The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-18
TO BE CONTINUED.
ONE ON THE CROWS.
A Maine Bartender Feeds Puddle Rails to
a Fenthered Band of Thieves.

HAMPDEN. Me. June 15-Blackheart cher
ries from Now Jersey orchards selling in
Bangor markets for 20 cents a pound before
the first red fruit rpens on the trees Of Maine
hut later on when the suns Of June warm tho
trees Maine makes w for all delays by turning
out some OF the sweetest and best cherries in
the world 1t Is then struggle between the
crows and the orchard owners to SEQ which
can get the larger share. As the crows have
populous nursery Of unflodGed offspring to
feed at that time they usually come out ahead.
This year the IIampdcn cherry growers have
been beaten by the crows at every turn. The
Tim Ryan place. which in former seasons has
marketed tons OF the fruit. has been raided
early and late some OF the crows rOOsting in
the trees in order to be on hand for an early
breakfast.
Jim M"loon, n night bartender at Bangor
hotel, who sleeps in the Ryan house. had noted
the ways Of the crows fora few days and finally
made up his mind to beat them at their own
game. On shelf back Of the bar over which
he presided was a large jar with a wide mouth.
Inside were small globes Of ripe fruit, such as
are put In the glasses after the cocktails have
been MIXED and poured out. Meloon believed
that while crows were no doubt familiar with
ordinary cherries holding no more eusva
fluids than dilute malic acids. they were wholly
innocent Of the cocktail cherries which como
in Jars. To prove his theory he took few
samples OF the prepared fruit when he
went homo on" morning and hung them by
strings among the leafy branches OF Ryan's
orchard. A be dropped OF to sleep he heard
tn" carly crows chw INK and quarrelling over
the newly discovered tidbtS, aud chuck led to
himself when he Thought Of the result He
was M earlier than usual that day. Going into
the orchard. he found the EiUund darkcnCd
with crows that sprawlod about tn" roots Of
the trees and cawed in feeble protest At the
mIShap which had Overtakpn them. Instead
Of wringing the n"rkS of the birds h" pluckod
out ali the short feathers on their bodies. leav-
ing no Idumhge except the tail and wings On
his return to his lodging III" following morn
ing Mrs, Ryan met HIM at the door.
'ForGoi $ love, Jim. she cried, will yo he
look To- the blum and see tho white crows
They've bin there this hui day, tryn' to keep
n" black vans awav-may the saints bless
" How did they make out :" asked Mooon
Elegant! .Iist lcGant. Divil n crow hns
there bin III III" orchard all day"
truthful account OF his experiment. explaining
how he md hung up the fruit and how the
crows Were white because they had lost all Of
their body feathers.
What's IN name o. the fruit ye give Ill
ON ?" she asked.
Puddle balls"
An phwats fuddle balls
Som"thlpg they put in cocktails so the
Mrs Ryan looked at M"loOu'S red eyes and
slecpv count"nance and replied;
Faith, yr,d better be takiu' the fuddlc balls
ycrsclf 'sted NY wastin' them on poor crows.
sure. the last cherry was took n week ago.
Though NeloOns remedy was applied too
late to save iyans crOp, the prrscnc" of the
white crows has scarab their black kindred so
badly that the owners Of cornhclds are pro-
foundIy grateful to the bartender for his
timely aid and Propose to call and SEQ him in a
body the next night they 20 to Bangor