Smyrna times., 1886-01-13
Serving a Warrant.

From Joel Chandler Harris humOr-
GUS and dramatic story, Trouble on
Lost Mountain" in the January Gem
tury, we take this characteristic Incl
dent of mountain life in northern
Georgia: "On one occasion shortly
after the war, Abe had gone to the
little county town on business, and |
had been vexed into laying rough |
hands on one of the prominent citi-
zens WHO was a trife under the infu- |
ence of liquor. A warrant was issued,
and Dave McLendon, the sheriff of the
county, a 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 rife flung care
lessly across his left arm.
"' Hold on thar, Davep he cried, as
the latter came up. The sheriff, know
ing his man, halted.
GO I hate to fling away my manners,
Dave he went on, but folks is gittin'
to be mighty funny these days. A
mans obleeged to s'arch his best frien's
fore he kin find out Their which-aways.
Dave, what sort of dockyment is you
got agin me?'
al got warrant Abe" said the
sheriff, pleasantly.
"'Well, Dave, hit won't fetch me-,
said Abe.
"'Oh, yes ? said the sheriff. 'Yesit
will Abe. / bin a-usin' these kind er
warrants a mighty long time, an they
fetches a feller every whack.'
6" Now, I'll tell you what, Dave
said Abe, patting his rifle, I got
dOckyment here that'll fetch you a
blame sight quicker'n your docky-
ment'll fetch me an tell you right
now, plain an fiat, I hain't a-gwine to
be drug aroun' an slapped in jail
1.-THE sheriff leaned carelessly
against the rail fence in the attitude of
a man who is willing to argue an in
teresting question.
"' Well, I tell you how feel about
it, Abe, said the sheriff, speaking very
slowly. You kin shoot me, but you
can't shoot the law. Bang away atme,
an thar's another warrant after you.
This yer one what I'm already got
don't amount to shucks, so you better
fling on your coat, saddle your horse,
an go right along VII me thes ez
neighborly ez you please
"' Dave said Abe, if you come in
at that gate you er a goner.'
"' Well, Abe,' the sheriff replied, 4
lowed you'd kick I know what hu-
man 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 I come fern a man in the moon
yit they'd make mighty peart posse.
Tooby shore, great big man like you
amt afeard fer ter face little bit Ell
law
"Abe Hightower hesitated a mo-
ment and then went into the house.
In 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 middlin' peart," and
asked him to go into the house anC
make himself at home until the horse
could be saddled. After awhile the
two rode away. Once during the ride
Abe said:
go Pm mighty glad it WANT that fel
Ter what run agi'n yoa last Fall, Dave.
GO Why?" asked the sheriff.
'Bekaze I'd "a plugged him, Ger
tain an shore, said Abe.
"' Well said the sheriff, laughing
, 1 wuz a-wishin' mighty hard the
about that time that the t'other felle
had got 'lected.'"