The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-16
A DEFECTIVE
WARRANT
By M. QUAD
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

Tue pHsrlm fatnerS that when the
crop Is bountiful and there are cucum-
bers and tomatoes to waste to invite
the neighbors less fortunate to open
the gate and help themselves. This
custom had prevailed in the village of
kernstown for many long years. There
was one exception to it, however, and
that was the case of Elder Wickshaw
and his wife. He had been elder Of
church since church had been estab,
lished in the place, and he had long
been known for his stlngincss.
The elders wife would have been
open handed with the neighbors. but
her husband had said to her:
IF we have got any neighbors who
haven't cowcumbers, onions and toma.
toes in plenty it is due to their shift
lessness and they shan't have any of
ours"
But they are going to waste" would
reply the wife.
i mo. they amt. They will enrich
the soil for another season. Even if
they won't am not going to encour-
age shiftlessnesS in anybody"
Among those whom he denominated
as shiftless was Solomon Graves. He
wasn't exactly lazy, but yet he might
have had more energy. He had small
garden. but 1t was hostile soil. He
passed and repassed the elders house
many, many times, and always stop
ped and looked over the fence, but the
elder never came out and invited him
to help himself. At length, when Solo
mon saw that things were going to
waste, he determined to help himself
without the invitation.
In walking in the garden at sunset
one evening the elder particularly no.
ticed six large cucumbers on a certain
vine. He walked out again soon after
sunrise and there were no cucumbers
there. In place of them. in the soft
| soil, were the tracks of the villain who
had visited the spot during the night
and despoiled the vine. He FASTENED
into the house to say to his wife:
Marian there is an unhung villain
in Kernstewn."
Good gracious!" she exclaimed, will
a start of surprise.
And that unhung villain entered on
garden during the night and picket
and carried away six Of our choices
L cOwcumbers."
II And after hasty breakfast the eide
took the trail so plain in the soil ant
II and from there to the house Of Sole
mon Graves, quarter of mile away
Ill In ten minutes more he was at tn
house of the justice Of the peace 70
the village, one Hiram Brown, befor
whom two lawsuits had been tried |
about eight years. He felt all the dig
| nifty, however, of his official positio
and was not to be gainsaid as to legs
i points.
/ Judge" said the elder as he entere
in haste, Solomon Graves has stole
six cowcumbers from my garden.
want a warrant for his arrest, and
want him sent to Jail before shutdown
When the warrant had been filed OF
his honor handed 1t over to the elder
/ read. and it was but moment befol
\ the latter exclaimed:
|! Here, Judge: this won't do. l to
YOU Solomon Graves had stolen s
cowcumbers out Of my garden"
"But the warrant says So"
"But you haven't spelled 1t rigf
You haven't got the cowcumbers In
all What you have got is kucumber
when il should be cowcumbers. "
can't hold Sol on warrant like that.
I'LL "Look here. elder" said the Judge
he rose up and pulled out his bosol
"have you come here to teach me nc
to spell or to get warrant for so
mon Graves?'
iii "But YOU probably made slip of t
pen." lamely explained the man W
wanted justice.
iii "There are no slips In my law, sir.
Ill "But they are cowcumbers."
IT never heard of such things.
for kucumbers, / have hundred
nv own garden That warrant "
| / send Sol 10 the county Jan % A" "
horse can gallop. | want no man
Ill come here thinking he can teach
my business.
~ The schoolma'am was finally call
in 70 settle the question of spelling
Id The wondering teacher came q
III when the case had been stated 10
IL she hesItated moment and then SD
Ii 81 can decide the question at ISIS
liz and hone neither of you will bear
III any hard feelings for so doing
IL are both Of you wrong. The name
III the vegetable you are disputing aD'
III 10 coocumber.' and you pronounce
III COO softly"
az I'm be burned if | do" shouted
III honor - 80
LII AND IN be burned In the sa
III uovr, shouted the elder. making
IL ~ swear word for the first time
III thirty years. IN,
IL In a few hours the whole VIII
III hoard of the dispute and was >
III into factions. There were the GOV
IL ond the "kus" and the COOS" ana IN
III was row that didn't quiet down I'
Ill year or more. More than hfty poe
IL dictionaries were sent for and cons