Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-31
DAO A1VAL - OANA1O ". Burgess.
Whitehall leases Flip.
Pray heed this warning II you please:
It very seldom pays to tease


-Twitchtaii the Squirrel
Since the arrival of Flip the Terrier
at the ranch where Twitchtail the gray
Ground Squirrel lived, the latter had
had lively time of IT. Flip had taken
great interest in Twitchtail. altogether
too much interest from Twitchtail's
point of view. You see, Flip had dis
covered that Twitchtail was not q tree
Squirrel, like his cousin Happy Jack
the Gray Squirrel back home. and, while
he could climb. he preferred to spend
most of his time on the ground, and
never did climb high in a tree. This
just suited Flip, and every day he
started out early in the morning intent
on catching Twitchtail.
III get him yet" Flip would NUT
ter. Il never did have half a chance
with Happy Jack, but this fellow is diff
ferent. One of these days I'll surprise
him away from his home and then I'll
get him"
Now, at first Twitchtail resented all
these attentions from the lively little
black-and-white Dog. Just as II we
didn't have. troubles enough without
this fellow about" he grumbled to Mrs
Twitchtail. I'VE did have some peace
before he arrived, but now he Is for
ever popping out when least expect
him. Our other enemies go on about
their business when they fail to catch
us, but this fellow hangs about just
as If he had nothing else to do. It
makes me nervous. Yes, sir, 1t does
So"
But after a while Twitchtail grew
accustomed to having Flip come DASH
ing after him. and rather enjoyed the
excitement of race with him. He had
great respect for Flip's running ability
and took the greatest care not to be
surprised far from a hole into which
he could pop, or rock or tree he could
climb. once he reached a place of
safety, he would scold Flip in true
Squirrel fashion and tell him just what
he thought Perhaps 1t was just as
well that Flip didn't understand what
he said.
It always tickled him to see how ex-
cited Flip became, and after a while
he began teasing Flip Just to get him
excited. From the big rock beside his
home he could see Flip when the latter
was some distance away. Twitchtail
would chuckle when he saw the little
Dog coming. Then he would go half
way to meet Flip. always taking care
the safety of his hole before Flip could
catch him. He would sit up, back to
Flip. and pretend to be very busy
looking In every direction but toward
Flip.
You may be sure, however. that there
wasn't a teeny. weeny second that he
didn't know exactly where Flip was.
Often Flip would not see him. Then
Twitchtail would whistle a sharp. clear
note. Flip would stop to look in the
direction Of that whistle and Twitchtail
would witch his tail, which was all
that was necessary to catch Flip's
sharp eyes. With a. yelp Flip would
dash at him and Twitchtail would start
for home, always arriving Just about
one good Jump ahead Of Flip. It was
great fun. It was the most exciting
kind of a race. Mrs. Twitchtail didn't
like it at all and said so. but Twitchtail
merely laughed at her and kept
right on.
Day by day he grew holder and went
out Of his way to tease Flip by sud-
denly popping out right in front of
him. However, he did this only when
he had q safe retreat close at hand. 1t
got so that Flip hardly even ventured
out without having Twitchtan appear
Unexpectedly.
Cant catch mel" Twitchtail would
bark in the most provoking manner,
and Flip was just foolish enough to try.
It got so that Twitchtail grew care
less. He forgot to watch for other enc
mics, his natural enemies who would
have liked nothing better than to catch