Evening star., 1933-01-16

VIII uOt0iuk gain ana may uuCu iosc.
A LII his life Blacky the Crow has
~ taken chances. He wouldn't be
a alive today IL he had not. But
1 \ In taking chances he seldom Is
foolish. He Is too smart for
that. When he takes q chance 1t
usually Is for q purpose that warrants
the risk It was just so now. He had
In very short time become SO weak
that he would freez to death quickly.
That was q certainty. He knew where
he might possibly obtain food, but he
also knew that in getting 1t he would
run a terrible risk. He would have
to take the risk Of being shot.
"Ill take the chance" muttered
Blacky. II would rather be shot than
die Of starvation or freeze to death"
So he headed straight for q certain
farm where he knew many hens were
kept. He knew all about that farm
and those hens. He knew that the
farmer who owned those hens was his
bitter enemy and would have no mercy.
He knew, too that this was partly his
own fault. In the spring he had been
unable to resist temptation and had
stolen several baby chickens and he
knew that the farmer knew 1t. In
fact. more than once the farmer had
tried to shoot him. So he knew that
In visiting that farm now he was tax
ing chance. He was doing 1t with
his eyes wide open as the saying Is.
Now Blacky has sharp eyes and he
can see for a long distance. He could
see that henyard long before he him
self was likely to be seen by watchful
eyes. He dropped down to the top
Of tall tree some distance from that
henyard, but where he could watch 1t.
He chuckled. A man was busy clear
ing a space in that henyard.
I'm in time" muttered Blacky.
These hens haven't been fed yet"
Having cleared q space the farmer
let the hens out Thsn he picked up
pail of corn and began to throw 1t
began to run about as they picked 1t
up. Blacky spread his black wings and
few, but not straight toward that hen
yard. He few so as to circle around
and come up behind some trees at the
rear of 1t. BY the time he reached
these the farmer was on his way to
the barn. OF course Blacky could have
waited until the farmer had disap-
peared In the barn. But to do this
was to run the risk Of having all that
corn picked up by those greedy hens
before he would have a chance to get
any Of it.
So. stopping only long enough to
make sure that that farmer was going
away and thus was back to him. Blacky
silently flew over the hen house and
dropped down in the midst of those
hens. There was O sQuawk of fright
from those nearest him. The farmer
turned to look back, but Blacky had
darted in among those hens where
they were most crowded and the farmer
did not see him. He kept on his way
and disappeared In the barn.
Blacky walked about boldly among
the hens and picked up corn as fast
as he could. Now and then a hen
would peck at him, but for the most
part he was let severely alone. Those
hens were suspicious Of this black
stranger. but they respected that stout
bill Of his and got out of his way. Those
hens were greedy, but Blacky was
greedier. You see his need was greater.
There was the chance that at any min
ute he might be discovered. He must
get all he could while he could. But
with all his haste he did not forget
to keep an eye on that barn door.
The farmer came out and looked
toward the henyard. Then he started
hurriedly for the house. Blacky saw
him and understood.
He has seen me and Is going for
his terrible gum" thought Blacky.