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Show 1 ji lirrTLi: joe TREATS Tin: vorxoi I o Tij Thornton . Burgess. Have you bounty you can spare? Then with others freely share. Old Mother Nature. Little Joe Otter bad caught and cat-en cat-en three trout and his stomach was Just about full Ho was trying to make up his mind whether or not ho wanted one more when he happened to look over at the young Fox. who had been watching him at play and fishing. The young Fox was watching watch-ing him now. Ho was watching with eyes filled with such a hungry, longing long-ing look that Little Joe suddenly felt rather uncomfortable. "I do believe that youngster is hungry, hun-gry, muttered LUtle Joe to himself. "He looks as if ho envies me every bite I take. I don't suppose the little rascal has ever tasted fish I'm half tempted to catch one for him. It would bo Just as well If he never did learn the taste of fish, for a Fox Is a Pox, ind always will be. If he learns I h- taste of fish and likes It I never will know when he may come snooping snoop-ing around to take one I have left I unguarded for a moment. "Still, It is pretty hard on the little rascal to watch another eating ano j not have a bite himself. There are , plenty of trout in this pool and It will i he no trouble at all to catch another. In fact, St will be fun. I believe I'll treat that youngster to a fat trout and see what he'll do with It " So once more Little Joe- Otter dls-appeared dls-appeared under the water. When he cam a up It was close to where the young Vox was sitting H- laid the fat trout on the bank, but he didn't ay a word. Then he dived into the water and when he came up again it whs where he couldn't be S'-cn b the 1 young Fox. but It was where he could I watch what the young Fox would do. For a long time the young Fox sat right where he was. He would look longingly at the fat trout and then look all" over the little pool for Little Joe Otter. Now and then he would lean forward and sniff Little Joe Otter chuckled. le knew Just what whs going on in the mind of that young Fox. "He wants to take that fish. but he I afraid Ves. sir, he is afraid. ' said Little Joe ?" himself "He Is afraid of me If his father, Reddy Pox w re in his place he would have grabbed that fish the minute my back was turned, trusting to his legs to get away with It, for Roddy knows that I cannot catch him on land. But the youngster dosn't know, and ; he Isn't taking any chances. That - ' m I . I He laid the fat trout on the bank, but he didn't say a word. shows that he has real sense. If he I always follows that rule he'll make a place for himself in the Great World." By and b tho young Fox stole 8)1 f. w steps nearer to that fat trout. He looked craftily this way, that way. cv ry way. H- saw nothing of Little Joe Otter. Then he walked around that fat trout. At last ho reache.i lout and touched it with his little black nose It w IS new food to him. bur his nose told hfm that It was good food. He longd to .grab that fish and run. But every time he was tempted to do this he thought of Little Joe Otter and hesitated. He knew that ln-a fight he would be n match for Little Joe Otter He had seen how swlftlj i Little Joe could move in the water land he was afraid that he might be eble to move just as quickly on lanu So after a long sniff he backed away land sat down to watch that fish with i longing eyes. He didn't intend to let his appetite get him into trouble,! wherein he was wiser than many pco-, pie I know. ! At last ho made up his mind that Little Jon had gone away. Probably he had had fish enough and didn't Want that one. The young Fox dragged drag-ged It out of sight under the ferns. Then he picked it up and ran with It. My. how ho did run' When he 'was far enough away to feel safe he late It . My. huw good It tasted! And all the time he never once guessed that I Little Joe had left that trout especial-! especial-! ly for him. (Copyright. 1922. by T. W. Burgess) The next story: 'The Young Fox iTalks to Himself " |