Evening star., 1942-03-10

Bedtime Stories
By THORNTON w. BURGESS.

Buster Bear was feeling lonesome.
The truth is, Buster Bear had felt
lonesome most of the time since
coming down to the Green Forest
from the Great Woods, where he
used to live Up there everybody
knew him and they we're so used to
him that they were not so terribly
afraid of him. They knew that as
long as they kept out of his reach
they had nothing to fear. But 1t
was different with the little people
of the Green Forest-all but Jimmy
Skunk and Prickly Porky the Por-
cupine, who are not afraid of any,
body, and Jumper the Hare, who
had known Buster Bear in the
Great Woods and knew that Buster
never could catch him. But to the
rest of the little people the very
sight of Busters great teeth and
claws sent little cold shivers all
over them, and so they kept as far
away from Buster as they could.
So Buster was feeling rather lone
some as he prowled through the
Green Forest and had almost de-
cided to go back to the Great Woods
from which he had come. Presently
he came to the pile of brush under
which Peter Rabbit had hidden
when he was chased by Reddy Fox,
and as he walked around it found
Reddy hiding. Reddy sprang away
with a frightened yelp and sat down
at a safe distance. Then Buster
Bear found Old Man Coyote hiding,
and Old Man Coyote snarled an
grily as he ran on little way and
sat down to watch. After that the
same thing happened with Granny
Fox. Then, happening to look up,
Buster saw Hooty the Owl keeping
watch from tall pine tree.
Buster knew right away then that
there must be something very spe-
cial about the old brush pile for
Reddy and Granny Fox and Old
Man Coyote and Hooty the Owl to
be so interested in.
There must be something under
it that they are watching for"
thought he. Perhaps if take a
hand and help them they will not
be so afraid of me, but will be more
friendly" So he walked around the
pile of brush. shifting and snuff1ng.
and presently he came to the place
where Peter had crawled under.
Hal" said he. so it's a rabbit
dinner they are waiting for I
wouldn't mind rabbit dinner my
self" Then he began to chuckle
You see, it struck him very funny
to think how four such famous
hunters should be waiting around
for just poor little Peter Rabbit. 1t
would be great fun to play a joke
on them. No one loves a joke bet
ter than Buster Bear. And that
put an idea into Busters head. If
you all will come up close so that
whoever is under here cannot get
away. will pull over that pile of
BRUSH said he, talking to no one
in particular, but loud enough for
all to hear.
Granny Fox looked at Reddy
little doubtfully and came a few
steps nearer. Reddy looked at Old
Man Coyote and came few steps
nearer. Old Man Coyote looked at
Hooty the Owl and came a few
steps nearer. Hooty the Owl looked
at all three and didn't move You
see, being up in tree that way
he didn't need to. Buster Bear
chuckled so that all could hear
him.
IF whoever is under here is smart.
and I guess he is to keep you all
here so long, he is going to get away
when pull this brush pile over
unless you all come closer" said he
Granny Fox looked at Reddy and
came a few steps near. Reddy
looked at Old Man Coyote and
came few steps nearer. Old Man
Coyote looked at Hooty the Owl and
came a few steps near. Hootv the
Owl looked at all three and didn't
move.
The one who is closest Is the
one who will be the most likely to
catch that dinner you all seem to
be waiting for said Buster, and
his eyes twinkled.
Granny Fox looked at Reddy and
then she came up very near. Reddy
looked at Old Man Coyote and
then he came up very near. Old
Man Coyote looked at Hooty the
Owl and then he came up very
near. Hooty the Owl looked at all
three and didn't move 1t certainly
seemed as if poor Peter Rabbit
hadn't a chance in the world.