The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-06

There is but one ripe melon in the
whole lot It is this one. You may
send it over to me-
why" replied the grocer, as he
should most assuredly take this one
for green melon. In fact, wasn't
going to offer it for SALE,
well, you send it right over It's
man who can't see it shouldn't be in
the business
Would you mind telling me how
you do it 2"
range over the m elon and see if it's
proportions are correct. Second, look
for a sort of swell in the middle, with
the ends finishing off not too sharply.
If it is a striped melon, see that the
stripes are not broken in spots here
and there. If plain green, don't get
the color too vivid. Observe these
directions. sir, and then let intuition
do the rest
And are you sure it's a ripe one? %
asked the grocer. with something of
awe in his tones and looks. .
80 sure that 1 would wager my life
against its price. Send it over soon, as
I want to prepare it for the refrigera-
tor"
The preparations consisted in intro
ducing the point of funnel and pour
ing a pint of claret for the melon to
slowly absorb. Then it was placed in
the refrigerator between two pieces of
ice and, giving it a few loving pats,
Mr. Bowser stood back and beamed up
on it and said:
1.-THE deed is done. We have here the
finest and probably the only ripe water
melon in the city. It will take about
six hours for it to cool off and thor
oughly absorb the claret. At dinner
tomorrow evening will treat you to
such a feast as the gods of Olympia
used to indulge in
During the rest of the evening he
was serene, complacent. and self-satis-
hed-so much SO that when the cat de-
cided to take chances and come pur-
ring around he was not rebuffed. On
the contrary, the animal received pat
on the back and a few encouraging
words to make the future look brighter.
At bedtime Mr.. Bowser went down to
the refrigerator to see that his water
melon hadn't got away. He found it
all there, and he smiled paternalN. In
his dreams that night he saw melons
all around him. They were growing on
vines, trees and bushes. They were
rolling up hill, down hill and clinging
to the caves of houses like icicleS. Half
a dozen got on to his stomach and be-
gan to cavort around, and the horse
play awoke him.
He Immediately thought of the fruit
downstairs, and he slid out of bed and
slipped down and lighted the gas for
a look. No robber had despoiled him,
nor had the refrigerator blown up.
The talk next morning between his
awak and leaving for the office
was all about that melon. He turned
it over in its icy bed before depart
ing, and threatened the cook with dire
pains and penalties if she even gave
it a motherly pat during the day. At
noon he telephoned home to have it
quietly turned on its left side, and at
3 p. m. he telephoned again to have
it turned back. He was home fifteen
minutes ahead of time. and as he en-
tered the hall his first question was
about the melon. He had staked his
all, and he had right to be solicitous.
By and by the fatal moment APP
preached. The melon was lifted from
the box as carefully as if it had been
an infant with a case of collie. The
cook wanted to take it to the kitchen
to cut it, but she was given a look that
stabbed her to the heart. The fruit
was placed on the dining table. Mr..
Bowser armed himself with the carv-
ing knife, and amidst breathles ssh
1ence he
No! He toyed. He dallied. He
made the blissful certainty last two
or three minutes, while Mrs. Bowser
held her breath, the cat felt her head
whirling like top, and the cook
knew that she was living a month for
every minute. Then the knife de-
scended and was lost sight of in the
melon, and a moment later the two
halves of the fruit lay exposed to the
gaze of the world. The claret had