THE WATERMELON MYSTERY
AT SUGAR CREEK
WATERMELON MYSTERY
AT SUGAR CREEK
by
PAUL HUTCHENS
Published by
Scripture Press BOOK DIVISION
WHEATON, ILLINOIS
Watermelon Mystery at Sugar Creek
Copyright © 1955, by
Paul Hutchens
Third Printing
All rights in this book are reserved. No part may be reproduced in any mannerwithout the permission in writing from the author, except brief quotations usedin connection with a review in a magazine or newspaper.
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
| Chapter | Page |
| 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 15 |
| 3 | 27 |
| 4 | 37 |
| 5 | 45 |
| 6 | 52 |
| 7 | 65 |
| 8 | 76 |
| 9 | 84 |
| 10 | 97 |
1
IF I hadn’t been so proud of the prize watermelon I had grownfrom the packet of special seed Pop had ordered from the State ExperimentStation, maybe I wouldn’t have been so fighting madwhen somebody sneaked into our truck patch that summer nightand stole it.
I was not only proud of that beautiful, oblong, dark greenmelon, but I was going to save the seed for planting next year. Iwas, in fact, planning to go into the watermelon-raising business.
Pop and I had had the soil of our truck patch tested, and it wasjust right for melons, which means it was well-drained, well-ventilated,with plenty of natural plant food. We would never have toworry about moisture in case there would ever be a dry summer,on account of we could carry water from the iron pitcher pumpwhich was just inside the south fence. As you maybe know, ourfamily had another pitcher pump not more than fifteen feet fromthe back door of our house—both pumps getting mixed up in themystery of the stolen watermelon, which I’m going to tell youabout right now.
Mom and I were down in the truck patch one hot day that summer,looking around a little, admiring my melon and guessinghow many seeds she might have buried in her nice red inside.“Let’