The Hartford republican., 1913-10-17
BELGIAN
CUCUMBERS
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright, 1918, by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By NJ. QUAD


middle state was at peace. Farmers.
mechanics and merchants met each
other and asked:
How is old Vernon county,
And the answer would be:
"Old Vernon county is all right-you
betr'
Fifty men saw Y. M. Davis, as he
came to be known, when the bus drove
I'D to the inn at Clifton with him as
the only passenger. He was n middle
aged man, and he had the face Of
true American patriot. He had come
to give Vernon county such chance
to get rich as had never been held out
to her before Years ago his grand
father had died and had been buried in
that county. and it was consecrated
ground to him. That is why he had
come to it instead of any other county.
Mr.. Davis had come to Clifton direct
from Europe. He had gone over there
to study the agriculture of the country
at his own expense. He had returned
with what might be called great find.
The Belgians were almost secretly
growing specimen Of cucumber that
was bound to revolutionize the world.
It was amazingly prolific.
One acre of ground would grow 5000
cucumbers. each three feet long and
weighing five pounds.
1t was like eating oranges. 1t was
a breakfast food in itself. 1t left be-
hind it an exhilaration not known to
any other vegetable in the world.
This cucumber was certain to take
the place of grains Of all sort in
year or two more and would displace
the potato and the turnip entirely.
Mr.. Davis did more than talk and
exhibit seeds. He put $50 cash IN
bank as a prize to the person raising
the most Belgian cucumbers the next
spring or summer. 1t was November
then. Between November and April
Mr.. Davis sold over $1,000 worth of
seeds and received his money for them.
When he went away he went boldly,
and he left the prize money in the
bank. BY so doing he escaped all sus-
picion.
Now came a mystery. In Clifton
lived a widow named Lee. She had
been there only two years. and the
people knew little about her. She was
nearly six feet tall, rugged and strong,
aad she neighbored with none. She
went to Mr.. Davis for some seeds. but
refused to pay the price. She offered
oniy q penny apiece and when turned
down made use Of some very strong
language.
April was a forward month In Yer
non county. and the cucumber vines
we're beginning to run by the middle
of May. One night some one pulled
10 and stacked the vines In ten diff
ferent gardens. They found tracks
sf 4 mans boots. but nothing further.
The next night more gardens suffered.
Just who to suspect was n puzzler.
but OF course it was case OF jealousy
and spite Every man who had any
vines set q watch on them.
Deacon Tracy was the first one TO
report a clew. He had half an acre OF
vines and was sitting up to watch
8sr the vandal when man came sud
denly upon him and knocked him
senseiess. When he recovered his wits
his vines had been destroyed. Tracks
left by a mans ,boots-that was all.
OF course there were excitement and
indiguation. A reward Of s. was
offered for the arrest of the marauder.
and owners Of vines as yet untrOubled
hired watchmen. Then the man OF
night betook himself out among the
farmers. He raided far and wide,
He destroyed nothing bnt the cucunl'
ber vines, but he did not spare hill
Of them that he could get at. He was
chased by men and dogs: he was shot
different places. vet no one earned
chat reward.
At Farmer JOhnson's place he and
bis son were hidden in the smoke.
house when the unknown appeared.
He had scarcely pulled "a vine when
they were upon him. Both were strong
men. but the struggle was over I'm
minute. The unknown knocked them
both silly and got away with their
hats ana pieces OF their shirts as
souvenirs. II was figured that he had
got such scare. however. that he
would not appear again. lie returned
next night when no ore was watcl,-
ing and attacked the vines.
The cXcitmcnt was now ut fever
heat, and the whole county was ask.
ing what should be done. when the
marauder came to his end A widow
named Jones had twenty hills Of vines
she was watching. She had an old
army carblne, and a ncighbor had
loaded II for her She was watching
from window. and ms the man of
night appeared and began his work
she 6red Mt him. lie dropped. but
struggled up and ran.
A hundred men turned out and
searched the streets and alleys and
the co Intry around. but they did not
find the wounded man. They had given
up the quest when word went round
that no one had seen the Widow Lee
for three days. The locked doors OF
her honse were broken open, and she
was found dead on the floor. A bullet
A. n u. T.. ~.