Imperial Valley press., 1931-05-23

SHOuSn. he was sitting on sort
OF little platform, half way up the
tree, where a flat branch was fast
TO the trunk. And near this plat
form was a hole where the city
squirrel lived when he wasn't in
the top of the tree. The whole tree
was hollow. Mr. Scamper had
thought that on his city visit Mr..
Longears could live in the hollow
tree.
All would have been lovely if a
boy, who fooled the squirrel with
empty peanut shells, had not rolled
a stone against the hole at the bot
tom of the hollow tree, shutting in
Uncle Wiggily Then the rabbit had
climbed up inside the tree and now
was safe, but high up on the out
side with his squirrel friend.
How am I ever going to get
down?" asked Uncle Wiggily.
Time enough for that" chartered
the squirrel gentleman. You are
safe for a while and we can look
down and see how surprised that
boy will be when he can't find you. -
And indeed two boys, who were
now rolling away the stone from the
hole at the foot of the hollow tree.
were much surprised when. having
done this hard work, they reached
in, expecting to catch Uncle Wig
gily, and couldn't get him.
Hes gonel' cried the boy who
had fooled the squirrel with empty
peanut shells.
Gone where?" asked the second
boy.
How should I know?" said the
first He isn't in this hollow
tree. And see that squirrel up there
laughing at usl" he went on. For
Mr.. Scamper from his perch high
up on the tree was looking down at
the two boys. frisking his tail and
grinning.
Yes, there's a squirrel and also
a rabbit" cried the second boy
"A rabbit" shouted his chum.
Are you sure?"
Sure, Look for yourselfi"
so it isl" agreed the first boy.
Why, say, this must be the rabbit
I'm after. He must have climbed up
inside the tree and come out of a
hole higher UP and now he's with
the squirrel that I fooled on the
peanuts shells. Oh, this is going to
be goodl'
What is going to be good?" asked
the second boy.
The way I'm going to climb up
there and get the rabbit that I
thought ran away" was the an
swer. Watch mel"
do you mean?" asked the first
boy, that you are going to climb
up this tree and try to catch that
rabbit?"
Sure! Why not?"
You can't" was the answer
When you start to climb up from
down here on the ground the rab-
bit will start climbing from where
he is and he'll get to the top OF
the tree and you don't dare go
there"
Sure I dare go to the top of the
treei" boasted the first boy. But
won't have to. Rabbits can't
climb trees like squirrels"
But this one must have climbed
or how did he get UP there?"
yes, he climbed up inside this
soft, hollow tree, but he can't climb
up the hard outside as he'll have
to do now. He'll have to stay right
where he is and I can climb up
and get him. Maybe that squirrel
can get away but the rabbit can't. "
The boy began to climb up.
DO you see what's going TO hap
pen?' asked Uncle Wiggily to Mr.
Scamper. And did you hear what
he said?"
yes" replied the squirrel. Il
did. He's a troublesome boy. I'm
afraid, fooling me with empty nut
shells and the like Of that. Yes,
here he comes nowl" ne whispered
leaning over to look down.
"Oh, what shall I do?" cried Mr..
Longears. II can't climb up any
| further to get away from him, and
| if I go down inside the hollow tree
again the other boy will be waiting
there to catch me. What shall
do?"
Don't worry. Maybe something
will happen whispered Mr.. Scam
per. The boy climbed higher and
higher and what next occurred will
be told in the story after this. II
will be called Uncle Wiggily's Queer
Airplane." And I do hope the chew
ing CUR Jn't bite the holes out OF
the Swls cheese so there will be
none for the little mouse to jump
| throlloh when be Is chasing the cat