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Show The Sandman Story FOR TONIGHT THE LATE GUEST It was nearly the end of the season; In fact. It was for some of the wood folk, and ss yet Mr. Fox had not given his yearly dinner party. ATI the others had snd were now w.ilt-Ing w.ilt-Ing for an invitation from Mr. Fox be. fore the around was covered with snow and food source. But wise Mr. $ Fox was waiting with a purpose, in view, and It was that Mr. Hear should b-rln hla winter nap before he gave his winter party. "He always eats so much." said Mr. Fox. whe.i thinking it ovr, "that a body never has enough left even to mske a soup, let alone a pUkM-up dinner." And so while the wood folks waited for the Invitations to he sent out, Mr. Fox waited for Mr. Hear to go to aleep, and every day he walked past Mr. Bear's house to listen for his loud, deep breath- I Ing Of course, Mr. Fox Intended to leave an Invitation under Mr. Bear's door snd pretend he did not know he had gone to sleep, snd so when he did nt last hear Mr. Bear taking long, deep breaths he hurried horn e a ndggt tha Invitations nd Slipped one under Mr. Bear's door, as well ss under the doors of all the j other wood folks. The nls;ht of the dinner party everybody every-body had arrived when Mr. Fox, looking very Innocent, said: "Mr. Bear Is 'ate; I hope he haa not fallen asleep. I know I am a little late In giving my party, but I wss trying to get some very nice honey especially for Mr. Bear. I hope, after all my trouble, he la not KPlng to ml U." Mr. Coon said he passed Mr. Bear a house that afternoon and heartl sounds that made him think he had begun his steep for the winter. Mr. 8-iulrrel said he also ran past Mr. Bear's that very night on hla way to the party and he waa sure Mr. Bear was sound asleep from the noise he was mak- ing. Mr. Rabbit said he, too, wss sure thete waa no use waiting any longer for Mr. Bear, for he had noticed that all of the windows were closed In Mr. Bear's house aa he passed. Mr. Fox coughed to hide a smile which ho could not hold back .and said: "Too had. too bad; and I had planned so on giving him a nice treat. Well, we may as well begin, then, for T am afraid he has fallen asleep and won't come." I Mr. Foz hsd a big armchair which he said waa to have, been for Mr. Pear, but 1 as he was not there to use It, being the next animal in siie, he guessed he better sit In It himself. It was the plsn he bad sll the time, for Mr. Fox waa very fond of comfort and planned 4o eat a great deal that night, as h ehad prepared things he especially liked for the party. Hut he had hardly seated himself when the door opened and In came Mr. Bear, sll out of breath from runnlnr. He was smiling and In his paw he held the Invitation thst Mr. Fox had put under his door. 'I almost missed It," he said, when he got his breath, hut I woke up snd the moonlight shone on the floor Juat where the Invitation was and I Jumped right up. "Of course. I knew what It wsa for I was trying my best to go to sleep for rood until you gave this partv. Mr. Fox. I knew you would be real disappointed If I did Mr. Fox. of course, aald that wss true, and had to give up hla chair to the late guest. Mr. Fear did not waste time or words He began to eat aa soon as he was seated, bectnnlng with the honey, which he finished In short order. There was not enough left for even soun. J t as Mr. Fox had thought, snd as he lighted the guests out that night he looked up at the moon and shook his raw. "You are the meddling old fellow." he aald. "that anoiled my party." And I old Mr. Moon Man smiled back Just ss If he knew it snd enjoyed the Joke he had played on Mr. Fox. Copyright-. IS;. ty the VcCMure Xrwspaper Hyndtrste. Nrv Yerk City. |