The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-08-02
HN MINUTES
WIN THf
Short Story
Writers
Red Ripe Cherries

Well. SHOW me again
You draw the gun up TO your fac
so. You shut your left eye-so. Ya
aeep the other open and squint alon
| the barrel Then you put your for,
finger around the trigger and pul
It's just as easy as an old shoe
But il viii be loaded
With powder ana dried peas. 10
don't want 10 xiii the robins. but Jus
70 scare them off They'll strip th
cherry trees il we don't do something
II was Burt Traynor and his siste
Madge. To the right Of the hous
and nearer the highway were four bii
| cherry trees, and their burdens q
ripe red fruit were ready for picking
II seemed thar every robin for tel
miles around knew it, and was ther,
70 claim hisshaer vcbgkdiYbgka
to claim his share in advance FRED
was to be absent that afternoon. whilt
the motner was already away The
cook had tried waving her apron ana
calling out. Shoo,9 but the birds had
not been dismayed. II was to be seen
how they would behave when the
hard dried peas came rattling through
the twigs and leaves The gun was
loaded and left at the back door. ANA
Fred left last caution as be de
parted
You remember what told you.
Flre 70 hit the top OF a tree. il wHl
be the report that viii frighten them
away Don't drop the gun and fail
over il when you tire
Half an hour later the cook was
sent out to see IL the robins had gath
cred after their last scare. She came
back to report:
They are back BIZ the hundreds.
Miss. and there's something besides
On my soul I believe I saw a tramp
pulling himself up into one OF the
trees!n
I don't believe tramp would stop
for cherries, was the doubling reply
Of the girl
Aye. but they would. They just
dotes on EN-. After they have filled
their stomachs they filled their pock.
cts, and there's half a bushel of the
ripest cherries in the coun-
try gone. You'll have to fire the gun
Miss TrayRor. even if it blows up ano
kills as both
Miss Aladge walked out with pale
lace and trembling limbs bur she was
somewhat relieved when close scru-
iny of the trees failed to disclose a |
ramp. The cook must have seen |
he family cat proving about. The |
run must be fired, however. A lusty |
'obin wants score of cherries for |
i meal
You first lift 1t up, said the cook
Now. then take aim, as they calls it. " |
AT what?
At the sky or anything else except I
ne that's right. Let it wobble all /
,ver. The more it wobbles the more |
he birds will be frightened Now |
our finger on the trigger
And now what2"
Shut your eyes, ard pull +"
The directions We're obeyed, and /
'alf a hundred robbins took to sud
len flight calling as they went Thir-
y seconds later there came human
ELL, and man dropped from one of n
he trees 10 the grass.
'Oh. heavens, but live shot a mani"
ried Miss Madge, as she tossed the
un away and began to wiring her
ands
only a tramp, darlint-only a
ramp. and they don't count. They
re here to be shot whenever one
cells like it. He's a-kicking around
o lively that he can't be dead Sit
own on the steps and I'll take the
x and advance upon the enemy If
e surrenders, all right. if he don't,
hen"
A minute later her voice was heard
alling and her hand was seen beck
ming. and as the perturbed girl slow
7 advanced a young man struggled
Ito a sitting position. and forcing a
lther silly smile to his face he said
Il beg pardon for putting YOU 20
lis trouble"
"Oh. it's no trouble at an to shoot
tramp answered the cook as she
TODD the AK up against the tree.
"But I'm nOt--not exactly a tramp,
splied the trespasser. looking at the
rl as he said so.
But you are beledins You are
ounded
Yes. I think a 'ew OF the dried
aas hit me In the shoulder. but | am
ore scared than hurt lf--if / could
II my coat Off and the hurt bound
o."
And then he tainted dead away
he cook ran for water and the girl
God wringing her hands and weep
z. Then a passing traveller who
.w that something was wrong left
S vehicle 20 investigate. and It was
: who helped the cook to get the
ouuded man into the house and into
a and lelephoned for the doctor.
I'm, Who shot him5T asked the
ictor when he had arrived and laid
e shoulder bare
I'll did" was the so5blng reply
Buckshot2"
"N0-dried peas
Wei. he won't die, but y0uT have
m on your hands for some time %
me What did you take him lor2'
The cook said he was q tramp, but
iidn't mean 20 hit him. ] Just aimed
ywhere"
That's right Always aim any old
iere and you are bound 20 bring
wn something Hell have his eyes
en- in ten minutes and want 70 talk.
here's a bike out In front. ard Il
ist belong % him. He's no tramp"
And are We 10 90 TO 5ail for shoot
Z him when we didn't mean to-
kei the cook.