Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-10
The Daily Story
Red Ripe Cherries

tou smut your lett eye-sO. You keep tn
other open and sauInt along the barrel
Then you put your forennger around tn,
trigger and pull. It's as easy as an old
shoe"
But II will be loaded"
with powder and dried peas You
don't want to kill the robins. but Just to
scare them or. They'll strip tho cherry
trees, and their burdens of ripe, sweet
fruit
II was Burt Traynor and his sister
| Madge, To the right OF the house and
nearer the highway were four big cherry
| trees and their burdens OF ripe red fruit
were ready for picking. II seemed that
every robin for ten miles around knew II,
and was there to claim his share in ad-
vance Fred was to be absent that after
noon, while the cook had tried waving her
apron and calling out, "shoop' but the
birds had not been dsmayed. II was to be
hard dried peas came rattling through the
twigs and leaves. The gun was loaded
and left at the back door, and Fred left
last caution as he departed
You remember what 1 told you. Fire
to hit the top OF a tree IL will be the
report that will frighten them away
Don't drop the gun and fall over Il when
you fire."
Half an hour later the cook was sent
out to see II the robins had gathered
after their last scare. She came back to
report:
They are back by the hundreds, Miss.
and there's something besides. on my
soul, believe l saw a tramp pulling
himself UP into one of the treesr'
II don't believe tramp would stop
for cherries" was the doubling reply Of
the girl.
AYE, but they would. They just dotes
on 'em. After they have filled their
stomachs they fill their pockets, and
there's half a bushel Of the reddest, ripest
cherries in the country gone You'll have
to fire that gun, Miss Traynor, even II |
II blows UP and kills us BOTH
Miss Madge walked out with pale face |
and trembling limbs, but she was some- |
what relieved when close scrutiny OF |
the trees failed to disclose a tramp. The |
cook must have seen the family cat |
however. lusty robin wants score Of |
cherries for a meal
You first lift 1t up said the cook.
Now then. take aim. as they call it."
"At what?"
AT the sky or anything else except
me- That's right. Let 1t wobble all
over. The more 1t wobbles the more the
ger on the trigger"
And now what?"
"Shut your eyes and pull"
The directions were obeyed, and half
a hundred robins took to sudden fight.
calling out as they went. Thirty seconds
later there came a human yell, and
man dropped from one of the trees in
the grass.
"Oh, Heavens, but I've shot a mani
cried Miss Madge as she tossed tho gun
away and began TO wiring her hands.
"only a tramp dnrlint-only tramp,
and they don't count. They are here to
DC shot whenever one feels like II. He's
l-kicling around SO lively that he can't
be dead. Sit down on the steps and I'll
AXE the ak and advance upon the enemy
4 he surrenders. all right; IL he don't.
hen"
A minute later her voice was heard
,alling and her hand was seen beckon-
ng, and, as the perturbed girl slowly
advanced. a young man struggled into a
lifting position, and, forcing rather silly
mile to his face. he said:
IT beg pardon for putting you to this
rouble."
"oh. It's no trouble at all to shoot a
ramp, answered the cook as she stood
he ak up against the tree.
but I'm not-not exactly a tramp"
eplied the trespasser, looking at the girl
9 he said SO.
But you are bleeding-you are
'oundedl"
Yes. I think a few of the dried peas i!
1t me in the shoulder, but I am more ,,
cared than hurt. Tiff I could yet my
oat off and the hurt bound up
And then he tainted dead away. The
ook ran for water and the girl stood
ringing her hands and weeping. Then
passing traveller who saw that some .
hing was wrong left his vehicle to in l
estigate, and it was he who helped the =
ooh to get the wounded man into the
ouse and into bed and telephoned for
le doctor.
''Uml Who shot hlm?" asked the doc Il
'r when he had arrived and laid tho
BOULDER bare I
III dldr' was the sobbing reply. y
"Buckshot?"
''No-dried peas" +
We'll he won't die. but you'll have n
m on your hands for some time to 8
me. What did you take him for?" II
THE cook said he was a tramp, but 8
didn't mean to hit him. just aimed Il
lywhere." Il
That's right. Always aim any old "a
here and you are bound to bring down ii
He'll have his eyes open in
n minutes and want to talk. There's n
bike out IN front. and It must belong
him. He's no tramp" -
And are We to go to Jail for shoot
g him when we didn't mean tor" asked h
Q cook.
You'll have to wait and hear what a
says II
Il was three long hours before Fred le
turned. Meanwhile. the cook prepared II
ID carried In to the victim three kinds
soup and some tea and toast, and to
cry time she went in she had an apol- te
y for the shooting AS soon as the tr
oclS passed off the young man laughed hi
his weakness and wanted to dress and
on his way, but the cook sternly for Of
de. A
What kind OF a family do you take be
forf'' she demanded with a sniff 81
d a snort 'Do you think We take a te
for tramp and shoot him
t Of a tree with dried peas and then IA
nd him along to die on the roadP m
ull lie right there and have the hest ~
tho house for many a day" M
[ was when Fred finally appeared that -
ss Madge ran to him with the exclama- he
n; N5
oh. Fred. you hadn't been gone an
ur when ! shot a manp' SL
The devil you did! Where's the ha
rpseg =
Upstairs, It isn't corpse yet. Cook Il
- Il can talk"
red went up to the room Of the N
uuded man and was uoua an ko,,- =.