The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-03-15

I had lately been appointed dep.
uty sheriff in backwoods county. I
had gone West to begin life, aud
this being the first employment Of
fsred me, gladly accepted it.
Here, Scott, said tho head dep
uty, as | entered the Office one NOR
ming, lisa warrant for You to serve /;
it's for Jim Dade. You'll SEQ direc-
tions there how to find him, he adj
ded, tossing mo some papers.
Elliot, the head deputy, hal treat
ed me far from civilly from the start.
lie seemed piqued ut the partiality
shown Inc by our principal, who was
serving his last term, and whose in-
tluenco for ths succession, to which
Elliot aspired, the lAtter WAS espe.
cially anxious to secure.
The warrant appasrs to bs an old
one" / remarked, after examining
the date.
more reason that it's execution be
not farther delayed was the gruff
response.
Imsde no reply, but asosrtaining,
from q memorandum pinned to the
warrent, tho locality OF Dade's resi-
dence, I prepared to set out at once
to the duty assigned me.
The writ contained serious Grim
inal charge. But what manner Of a
man the accused might be-whether
one likely to obey or to resist the
laws commands-I could not ser-
mise. Az Mr.. Elliot had said moth
ing about furnishing assistance,
hesitated to broach the subject fear.
ing he might attribute the sugges
ton TO timidity.
The country was thinly settled,
aud aboundsd in game and, being
somewhat OF Q sportsman, ON start
ing ON my mission | donned my
hunting accoutrsments and shoul-
dered my rife.
I went afoot, for two reasons
6rst, the nearest way through the
forest, and next, l had q better
chance Of getting o shot ct some
thing on the way.
! sauntered along leisurely, keep.
ing, for time. . keen lookout but
seeing nothing worth the waste OF
powder, my thoughts gradually set
tied down to the business ! had iu
hand. I must confess I wished it
we'll over. Jim Dsde might prove "a
be an ugly hand to deal with in q
lonesome place, without witnesses.
At any rate, the testimonial to bis
character, then in my pocket, was
not such as to increase my conf.
dence.
do you know Mr.. Dadei' I in
quired, at length Of q settler whom
l found cleaning up o patch oil
|ground near his cabin. '
Jim Dade 2 be asked.
Yes, I replied can you direct
me to his house ?
You'll hardly find him thar,
stranger. was the answer 'you see
him an the sheriffs folks been keep
in outer one another's way like, for
lawhile back. Jim, he hunks in the
woods mostly. with his rife for .
bediellow, an t'others, Iguess, don'l
koer to sohrouge him too clost.'
'Is he o dangerous characterf'
"Wall, no-not ef you give him
his own way an take all his sass, an
don't Jaw back. But Jim is leetl'
kantankerons semetimes, Of you ril,
him. Jest ask Jabe Elliot, oontinu'
cd the settler, with . chuckle.-
l.He came out here to nab Jim swhil,
ago. Wall, Jim, he pinted his riff
let him. aud sarvsd notis onto him Il
lgit. aud Jabe did git, maxim o leetl'
the best time ever seed in thesl
lparts-
This cleared up considerably Mr.
Elliot's motive in detailing mo fol
lthe present service.
i "kf you've partio o1ar business will
jim, ths settler added you mou
Iruu ogin him over thar in D. n
woo6& 'ogost the euloh,' wsvin,
hoal y ~ direction Indicated.
I ~ \ ~ duty pot 70