The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-02-04
A MATCH FOR JAY GOULD.
A Marvellous Watermelon Story
by the Hon. Tom Pittman.

SlJteCutS.
Jimmie was always providing around
to find something, and very little escaped
him" he said. 'One night as five OF
his companions were sitting in row on
the old stone fence, Jimmie said, in .
whispered voice Boys, l know where
there is watermelon patch, and think
we can collar Just about twelve Of EN-.
"'Bully!' they oil exclaimed in chorus.
eyes, continued Jimmie, we will
have just two melons apiece. Meet me
here tonight at 7:30 o'clock. I'll take
you to the patch, We'll collar the mel.
ons, and then hide them until the excite
ments all over
"'All right, Jimmie, the boys replied,
and scattered to their respective homes.
"At 7:30 o'clock they met at the rem
devious, and Jimmie took them mile
down the road, through a cornfeld, on
the outer edge of which they came to
the watermelon patch, and it was such
apatch that it made their mouths water.
Jimmie plugged twelve of the finest
melons in the patch, and directed each
of the boys to take two and follow him.
They did so, and he led them to lonely
part of the cornfield, nearer the road,
where they buried the melons.
"'Now,' said Jimmie, 'let's all &c
home and keep mum, for these melons
will soon be missed by the Old farmer,
and he'll kick up row; but, as he'll
find no trace of them, the thingll die
out, and by that time the melons will be
as cold as though they'd been kept on
ice, and then we'll eat 'em. But keep
dark, and nobody'll know that we have
been in the watermelon business
$50 they all went home. But jim
mic went that night to the farmer and
asked him what he thought of his
watermelon patch, and the old farmer
told him that they were getting along
splendidly. Jimmie asked him if he
had dog down there watching the
watermelons. The old farmer said he
he hadn't. Jimmie said he ought
to have n dog, as there were good
many boys who liked watnrmelons.
The farmer said he didn't think they'd
take his melons. Then Jimmie told him
that they had already taken twelve, and
that in the morning he would tell the
farmer who the boys were. Jimmie
then went down to the village and asked
the groceryman if he had any watermel-
ons yet. The groceryman told him he
had not. Jimmie asked him what he'd
give for twelve big ones. The grocery
man told him if they were good big
ones and all ripe he would give So for
them.
"'All right said Jimmie, 'hitch up
and come with me and I'll deliver the
melons.
1.-The groceryman hitched up and
Jimmie directed him where to drive,
and then he jumped over the fence into
the cornfield and told the groceryman
to wait and he would bring the melons.
which it did not take him long to do.
Jimmie took the money and ran home,
and the groceryman drove back, well
satisfied with the bargain.
"Next morning bright and early jim
ME went to the farmer and asked If he
had been down to the watermelon
patch. The farmer said tina. he had,
and had missed exactly twelve of the
fruit, and he told Jimmie that he would
now give him 80 to tell him who took
the melons. Jimmie said he wouldn't
give the boys away, but that if the
farmer would give him $50 he'd tell him
who bought the melons. The farmer
gave Jimmie the $40 and was told that
the village groceryman had the stolen
fruit. Jimmie then ran to the village,
and rushed in the store all out OF
breath and handed the groceryman the
50, and exclaimed:
"'Take it. take it. The farmer has
found out all about it and is coming
down for those melons, and 1 didn't
know they were stolen
"The groceryman stood there, almost
paralyzed, as Jimmie darted behind
some boxes. At that moment the farm
er, with fire in his eyes, entered. Then
there was terrible row. The farmer
threatened to have the grocerymau ar
rested forreceiving stolen property, and
to hush it up the groceryman paid him
800 and gave him back the melons.
Jimmie saw the whole transaction, and
when the money was paid, and
the groceryman was putting the
melons in the farmers wagon, Jimmie
slipped from behind the boxes 0nd out
of the back door, and up the cross road
and ran back to the farmers and reached
there first.
"When the farmer drove up Jimmie
greeted him with smiles, and said he
was glad he'd got his melons back. The
farmer told him he was good, honest
boy, and would become q great man.
Then Jimmie walked to the barn with
the farmer and told him he wanted $50
and four of those melons. The farmer
looked aghast, but it was no use. jim
mic said he had heard the whole trans
action with the groceryman, and If he
didn't get the four melons and the S5O
he would have the farmer arrested for
compromising a felony, and wonld show