Chapter Five The Pony Express
It took three more days to complete the delivery of circulars. On thelast day, Jim had covered the remaining area by mid-afternoon and was onhis way home when he noticed a farm that he had missed. It was adilapidated old place with tumble-down fences and a few rickety unpaintedbuildings situated well back from the road, almost hidden in a clump oftrees. The whole farm looked so neglected and run-down that Jim decidedto deliver a circular there for the chief purpose of obtaining a closerlook at the place.
After riding up a long, weed-choked lane, he reached the farmyard. It wasa barren, grassless yard, littered with odds and ends of farm machineryand an old model-T Ford touring car with no top. Seated beneath a hugetree was a white haired old man, drinking lemonade. A pair of bright blueeyes looked quizzically at Jim from beneath shaggy white brows.
"Howdy, son," he said, the leathery old face wrinkling into a friendlysmile.
"How do you do," answered Jim politely. "Here is a circular all about thenew Farmer's Co-operative."
As he leaned down to hand the paper to the old man, his eyes restedlongingly on the pitcher of lemonade. The look did not escape the brightblue eyes.
"Light a while and have a glass," the old man invited.
Jim promptly accepted, sliding from Ticktock's back. His host looked atthe circular casually and then stuffed it in his pocket. He examined Jimand the mustang much more closely.
"Right pert-looking horse you got there, son," he observed finally.
"Smartest horse in the country," boasted Jim. "He can do anything."
"That so?" asked the man. "Reckon he could catch that shoat over there?"
Jim looked in the direction of the pointing finger. A small black andwhite pig was wandering loose around the yard, stopping to root in theearth here and there.
"I reckon so," answered Jim. "I don't know why a horse would be needed tocatch a pig though."
"That shows how little you know about pigs," said the old man. "Thatshoat is part razorback, part snake and the rest deer as near as I canfigure it out. Leastwise you'd think so if you tried to catch it. Beenloose three days now. Not that I mind pigs being loose around theyard--they're sort of company to an old bachelor like me. But this littlething is the orneriest critter I ever run across. Yesterday it went overthere where those beehives are and knocked three of them over. Today Idropped my plug of chewin' tobacco and hanged if that shoat didn't eat itbefore I could lean down. It's started killin' chickens too. Nothin'worse than a hog that kills chickens; never did know one to be cured."
"Where's its pen?" asked Jim.
Runaway pig]
"Over there," said the old man, pointing to an open gate. "I fixed thefence so it'll hold if I can ever catch the dad-blamed pig. I guess I'mtoo old to catch a pig like that. Too lazy too. I retired twenty yearsago and aside from a few chores, I been mighty happy doin' nothin' foryears, and now this fool shoat has to come along to upset my peace ofmind. If I don't catch it, I'll find it in my bed one of these nights.Already found it in the kitchen once."
"I'll chase it in for you," said Jim, finishing his lemonade. He got tohis feet confidently.
Getting the pig back into the pen was not so simple as Jim had thought.He had considerable experience with pigs but he had never encountered oneas wily as this. He chased around the yard after the elusive animal untilhe was exhausted, without so much as getting the pig near the open gateof the pen. Panting heavily, Jim regarded the shoat, which in turn lookedback at him with insolent contempt.
"Feared you might have trouble," said the old man, who had not stirredfrom his seat beneath the tree, but was watching with interest. "That'swhy I suggested the horse. Maybe you can tire out the little wretch."
Accepting the suggestion, Jim mounted Ticktock. Around and around theyard they went after the pig. The latter showed no signs of becomingexhausted but finally grew tired of the scene. The animal headed througha gap in an old fence and started across an adjoining pasture whichcontained a shallow muddy pond. In the open pasture Jim and his horse hada decided advantage. While in the cluttered yard his speed had beenretarded by having to duck and turn, now Ticktock could open up. Thepig's short legs worked like mad but the horse was always behind him. Aquick turn of the shoat would cause Ticktock to rush past, but Jim wouldwheel the mustang and in a few strides they would again be practically ontop of the pig. The fleeing animal now began to show signs of exhaustion.
In the excitement of the twisting, turning chase, both Jim and themustang paid little attention to where they were going but simply kepttheir eyes glued to the pig. After being left behind on another turn,they came rushing up on the animal, to discover suddenly that they wereheading straight into the pond. The exhausted and panicky shoat beganfloundering in the mud. Jim realized the danger at the last moment andtried to rein in Ticktock. The mustang braced all four legs, trying tostop, but his speed was too great. He slid forward into the slippery mudlike a sleigh, passing directly over the bogged-down pig. As themustang's hind legs cleared the pig, they hit a particularly slipperyspot and collapsed beneath him. The pony sat down in the shallow muddywater with a resounding smack. As Ticktock sat, Jim slid down the slopingbare back and in turn landed in the water. However, instead of sitting inthe soft mud, he found himself astride the muddy and now terror-strickenpig. The animal let out one piercing squeal after another, wiggling andthrashing in the shallow water. Once the muddy water had dripped fromJim's eyes so that he could see what was happening, he grabbed the pig'sears. He firmly retained his seat astride the squealing animal.
Jim knew that it was only a matter of minutes before the struggling pigwould wriggle free, since the muddy creature was almost impossible tohold. However, after all the trouble, the boy was not going to let thecaptive escape if there were any way of preventing it. The burlap bagwhich he had been using for padding on Ticktock's back had slipped offwith him. Grabbing it, he quickly slipped the bag over the pig's head. Afloundering muddy struggle ensued. Occasionally Jim was on top but justas often it was the pig. Finally when both were about drowned, the taskwas accomplished. The pig was in the bag. Covered with mud from head tofoot, Jim dragged the bag to shore.
The old man, laughing uproariously, was waiting beside the pond.
"You did it, by gum!" he said, when at last he stopped laughing. "Mightystrange method though. Do you always catch pigs that way?"
"I caught him, didn't I?" said Jim a little belligerently. He didn't seemuch humor in the situation.
"Sure did," said the old man, still grinning. "You're all covered withmud and glory."
The pig was too heavy to carry, so the old man got a wheelbarrow in whichthey trundled the captured animal back to its pen.
"That watering tank is good and clean," suggested the old man. "Why don'tyou jump in, clothes and all and get some of that mud off?"
After enjoying himself splashing in the cool water for a few minutes, Jimemerged much cleaner and in a better frame of mind. He wiped the mud offTicktock's hind quarters and prepared to leave.
"Thanks, son," said the old man, his eyes twinkling. "Here's twodollars--one for catching that pesky animal and one for theentertainment."
Jim grinned and thanked his benefactor. It had been a profitable day;although he hoped he could sneak in the house without his mother seeinghis clothes.
The money earned by delivering circulars and catching the pig proved tobe only a teaser to Jim. Now that it had been demonstrated that he andTicktock had the capacity to earn money together, his ambition knew nobounds. He worried and fretted over his inactivity. Surely there must benumerous jobs that he and his pony could undertake. He considered goingfrom door to door in Springdale, offering his services, but it seemed atedious method of obtaining work. Then Robert Morgan gave him a betteridea.
"How's the Farmer's Co-operative doing?" asked Jim when he chanced tomeet the young lawyer on the street.
"Sple
ndid!" said Morgan warmly. "You did a wonderful job delivering thosebills. From what I hear you must have been going at a mad gallop theentire time. How did Ticktock stand the pace?"
"We just galloped while we were being watched," explained Jim, with agrin. "The rest of the time we went at a slow walk."
"Smart work," said Morgan. "We got a great deal of publicity out of that.Publicity is what you need, Jim, when you are trying to start somethingnew. You have to create interest."
Jim thought over the lawyer's words all the way home. He was turning inthe lane when he found the solution to his problem. Going upstairs to theprivacy of his room, he began work with a pencil and paper. After muchthought and many false starts, his writing began to take form. He laboredfor several hours, hunting up words in the dictionary, correcting hisspelling, altering and revising his sentences.
The following morning Jim bridled his mustang and departed eagerly forSpringdale. Arriving at the _Gazette_ building he sought out the editor.Arnold was seated in his office relaxing; his feet up on the desk, hisswivel chair tipped back and a pipe between his teeth. To Jim he was thepicture of editorial genius at work. Being an editor must be a fineoccupation.
"I have a scoop for you, Mr. Arnold," announced the boy.
"You have?" asked the editor, picking up his feet and a pencil from thedesk at the same time. "Have you and that horse of yours started a riotor a revolution?"
"Neither," said Jim. "Something else though. I've written it up for you."
Arnold took the proffered pages, reading them carefully. Jim watched theother's face anxiously as he read.
"A very creditable job of reporting for a cub," said Arnold solemnly."There will have to be a few minor changes. For example, you shouldn'tsay 'errands run lickety-split.' It would sound better to use some suchphrase as 'speedy messenger service.' You see, the _Gazette_ is adignified paper."
"That does sound better," agreed Jim. "Do you want the story?"
"I think we can use it," answered the editor. "What are your rates forliterary services?"
"Oh, you can have this free. I need the publicity."
"Tell you what I'll do," offered Arnold. "In return for the news story,I'll run an advertisement for you. Would that be satisfactory?"
"Swell!"
"It's a deal then. I'll draw up something appropriate."
Jim rode home feeling proud and important. The recent article abouthimself and Ticktock, even though it had caused rather unfavorablecomment from his father, had made the boy hungry for fame. When the_Gazette_ arrived Jim was waiting at the mailbox. His article was on thefront page carrying what seemed to Jim enormous block headlines.
New Business In Springdale
_Pony Express Incorporated formed by Jim Meadows_
Mr. Jim Meadows, local young business man, has announced the formation of a new enterprise in our community--The Pony Express Incorporated. This business offers a variety of services to Springdale residents. The owners, Mr. Jim Meadows and his horse Ticktock, will drive cattle to market, provide speedy reliable messenger service, do chores for farmers absent from their homes, perform light freighting jobs (anything moved that can be carried in a burlap bag), or even baby sit providing no changing of diapers is involved.
Mr. Meadows and his horse, who were recently mentioned in this paper, are full and equal partners in the new business. The Pony Express, Inc., will use R.F.D. #2 as its address, telephone Springdale 6207. Mr. Meadows, the president, will take all telephone messages, as the horse is a silent partner. The advertisement of the Pony Express will be found on page 3 of this issue.
Springdale is fortunate to be chosen as the seat of this new enterprise. The variety of new services offered will no doubt make life richer and fuller for everyone. It is not yet known whether the Springdale Rotary Club will extend an invitation to Mr. Meadows and Ticktock to join the organization.
While the article was much changed from its original form, and the lastparagraph was entirely new to Jim, there were still enough of theoriginal words remaining to make him feel that he had appeared in print.Glowing with pride he turned to see his advertisement. It was equallysatisfactory.
Turn Your Odd Jobs over to _The Pony Express, Inc._ (Ticktock and Jim, sole owners) Errands run, quickly and reliably Pigs caught Cattle herded or driven anywhere Confidential Messenger Service _For anything that man and horse can do_ CALL ON US! Phone 6207 Ask for Jim
Jim said nothing to his parents but let them discover the articlethemselves. His father was first to see the paper. He read the news itemand advertisement, grinning with amusement and pride.
"So you are in business now," he said. "How did you get all this freepublicity?"
"Wrote most of it myself," answered Jim frankly.
"I think you'll do all right," said Mr. Meadows. "Well, I'll give yourfirm its first job. The bull seems to be in disfavor around here. Howmuch will you charge to drive it to town?"
"Fifty cents."
"You're hired," said Mr. Meadows promptly. "As a matter of fact, I thinkyour rates are too low. I would have paid a dollar."
"Well, I gave you a special discount," said Jim. "When you do businesswith relatives they always expect discounts."