The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1886-02-25
ON LOST MOUNTAIN.

From Joel Chandler Harris story,
"Trouble on Lost Mountain" in the
January Century, is taken this char
acteristic incident of mountain life in
Northern Georgia.
On one occasion shortly after the
war Abe had gone to the little coun-
try town on business and had been
vexed into laying rough hands on one
of the prominent citizens, who was a
triflle under the influence Of liquor.
A warrant was issued and Dave Nc
Tendon, the Sheriff of the county, a
stumpy little man whose boldness
and prudence made him a terror to
criminals, was sent to serve it. Abe
who was on the lookout for some
such visitation, saw him coming and
prepared himself. He stood in the
doorway with his rifle flung across
his left arm.
Hold on thar, Dave" he cried as
the latter came up. The sheriff know
ing his man, halted.
II hate to fling away my manners,
Dave" he went on, "but folks is git
tin to be mighty funny these days.
A mans obleeged to s'arch his best
friends fore he kin find out Their
which-aways. Dave, what sort of
docyment is you got ag'in me p
Il got a warrant, Abe" said the
sheriff pleasantly.
"Well, Dave, hit won't fetch me-
said Abe.
ooh, yesp' said the sheriff. eyes
it will, Abe. ! bin usin' these kind
er warrants a mighty long time, an
they fetches TELLER every whack."
"Now, I'll tell what, Dave" said
Abe, patting his rifle. 81 got docy-
ment here that'll fetch you, blame
sight qulcker'n your docymentll
fetch me, an l tell you right now,
plain an fiat, hain't a-gwine to be
drug aroun' and slapped in Jail"
The sheriff leaned carelessly against
the rail fence in the attitude of
man who is willing to argue an inter
esting question.
"Well, 1 tell you how l feel about
it, Abe" said the sheriff speaking
very slowly. "Ycu can shoot me,
but you can't shoot the law. Bang
away at me an thar's another war
rant after you. This yer one what
I'm got don't mount to shucks, so
you better fling on your coat, saddle
your horse al go right along wi me
thes ez neighborly ez you please"
Dave" said Abe, 'lf you come in
at that gate you are a goner."
"Well, Abe" the sheriff replied,
Il lowed you'd kick; | know what
human natur' on these hills is, an so
| thes axed some er the boys to come
along. They er right down thar in
the holler. They hain't got no mo-
idea what come fern the man in
the moon; yit they'd make a mighty
peart posse. To be shore, a great
man like you amt afeard fer ter face
a little bit of law"
Abe Hightower hesitated a mo-
ment, and then went into the house.
In a few minutes he issued forth and
went out to the gate where the sher-
if was. The faces of the men were
study. Neither betrayed any emo
ton nor alluded to the warrant. The
sheriff asked after the "crap" and
old Abe told him it was "midlin
peart, and asked him to go into the
house and make himself at home I'M
til the horse could be saddled.-Af-
ter awhile the two rode away. Once
during the ride Abe said:
'I'm mighty glad it want that fell
Ter what run ag'in you last fall,
Dave"
"Why?" asked the sheriff.
''Bekase I'd plugged him, certain
an shore said Abe.
"Well," said the sheriff, laughing,
81 was a-wishin' mighty hard thes
about that time the tother had got
'lccted."