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Show CHILDREN'S STORY By Dy THORNTON W. BURGESS T L'STElt IS 10 All bad had no luck at all In either his fishing or bis wishing. wish-ing. He rather felt that this was a contrary day, which means a day In which everything goes just the wrong way. It didn't occur to him that the contrariness, was in him, which it was. If lie hadn't persisted iu keeping on fishing when it was perfectly clear that there were no fish iu the little pools of the Laughing Brook, he might have found something else to eat and had a pleasant, comfortable morning instead of one disappointment after another which had neither lilled his Btoniach nor improved his temper. So .he had stopped to rest and grumble to his heart's content. Itiglit Into the midst of his grumbling grum-bling had broken angry screams, and he had looked up to see King Eagle trying to make Plunger the Fish Hawk give up a big, fat fish. Of course, they were up In the air, and they were almost al-most over Duster's head, lie forgot his own troubles and disappointments in the excitement of watching 1'lunger try to get away from King Eagle. At first he had hoped that Hunger would get away from King Eagle. Then as he saw how nearly over him they were he wished that Plunger would drop that fish. If he should drop that fish perhaps, he, Buster, might dine on fish after all. And such a fish as it was! The very sight of it was enough to make Buster's mouth water. And just then Buster's wish came true. You know wishes do come true once In a while. Buster's did then. He saw King Eagle rush at Plunger and heard him scream something in a very angry sounding voice. And right then Plunger let go of that fish. It ss' Slapl That Big, Fat Fish, Dropped . From High Up in the Air, Had Hit Buster Full in the Face. surprised Buster so to have his wish come true that he just stared open-mouthed open-mouthed at that shining silver thing dropping out of the sky straight toward to-ward Mm. He saw King Eagle suddenly sud-denly turn in the air and shoot down after the fish. He saw Mrs. Plunger sweep across In front of King Eagle and bother him for just an instant. It was just enough to prevent King Eagle catching that fish before it reached the ground. Open-eyed and open-mouthed Buster stared up at the stri'nge thing happening happen-ing right above him. He was so interested inter-ested that his wits almost forgot to work. That fish was dropping right straight at him, yet he made no move to get out of the way. You see. he was so interested in watching King Eagle and wondering If he would be able to catch that fish that until It was too late he didn't once think of what might happen to him if King Eagle didn't catch that fish. He had just taken it for granted that King Eagle would catch it. When he saw that King Eagle wasn't going to be suddenly realized that while he wanted that fish very much indeed he didn't want it in just the way he was likely to get It. He started to jump to one side, hut he was not quick enough. Slap! That big. fat fish, dropped from high up in the air, had bit Buster full in the face. In fact, it almost knocked him over. For Just one minute he couldn't see anything, lie heard the swish and rustle of King Eagle's great wings as he spread them and brought lumself up short to keep from striking Buster Bear, for King Eagle knew better than to run the risk of a blow from one of Buster's great paws. When Buster got his wits together and cou'.d see straight he saw that ttie fish had fallen a little to one side after aft-er hitting him, and he also saw that King Eagle was hovering over it and just reaching down to seize it in his great claws. Now Buster may be clumsy looking, but I know of no pne who can move more quickly than he can. He moved quickly now. "That's my fish !" he roared, rushing rush-ing at King Eagle so suddenly that King Eagle didn't have time to get the fish, and was thankful to get out of Buster's reach. "it isn't your fish at all; It's mine!" screamed King Eagle, hovering over Buster Bear just out of reach, aud all the time threatening to claw Buster's Bus-ter's eyes out. "No such tiling !" roared Buster, slowly turning so as always to face King Eagle. "I wished for that fish and my wish has come true. I wished that Plunger would drop it, and he did!" "He did because I made him!" screamed King Eagle. And this was the beginning of a dreadful quarrel over something that didn't belong to either of them. Wasn't it foolish? (. 1D32. by T. W. Burccss. ) W.U Service. |