The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-03-06
Was It a Mean TrickP

ndu BOHe NtSb W ucBlh llle, anu tllS DS-
ing the first employment offered me, l
gladly accepted it.
" Here, Scott" said the head deputy,
as entered the Office one morning, " is
warrant for you to serve; it's for Jim
Dade. You'll see directions there how
to find him, = he added, tossing me over
some papers.
Elliot, the head deputy, had treated
me far from civilly from the start. He
seemed piqued at the partiality shown
me by our principal, who was serving
his last term, and whose influence for
the succession, to which Elliot aspired,
the latter was especially anxious to Sc
cure.
The warrant appears to be an old
one," remarked, after examining the
date.
More reason that its execution be
not further delayed was the gruf re-
sponse.
made no reply, but ascertaining from
memorandum pinned to the warrant,
the locality of Dade's residence, ! pre-
pared to.set out at once to do the duty
assigned me.
The writ contained serious criminal
charge. But what manner of man
the accused might be-whether one like
ly TO obey or to resist the laws COM
mands-I could not surmise As Mr..
Elliot had said nothing about furnishing
assistance, hesitated to broach the sub
ject, fearing he might attribute the sug-
gestion to timidity.
The country was thinly settled, and
abounded in game; and, being some
what of a sportsman, on starting on my
mission donned my hunting accoutre-
ments and shouldered my rifle.
went afoot, for two reasons-first,
the nearest way lay through the forest,
and next, had better chance of
getting shot at something on the
way.
1 sauntered along leisurely, keeping,
for time, a keen lookout; but seeing
nothing worth the waste of powder, my
thoughts gradually settled down to the
business had in hand. l must con-
fess l wished it well over. Jim Dade
might prove to be an ugly hand to deal
with in lonesome place, without wit
nesses. At any rate, the testimonial to
his character, then in my pocket, was
not such as to increase my confidence.
Do you know Mr.. Dade ?" 1 in
quired, at length, of settler whom /
found cleaning upa patch of ground
near his cabin.
"Jim Dade ?" he asked
"Yes,'' replied, can you direct me
to his house Y''
"You'll hardly find him thar, strang-
err" was the answer; "you see, him an
the sheriff's folks been keepin' outer one
another's way like, for awhile back
Jim, he hunks in the woods mostly with
his rifle for bedfellow, an t'others,
guess, don't keer to schrouge him too
| clost."
" Is he q dangerous character?'
wall, no-not eff you give him his
own way an take all his sass, an don t
jaw back. But Jim is leetle kantank-
erous sometimes, eff you rile him. Jest
ask Jabe Elliot" continued the settler,
with chuckle. "He came out here to
nab Jim awhile ago. Wall, jim, he
pinted his rife at him, and sarved notis
onto him to git,and Jabe did git, maxim
leetle the best time ever seed in these
parts"
This cleared considerably Mr. Ell
lots motive in detailing me for the
present service.
g. Ef you've particular business with
Jim" the settler added, you mout run
agin him over thar in them woods,
'crost the gulch," waving his hand in
the direction indicated.
felt it my duty not to return without
making an effort to accomplish the OBJ
ject of my coming, so thanking the
man for his information, L started to
make what use of il might.
had not proceeded far when the re-
port of gun drew my attention. Fol
lowing the report soon came in sight
Of man standing beside fine buck,
probably just brought down by the shot
had heard, The huntsman was in the
act of reloading his rife, when he fin
ished by putting on the cap as 1 ap.
proached.
Turning quickly at the sound of my
advance, the face he revealed was TO the
lastdegree sinister and repulsive. Some
thing told me / had found my man. II