Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-08-31
mills
DUN Trap

MI. Luke Edgerley was model
farmer. Everything about his estab-
nshment was neat as waxwork-that
Is, II waxwork is neat, as we have al
ways been led to suppose
He prided himself particularly on
his trim fences and his smooth lawns
and fields with not weed to be seen
anywhere. But especially he prided
himself on his cantaloupe garden He
mad laid out the ground with great
care, MANFRED it highly, worked it
deep and mellow, imported the seeds
himself, and planted them with great
care. After the vines were up he
had watched them faithfully, killing
the bugs one by one, which is the
only way, and getting up an hour
earlier than usual every morning with
this especial purpose in view
By and by the melons began to
rlpen and Luke was in high spirits.
He had, indeed, fine lot of them and
1T was perhaps quite excusable in him
to feel proud Of them. Already he
had selected one for the minister, one
for Deacon Smallhead, and one for
Bangs, the new doctor. These were
to be presented when they were fully
ripe, and Luke was continually expa-
tlating upon the gratitude and delight
with which they would be received.
Judge of Luke's dismay when he
found on going out to inspect his
treasures as usual one morning that
the very identical melons he had Sc
lected for the three gentlemen we
have mentioned were missing!
With mad haste he searched the
whole grounds, but the best melons
were nowhere to be found. He COM
PEELED his wife and the two hired men
and his sons, Jack and George, to join
in the search; but it was all of no
avail-the cantaleupes had disappear
ed and refused to be discovered.
Luke decided that he would fix
things for. the thieves. In the first
place he set a couple of steel traps in
the melon patch, and in the next
place he would lie awake that night
and if he heard the least sound any
where he would jump out of bed, seize
his old musket, and pursue the ras-
calls. ts9
But, being rather sleepy man, he
got into such profound nap that he
did not awake until day dawn, and
then when he went to his melons he
found there were three more gone!
And the traps were not sprung, either!
Mr.. Edgerley was in a dreadful
state of mind all day, but when night
came he refused to go to bed. He
was going to sit up and watch his mel
ons. So he crouched in a corner of
the lot behind some currant bushes
| and waited
About ten o'clock he heard a
stealthy footstep. Raising himself on
his elbow he looked around. There
was no moon and the star, were faint
In hazy sky, but still there was
light enough to show him q tall, gaunt
| figure, clad in white, loomed up before
him. In the dim light the figure look
ed systematically tall, and Luke was
a devout believer in ghosts. The sight
of this specter struck terror to his
soul.
The white figure advanced nearer,
with slow, deliberate steps, rs If it
knew there were traps set. BY and
by it stopped down, picked off a melon,
and came straight toward Luke. Ter
ror got the better of our hero. Fling
ing away his musket, he struck a bee
line for the house, right across the
melon vines, all unmindful of the
traps. In an instant he was fast by
one foot, and, not realizing what had
happened and thinking he wan in the
clutch of the ghost, he gave a ire
mendous leap forward, and was
caught by the other foot in the other
trap.
To increase his dismay the specter
was bearing down upon him, with a
huge melon under each arm.
Luke uttered an unearthlT yell
which reached the ears of every
sleeper in the house and caused the
ghost to drop the plumber with wild
scream of alright
Grab her, boys! Grab herr" cried
Luke to the hired men, who had ap
peared on the scene in very scanty
apparel. Don't let her git off,"
But the woman-for it evidently
was woman-leaped through the
currant bushes, screaming at tAG tor
!; of her voice for Luke! Luke!" anG
disappeared in the direction Of the
house.
MY stars!" cried Mr. Edgsrley
that sounded like Sally's voice. You
don't suppose-it can't be-dear me!
1t beats everything!"
Haven't heard you say that you
wife was a sleepwalker?" asked ont
Of the men.
"By Jinks!" cried Mr.. Edgerley
you've hit it, Styles. And she's tn,
thief! Undo my legs! I'm nigh abou
) split in two. It's lucky that nobpd.
with short legs got caught in then
traps. And look here, boys, don't ia.
anything about this. and next weel
we'll have an oyster supper"
Mrs. Edgerley was immensely SUI
prised at what she had been doing
/, but her husband was greatly relieved
He felt the melons We're not lost