THE TIM BUNKEK PAPERS. 61 



produce. Smithville was well represented by the Law- 

 sons, the Tabers, and the Wilcoxes. 



Now, you see, it so happened that Tom Wilcox kept a 

 livery stable, and had a mare that he thought might take 

 a premium. He fed her high for a month beforehand, 

 and got her into first-rate condition, and brought her on 

 to the ground, without saying a word to the committee, 

 or any body else, that she had the heaves. My neighbor, 

 Jake Frink, was chairman of the Judges on roadsters, 

 and must have known all about Wilcox s mare, as he sold 

 her to him three years ago, and she was unsound then, 

 and only brought seventy dollars. 



But Jake had an ax to grind, and was mighty anxious 

 to get a premium on carrots, so as to take the wind out of 

 my sails. So he managed to get Tom Wilcox put down 

 among the judges on vegetables. Jake thought the thing 

 might be managed, and, sure enough, he did manage it 

 considerable slick. As soon as the judges came on to the 

 ground, Jake accidentally, of course met Tom, and 

 says he : 



&quot; Mr. Wilcox, you are not a going to enter that old 

 mare, are you ? You know unsound horses are not allowed 

 to compete.&quot; 



&quot; Dew tell, Mr. Frink, you don t say so. But look here, 

 Jake, she is as fat as a porpus, and I have fed her on 

 green stuffs so much, that she hasn t coughed for a week. 

 Nobody 11 know anything about it, if you do not tell em 

 of it. Ha n t you got anything you want a premium on ? 

 1 One good turn deserves another. I m on the committee 

 for garden sass, you know.&quot; 



Upon this, you see, Mr. Frink took Tom around among 

 the roots, and I had the curiosity to keep within hearing 

 distance. 



&quot; Good carrots,&quot; said Tom, &quot; but you see yourself, they 

 a n t so long or smooth as old Bunker s.&quot; 



&quot; I ll tell you what,&quot; said Jake, &quot; I ll double my hill, 



