Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-16
A Story of the Sheriff.

I
turbed by unpleasant or unauthorized in
truders. This, sometimes, is of service
and prevents disagreeable consequences,
as will be seen in the history here about
to be given, the scene of which was at the
! fremont House in Boston several years
ago, and one of the actors therein well
known merchant of Boston, who, over the
nom de plume Of Acorn" used to fur
nish some of the liveliest sketches of
humor and sharpest of dramatic criticisms
to the old New York Spirit Of the Times,
whom we shall designate as jim Pines :
the other, well-known business man of
our sister city of Portland, whom, for
convenience sake, we will call Short, in
asmuch as he was short when one of the
actors in the scene we are about to re-
| count.
1t CHANGED, one fine evening, that a
stranger entered the fremont and, address
ing himself to the gentlemanly clerk, y
inquired If Mr. Short, of Portland, was
stopping at the house.
"He is" said the clerk, referring to the
register.
"Well, I want to see him; shcw me up
to his room, if you please
eff you will send your card I will see
if he is at home" replied the clerk.
The visitor produced a card, which was
handed to bell-boy, whom he was about
to follow upstairs, when hewas restrained
by the clerk.
Be kind enough to wait till we see if
Mr.. Short is in and will see you
I The bell boy returned with word that
Mr.. Short would see the gentleman to-
morrow morning"
Where's his room ~ said the visitor
"I'll 90 right up myself"
Excuse me, sir. Mr.. Short has al
ready sent word that he does not wish to
see you till tomorrow, and l cannot per
nit him to be disturbed"
"WelI, sir, | think I shall go up if YOU
will give me the number of the room, for
I'm the Sheriff, and intend to arrest him. y
At these words Jim Pines, who was sit
ting in little room behind the key
board, where he had heard all the con-
versation, and who is always ready to aid
man in difficulties-Jim, knowing this
to be case of late-at-night arrest to force
a claim, rose and remarked that he was
going to see if his supper was ready"
and, slipping through the dining-hall up
to his room, he took from thence an old
pair of boots and went to Shorts room,
where he was at once admitted
Take your valise and buds, old boy,
and come along with me.'
Whats up, Jim?" asked Short
"Not much, but the Sheriff will soon
be, so come along"
The pair left the room, locked it behind
them, and Pines dropped the old pair of
boots outside the door, after which they
passed over to another wing of the house,
TO Pines room, where Short was left and
the former descended, where he found the
hotel-clerk still engaged in conversation
with the Sheriff.
I've seen about my supper, and it's all
right said he, as he passed the clerk
with a wink.
q see this room against Mr. Shorts
name on the register is twenty-six; is that
where you put him?" asked the Sheriff of
the clerk.
Yes sir''
"Then [ demand to be shown to that
room, Immediately"
"All right, Mr.. Sheriff. Boy, show the
gen'lman No. 26.''
The unwaIconoa vioitor woo copdrc+od
upstairs to the desired room There it
was, sure enough, number on the IGOR,
pair of boots sitting outside. The Sheriff
looked at his watch. Halfpast nine
" Humph! go to bed early" He knocked;
no response. Knocked little louder;
still no reply.
The Sheriff looked into the unoccupied
rooms on each side and satisfied himself
that there was no communication, and
then, with grim smile, took chair from
one Of them and sat down beside the door
of No. 26.
Boy" said the officer Of the law, " do
you want to earn dOllar?"
Eyes, SIR" said the waiter, as his eyes
sparkled.
Well, take this note for me-" said the
officer, as he hastily scrubbed one on the
bac& Of an old letter, and bring me an
answer and you shall have it.
The waiter was off like shot, and re-
turned with an answer, which was nothing
less than deputy officer, to whom the
other in a whisper explained the situation.
Hes in here, and no way of getting out;
we can't break in the door; you must
watch here till morning, and when he
comes out to breakfast arrest him. Boy,
there's your dollar
Thus left the deputy seated himself
comfortably down in his chair, and the
| Sheriff walked off, satisfied that he had
trapped his bird.
Next morning, about eight o'clock, he
reappeared. There sat the Waterman.
looking little red about the eyelids, and
there stood the boots, as when he left the
night before.
Any movement, Link"
Not bit as yet; quiet as a church
yard"
"Ah, ali! thinks to tire us out. Go
down and get some breakfast, Link, and
I