The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-02-09
A DEPUTY SHeRIFF'S STORY,


sheriff in a back " oods country I had
gone west tn begin life, and This being the
first employment offered me | gladly dc
cepred it.
"iIcre, Scott" said the head deputy, as
entered tue Office one morning "is war
rant for you to serve it's for j i'm Dade
Iou'n see directions there how To find
him." he added tossing me over some pa
peIS.
Elliot, the head deputy, had treated me
far from civilly from the start. lie seemed
piqucd at a 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 espcci-
ally ANXIOUS to secure.
"The warrant appears to be an old one, ="
l remarked after examining the date.
More reason that its execut ION be not
further delayed was the gruff response.
made no reply, bu: ascertaining, from
a memorandum pinned to the warrant the
locality Of DLde's residence, ! prepared to
sci out at ohce 20 90 the DUTY assigned
me.
The writ contained n serions criminal
charge. But what manner of man the
accused might be-wlIether one likely to
obey or to resist the laws commands Il
could only suimise, AS Mr.. Elliot had
SAID not hiug about furnishing assistance,
hcsitated to broach the subject, fearing he
might attribute the suggest ION to timidity.
The county was thinly settled, and
abouuded in game and, being something
of Il sportsman, on starting on my mission
douucd my hunting Announcements aiId
shouldercd my rifle.
| went afoot, for two reasonS-first the
nearest way lay through the forest, and
next, | had better chance of getting "a
shot at something on the way.
sauuteied 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. | must confess |
wished it well over. jim Dade night
prov e to be an ugly hand to deal with in a
lonesome place, without witnesses. At
any rate, the testimonial to lis character,
then in my pocket. was not such as to i'll
crease my confidence.
"Do YOU know Mr. Dade ~ | inquired
at length, of settler whom found clean.
ing up a patch Of ground near his cabin.
"Jim Dade?" he asked.
YES" l replied ''can you direct me
tuhis house?'
"You'll hardly find him thar, stranger, ;"
was the answer; lyon see, him AN the
sheriff-s folks been keepin' outer one an
others way like, for awhile back. jim,
he fiunks in the woods mostly, with his
rifle for q bed fellow, an tothers. | guess,
don't keer to schrcuge him too cl,st."
lis he d dangerous character 2?
"Wall. no-not ef you give him his own
way an take all his sass, an don jaw
back. But Jim il a leetle kanfankcrous
sometimes, ef you rile him. Jest ask Ja5e
Elliot" continued the settler, with a
cluckle lie came out here to nab Jim
awhile ago. Wall, Jim, he pinted his re-
ds At him, and sarved motifs QUITO him to
git. and Jabc did git, maxim "a lee:le the
best time eveI seed in these parts"
This cleared up considerably MIR. Elliot $
motive iu detailing me for the present ser
vice.
..Er you've partic'lar business with
linn" tie settler added, you mout run
ayin him over thar in them woods, crest
the gulch,' waving his Eand IN the dlrec-
| tio:l indicated.
felt it NV duty not to return without
making an effort to accomplish the object
of NV coming. so thanking the man for his
information, | started to make what use oi
it | might.
| had not proceeded far when the report
Of a gun drew my attention. Following
the report | soon came IN sight oi n'a''
| standing beside a fine buck. prooa3iy JUST
| brought down by the shot had heard.
The hnntsman was in the act OF reload
ing his rifle, which he finished ny putting
on the cap as approached.
/ Turning quickly at the sound of my ad-
v,nce. the face lie revealed was to the las
,iev,e,, sinister and repulsivo. Something
,,,i.l me | had found my man. Ii SD, u
was ne, child's play had before me-
..Ym'yc h. d better luck than myself,