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Show i BEDTIME STORIES BY HOWARD R. GARIS When L'ncle Wiggily came back to his hollow etump bungalow one day, after having hopped all ovei the field I land woods without having had an ad-j I venture, he heard voices talking on ( I the shady front porch. "Hum .suz dud!" thought the bunny; I rabbit gentleman to himself, "I hope that Isn't either the rip or Skec waiting wait-ing for me." He looked around for a dace to hide. In case It might prove to be either oi I the bad chaps, and, Just then a voice : said. There he is now!" ' Oh ho! I should know that voice! It Is that of Mrs. Longtall, the mouse; lady." laughed the bunny 1 She will not try to nibble any of my souse. How-are How-are you, Mrs. Longtall" he called as he hopped on. "Oh, I'm all right," answered the mouse lady who had come to pay' Nurso Jane a visit. 'But Squcakle I Eckle. the cousin mouse. Is not at alii well." 'Whatfl the trouble? the bunny un-l cle wanted to know. "I think she has a llttlo choe fever," said Mrs. Longtall. "I Just left her a moment, while she Is asleep, to run over here and have a little chat With Nurse Jane. I thought perhaps she might have something thai Squcakle-Eekle has been asking for the last few days." "What has Squcakle been teasing for''" asked Uncle Wiggily. "Busters," answered Mrs, Longtall "Busters!" cried the rabbit gentleman. gentle-man. "What are busters?" "That's Just what wc don't know." said Nurse Jane. ' If wo did we'd gei some for the little cousin mouse, and stop her fretting. But Mrs. Longtall doesn't know what they are, nor do I and we can t get any for Squeakie-Bekle Squeakie-Bekle and she is Just fretting ncr tail off about those busters." "Busters, eh! mused L'ncle wiggily. "Suppose I walk back with you.' ho .said t.i Mrs Longtall "I'll sec Squeakle-IBekie, and get her to tell mo what busters are." "I wish you would," 8.ild the mouse lady. BUl when t nele Wiggley had kissed the little cousin mouse who was Just beginning to get over tho cheese rev- 1 er, she asked him right away quick: "Have you any busters " What are busters, my dear?" as!-ed as!-ed the bunny rabbit. i "Oh, they're Just busters," answer- ed Squeakle, "and I want some ter-rible ter-rible very much!" "But what are thev like?" asked L'ncle Wiggily. "They are big and round and have nothing inside, ' explained Squeakle "She must mean cream puffs'" said Uncle Wiggily, "or circus balloons "j "I've tried both those." said Mrs . Longtall, "and she says neither one arc busters." No," said Squeakle-Eckle, "thr-m isn't busters. Buster. s' well, they've got another name hut I call 'em busters 'cause they bust and tickle your nose." "I wonder If she means my glasses0" said L'ncle Wiggily "They tickle my nose, sometimes, and when I let them fall they break, or "bust" as Squcakle would say." "Glasses aren't busters," declared tho cousin mouse "Well take me and show me where they are. ' Invited t nele Wiggily. So he and Squeakle took hold of paws and the little mouse girl led the bunny-out bunny-out to the kitchen She pointed to a cake of soap. 'Ttiit' navl nf n loi;fnr " shr said "A cake of soap Is part of a buster," spoke the bunny slowly "What's the' other part, Squeakle?" "Some water In a bowl." answered tho cousin mouse. ' Oh, maybe she wants to see me wash the dishes and drop one and break, or bust it Is that It?" cried Mrs. Longtall. "I might find an old cracked dish to bust for you, Squeakle Squeak-le " "No, T don't want that," said the mousle girl. "I want pretty busters that sail up and have colors In m. there's the other part' she cried, and she pointed to something on the mantle over the stove. "Why, that's an old clav pipe," said Uncle Wiggily "Do you want me to bust that for you?" "No! No' Don't bust It' Just blow busters with it'" cried Sqneakie-Eekle 'Make some soap suds In the bowl ana blow busters with the pipe That's what I want. Hurray! I'o found tho busters'" "Hurrav' That's what I say. too'" laughed Uncle Iggily "I see what she means." he went on to Mrs. Long-tail Long-tail She wants to blow soap bubbles and have them hurst, or 'bust' as she calls It, and they do tickle your nose When they crack open." I "Yep! Soap bubbles Is busters'" 'laughed Squeakle. Rokle. "I rouldn't think of the right name." And when U'ncle 'Wiggily made suds for her, tho cousin mouse blew soap bubbles and I was happy; and soon all well again. P.ut It took quite a while to find what : sho wanted, didn't It? I So if the inside pocket of tho over-I over-I coat doesn't try' to get inside the vest and hide away from the bunch of keys, I 11 tell you next about Undo Wiggily up a tree. |