Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-11-05
serving a Warrant on Lost ,yountail

From Joel Chandler Harris humorOu
and dramatic story, Trouble on los
Mountain" in the Century. we take tn.
Characteristic incident OF mountain life il
Northern Georgia; "On one occasion
shortly after the war Abe had gone 10 tn,
little county town on business and haC
been vexed into laying rough hands OF
| one Of the prominent citizens who was Z
triile under the influence of liquor. y
warrant was issued, and Dave McLendon,
the Sheriff of the comfy, stumpy little
man, whose boldness and prudence made
him the terror of 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 carclcssly
across his left arm.
"Hold on thar, Dave!' he cried, rs the
latter came up. The Sheriff knowing his
man, halted.
al hate to fling away my manners,
Dave he went on, but folks is gittin' 10
be mighty funny these days. A mans
obleeged 10 s'arch his best fricns fore he
kin find out Their which-aways. Dave,
what sort of dockymcnt is you got az in
me"
81 got n warrant, Abe, said the Sheriff,
pleasantly
"'Well, Dave, hit won't fetch me- said
Abe
ooh, yes" said the Sheriff. Yes, il
Will Abe. bin a-usin' these kind Ell
warrants a mighty long time, an they
fetches Teller every whack.'
"'Now I'll tell you what, Dave said,
Abe, patting his rifle, Il got docky.
ment here thatll fetch you blame site
quickern your dockyment'll fetch me : an
tell you right now plain nm fiat, haint
a-gwinc to be drug aroun' an slapped in
jail
The sheriff leaned carclessly agains,
the rail fence in the attitude of man who
Is willing TO argue an interesting question.
"'Wcll, tell you how feel about il,
Abe said the Sheriff, speaking very slow
~ You kin shoot me- but you can't
shoot the law. Bang away at me- an
thars another warrant after you. This
yer one what I've already got dom,
amount to shucks, so you better fling on
your coat, saddle your horse an go right
along wi me thes ez ncighborly ez you
please
"'Daye,' said Abe, If you come in at
that gate You or goner.'
"'Wel, Abe the Sheriff replied, 4
ioNtN YOU u KICK L 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
ain't got no mo- idea what come fern the
man in the moon; yit they'd make n
mighty peart posse Toby shore, IA great
big man like you amt afeard fer ter face
Il little bit Ell law
"Abe Hightowcr hestated moment
and then went into the house. la few
minutes he issued forth and went out TO
the gate where the Sheriff was. The
faces Of the two men were a study.
Neither betrayed any emotion nor alluded
to the warrant. The Sheriff asked after
the crap, and Abe told him it was midd.
lin peart,' and asked him TO go into the
house and make himself at home until the
horse could be saddled. After while the
two rode away Once during the ride Abe
said:
"Pm mighty glad IL want that Teller
what run agin you last fall, Dave
"'Whyf' asked the Sheriff
"'Bekase I'd 'aplugged him, certain an
shore, said Abe.
"'Well said the Sheriff. laughingly,
u wuzY a-wishin' mighty hard thes about
that time that the t'other Teller had got
'lected. ~