The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-01-31


bent double, having reached the age
of go years. For 40 years he had titled
a garden bordering on the port OF
CostilIa.
That year he had raised some inn
mense pumpkins, as large as the
decorative globes on the monumental
bridge. II was about the middle OF
the month Of June, and they were al
ready taking ON the color of the
orange within and without Uncle
Busc Dbeatns knew them perfectly
by their form, by their degree of ma
turity and by name-especially the 40
largest and most conspicuous. They
were already saying Cook mel" and
the old man passed his days admiring
them with tenderness, and exclaim-
ing, sadly, ALAS! soon we must
part!"
Finally he resolved upon the sacri-
flee. Marking the choicest fruit OF
those precious vines, he pronounced
the terrible sentence, Tomorrow l
shall cut these 40 and take them 10
the market at Cadiz. Happy shall he
be who eats theml" lie walked
homeward with slow pace, and
passed the night with the anxious
feeling OF father who is To give his
daughter in marriage on the follow
ing day. my poor pumpkins!" he
sighed many times, without being
able 10 compose himself to sleep.
Then he reflected, "But what else is
TO be done? For this purpose ] have
raised them. They will yield me at
least S15."
Imagine, then, his astonishment and
his fury the following morning, on
going TO his garden, when he found
that during the night he had been
robbed OF his forty pumpkins! Like
Shnkespenre's jew, he reached the
loftiest paroxysm OF tragedy, repeat
ing franticaly those terrible words
OF Shylock. "Oh, il l find him! IL i
find him"
When he began 10 reflect more de-
hberately he reasoned that his be-
loved Jewels could not be In Rota,
where il would be impossible to sell
them without risk OF recognition. and
where. Also, the price OF pumpkins
was very low.
81 see 1t clearly; they are in Cadiz!"
he concluded. THE rascnlly scoun-
drels must have stolen them last
night about nine or ten o'clock, and
escaped with them at 10 on the
freight-boat. / shall leave for Cadiz
this morning on the hour-boat. and IL
will be wonder IL i do not trap the
sneak-thief and recover the children
OF my tom"
Having said this he remained for
about 20 minutes in the place OF the
catastrophe, as though he were ca
ressing the mutilated pumpkin vines,
or counting the pumpkins that re-
NAMED, or holding n sort OF inquest
for some trial which was about TO
begin. At about eight he left for
the wharf.
He had determined TO leave for the
market at Cadiz in the hour-boat, the
humble sail-boat which starts every
morning at nine carrying passengers,
just as the freight-boat sails every
night at IL carrying fruit and yege-
tables. The first is called the hour
boat, because in that space of time,
and even i'm 40 minutes, when the wind
il favorable, IL crosses the three
leagues Of water which stretch be-
tween the ancient village OF the duke
Of ARGOS and the ancient city OF Her
cules.
1t was half-past ten Of that day
when Uncle Buscobeatas stopped in
front of n vegetable stand in the
Cadiz market, and exclaimed TO the
weary policeman who accompanied
him, There are my pumpkins! Ar
rest that mani" pointing out the re-
taller.
arrest mel" exclaimed the ac-
cused. full of surprise and anger.
These are my pumpkins; ! bought
them"
"You can tell that to the mayor!"
replied Uncle Buscobeatas.
IL say mol"
81 say yesl"
"You vagabond!"
"You thief"
"You must speak TO each other
with more decency. Men should not
be lacking in this respect" said the
policeman, with much calmness, Civ
ing each punch in the ribs.
Meanwhile n large crowd had as
sembled, and among them came the
magistrate in charge OF the market
police-the market inspector, as he
IL officially called. The policeman re-
signed the jurisdiction to his superior
and informed thnt distinguished au-
thority OF all that had taken place.
From whom did you buy these
pumpkins?" his majesty asked, in an
august manner.
From Uncle Fulano, resident OF
Rota," he replied.
Every likelyl" ironically growled
Uncle Buscobeatas. "ITe is quite equal
10 such things. When his own gar