Evening star., 1933-03-14
Jimmy and His Business.
Attend to business that's your own.
And that Of others leave alone.
Jimmy Skunk

JIMMY SKUNK was enjoying
situation that filled Peter Rabbit
with uncertainty and Reddy Fox
~ with anger, and also uncertainty.
It was the uncertainty that made
Reddy angry. You see Peter had been
surprised by Reddy in place where
there was no safe retreat, and 1t had
looked for a moment or two as II Peter
never again would see the dear Old
hunting for beetles. Peters wits worked
fast. He saw a chance and took it. He
lodged behind Jimmy Skunk SO un-
expectedly that Reddy Fox had hard
work not to run smack into Jimmy.
Reddy had backed away hastily, but
Peter had moved in a little nearer to
Jimmy.
Jimmy had been startled by Reddy's
rush and had raised his danger signal,
which. as you know, Is his big tail, and
Reddy had needed it. Peter had asked
Jimmy for protection and Reddy had
demanded that Jimmy should not inter-
fere, saying that Peter belonged to him.
Jimmy wouldn't allow that Peter was
Reddy's until Reddy had caught him
and told Reddy If he really thought
Peter was his to come and take him. It
was right there that the uncertainty
entered for both Peter and Reddy.
Would Jimmy allow Reddy to take
him? That was what Peter wanted to
know.
Would Jimmy use that dreadful scent
gun of his if he should go close enough
to seize Peter? That was what Reddy
wanted to know.
Meanwhile Jimmy Skunk went on
about his business just as If no one
else was about. He continued to pull
opjoc ond ,,io nf ho in, rI1aSt
of fat beetles. Now and then he caught
one and stopped to eat it. All the time
as he moved this way and that Peter
Rabbit moved with him, always keeping
on the opposite side from Reddy Fox.
If Reddy tried to circle around, Peter
circled also. The only way that Reddy
could reach Peter would be by jumping
over Jimmy Skunk and this he hesi-
tated to do. You see Jimmy might mis-
being attacked. If he did-well, Reddy
shuddered at the thought Of what might
happen.
Several times Reddy almost made up
his mind to take the chance, but each
time as he prepared to make the leap it
seemed to him that the tip of Jinlmy's
tail fell little farther forward, and
this was a bad sign. So Reddy contin-
ued to hesitate and to grow angrier.
If only he knew what Jimmy Skunk
would do. If Jimmy would do nothing
there was nothing in the world to pre-
vent catching Peter with ease. The
whole amount of it was Reddy didn't
dare find out what Jimmy would do.
AS for Peter. he had fully made up
his mind what he would do. That
scent of Jimmy's was dreadful, but not
SO dreadful as those sharp teeth of
Reddy's. So if Reddy should jump for
him he would crowd right up to Jimmy
Skunk. That is what he would do.
Meanwhile Jimmy went on about his
business apparently paying no atten-
tion to the others. However, inside he
was chuckling. Peter had risen higher
THE red bully is afraid" thought
Jimmy Yes, sir, he is afraid to take
a chance. He ought to know me well
enough by this time to know that I
never use my little scent gun unless
I think it Is necessary. am armed for
defense, not for offense. Here he is
with one of the best chances he ever
had to catch Peter Rabbit, and he is
afraid to take it. Peter deserves to
escape and I hope he will.
Jimmy glanced around without ap-
pearing to do so. Then he changed his
direction so that he was headed toward
q distant bramble- -tangle. He contin-
ued to hunt for beetles. pulling over
sticks, chips and small stones and SEEM
ingly intent on nothing else. He won
dered if Peter had discovered that they
we're drawing near that bramble-t -tangle.
He said nothing, just kept on about his
business .''....-... '.,.-.
Suddenly there was a rush of flying
feet. He looked up to see white tail
bobbing up and down and growing
smaller. 1t disappeared in that bram-
BILE tangle just as a pair of jaws snapped
almost on it. Reddy Fox turned and
snarled at Jimmy Skunk you've
cheated me out of good dinner" he
snarled.
Nothing Of the sort!" retorted