Evening star., 1938-04-13

-ctleI NhDDll,
DETER RABBIT was in a brown
study. Do you know what brown
study is? 1t is being in deep thought
Why 1t is called brown study in
stead of some other color I do not
know Indeed, do not know why
1t should be colored at all. Anyway,
Peter was deep in thought. Blacky
the Crow had dropped a hint. He
had said that he had unsuccessfuly
hunted for the nest of Mrs Quack
the Mallard Duck. Peter had sup
posed that by this time the Quacks
were far far away on their usual
nesting ground. but this couldn't be
If Blacky really had been looking for
their nest. Blacky is too smart to
waste time looking for anything that
there is no possibility Of finding.
Peter knew that the Quacks we're
not living in or around the Smiling
Pool They might be somewhere
along the Big River, but he doubted
this. Possibly they had found some
hidden pond not too far away as
Peter had known their cousins, the
Black Ducks, to do Then into his
head popped the memory of a pond
in the Green Forest, the pond of
Paddy the Beaver. The first chance
Peter got he slipped away and headed
for the Green Forest.
He made his way straight TO the
Laughing Brook. He knew that If
he followed that up 1t would lead to
the pond of Paddy the Beaver, for it
was by building dam across the
Laughing Brook that Paddy had made
that pond. So Peter hoped along on
the bank of the Laughing Brook.
sometimes on one bank and sometimes
on the other. He didn't hurry Once
as he stopped beside little pool he
saw something floating on the water.
He looked sharply at it. It was
feather. 1t was small, pretty, gray
feather, a silvery gray. Peter had
seen them in the Smiling Pool when
Mr., Quack had been visiting there.
Peter wondered more than ever.
AS he approached the pond of Paddy
the Beaver he moved quietly and
carefully, keeping under cover as
much as he could. He wanted to see |
without being seen. Eagerly he looked
all over the pond. He vas disap-
pointed. Not Duck was to be seen. |
For long time he sat still waiting |
and watching Once he Jaw on the
smooth surface of the water the silvely
hines that only some one swimming
could make. Eagerly he followed hose
lines with his eyes only to fird the
brown head of Paddy the Bes yer
moving through the water as he swan |
toward his house
Peter moved around the pond until
he came to the dam. So far lie had |
found nothing to suggest that Mr.. and |
Mrs. Quack were anywhere in the
neighborhood. He hoped on the dam
and started to cross it. Half way
across he stopped to stare down at
the edge of the water. There, washed |
against the dam, were several small |
feathers, silvery-gray feathers Hast
lily he once more looked over the sur
face Of the pond. No one was to be |
seen but Paddy. who was swimming in |
Peters direction.
He climbed out on the dam near
Peter. Hello, Peter Rabbit. What
brings you over here?" said Paddy.
rs he here?" asked Peter eagerly |
Paddy looked perplexed. rs vino
here?" he asked
The owner of these feathers, Mr..
Quack," replied Peter,
II he is he is keeping himself out |
OF sight. don't see him anywhere"
was Paddy's reply.
Because" said Peter, " he is here,
Mrs Quack is here, too.'
You don't say" epued Paddy.
What If they are here?"
Then they are here!" cried Peter
excitedly.
Il didn't say they Are, but If they
are, what of it? What business is it |
of yours?" retorted Paddy.
Peter looked as If he felt q little
foolish. I suspect he did. 1T isn't
any Of my business" he admitted |
frankly. II supposed they had gone
North but now I suspect that they
haven't. I'm just interested. You
know they are old friends of mine.
Do you know where they are, Paucy?"
NO." replied Paddy, and added, Il
wouldn't tell you if cid"
Copyright. 1881