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Show An Old Friend Comes Along By THORNTON' W. BURGESS In time of danger and fear It helps to have an old friend near. -Peter Rabbit Poor Peter Rabbit! He was all wound up in an old fish net whkn had been spread over the strawberry bed in Farmer Brown's garden to keep tho birds from stealing the berries. It was hi3 own fault. Tea, Sir. it was his own fault. He had started across that strawberry bed without first carefully looking to see where he was putting his feet. Xow he was a prisoner, ami helpless. He WAS so wound up in that net that he couldn't even kick Never In all his life had he been so frightened. You see he couldn't understand un-derstand at all what had happened to him. How slowly the minutes passed! Ka h one seemed like an hour. Once In awhile Peter would try to struggle, but soon gave it up. There was nothing noth-ing to do but to lie there and wonder won-der what would happen when day- " light came. Ho wondered who would r be first to find him. Perhaps he ' wouldn't be found at all. Perhaps he I would lie thore and just starve to death, My, my, my. Peter's thoughts were anything but pleasant ones! By and by Peter heard a rustling of the leaves in the strawberry bed. He knew somebody was coming. Was it an enemy or a friend? He had no "Wlmt are you doing here, Peter Rabbit?" he dc-uianded i , means of knowing. If It should prove to be an enemy ho couldn't even fight ' for his life. Nearer and nearer sound- ' ed tho rustling of the leaves. Peter j hold his breath. "Well, well, well'" exekcimod a ' funnv volco. "Well well, well, what is thin?" Peter knew that voice. A little sigh I of thankfulness escaped from him It Is only mo,' said he in a weak voice. "As I live, It Is Petor Rabbit!" ox-j ox-j claimed tho voice. It was the voloo of old Mr. Toad. Ho had started I across that strawberry bod on his way ! to another part of the garden, Ho ! had known all about that not, Bolnft so email he could travel under it. It j hadn't bothered him at all. "What j aro you doing hero, Petor Rabbit?" he demandod. "Nothing," replied Peter, and this was quite true. Ho couldn't do anything. any-thing. "I-I'm in trouble, Mr. Toad." j Old Mr. Toad looked him over. 'Huh!" BKOlalmod Old Mr. Toad. "I SHOULD say you aro in trouble. It Is possible that vou might be in more , trouble, but I dont know how. How , Baassl did it happen?" bbbbbI "I don't know," replied Peter. "I Lbbbbb started to go across here and then BBBBBa this dreadful thing wrapped itself ' SIB around me?" bbbbbsi "What were you dolnj in this gar Lbbbbs den?" demanded Old Mr. Toad. H I Peter didn't answer. A guilty feel- bbel' lng made him want to avoid answer- Etft ling that question. So ho askod a W '-' ' question of his own. "Can you heli line out of this. Mr. Toad?" t RfjM Old Man Toad shook his head. "No." . .' i said he. "I would If I could, but 1 iEV"" I can't. There isn't a thing that I car Bfey do. I don't see but what you wih bbb , have to lie there until Farmer Brown JBi or farmer Brown Boy find you. You Bg:. ought to have known better than to bb come into this garden. You had nc lg- ' business here, and you know It." BB ' "Yes, I know it," replied Peter sad- : ly. Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Whatever B; Is going to become of me?" H& I (.Copyright, 1922. by T. W. Burgess .. Mr The next story: "A Dreadful Night" BgV' '. |