Tha fallen limb had sprung the steel trap that had , been set on Busters trail to catch II. Had not the wind broken off that branch just when it did, and had not that branch fallen just where it did, that jumping terror would have caught Buster by his right foreleg and I doubt very much if Buster would have been able to get away. As if was. he simply turned and took to his heels. He had seen all he wanted to see of that part of the Great Mountain. T. gave him a dreadful feeling of uncertainty. How could he know when 1t was safe and when it was not safe to take a step.
 That was q trap set specially for me- thought Buster. "Yes, sir. that vas trap set specially for me. guess this IS no longer a place for me to hang round. l guess the soon- CT l leave this side of the Great Mountain and get back 10 the Green Forest on the other side. here no one ever tries to trap me or hunt me. the better off 1 shall be. I sup pose this all comes of those two pigs that I stole. wasn't hunted be- fore then. but now l don't know which way 10 turn and feel perfect . ly safe. ] am likely to walk into one . of those things anywhere or at any time. I guess I won't go back to my new home after all Let it rain. 4 little wetting won't hurt me l have not grown fat since I left home over in the Green Forest. and that's what I left for-to get fat. I'll just {. go back there and do the best can. II doesn't look very promising any ] where, but I'll just have to sleep without warm blanket of fat"
 So. without even another glance toward either of the traps, Bust T shuffied off through the woods, and he w2s headed back toward his be. loved Green Forest on the other side Of the Great Mountain.
 Copyright 1928. by T. W. ELrgess)