Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-29
A GEORGIA
Serving a Warrant on Lost Mountafn-A
Rather Ticklish job.

Rather vlCkAlSn 100.
From Joel Chandler Harris humor.
u and dramatic story, Trouble on
Lost Mountain" in the Century, we
take this characteristic incident of
mountain life in Northern Georgia:
..On one occasion shortly after the war,
Abe had gone to a little country town
on business, and had been vexed into
laying rough hands on IL of the prom
nent citizens who was a trihe under the
influence 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 rifle
flung carelessly across his left arm.
"sHold on thar, Dave!' he cried, al
the latter came up. The sheriff, knowing
his man, halted.
"tI 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 a docky-
ment is you got ag'in' me?'
"I got a warrant, Abe,' said the
sheriff. pleasantly.
".Well, Dave, hit won't fetch me-
said Abe.
$50, yes!' said the sheriff. Yes it
I'LL Az, Iii, o-y,csr> f(,oso Kind ~,
warrants a mighty long time, an they
fetches a Teller every whack.'
"'Now, I'll tell you what, Dave
said Abe, patting his rifle, 4 got a
dockyment here that'l fetch you a
blame sight quicker'n your docky-
ment'Il fetch me; an | tell you right
now, plain an fiat, 1 hain't a-gwine to
to be drug aroun' an slapped in jail
.The sheriff leaned carelessly against
the rail fence in the attitude of a man
who is willing to argue an interesting
question.
"'Well, I tell you how Ifeel about it,
Abe,' said the sheriff, speaking very
slowly. "You kin shoot me, but you
can't shoot the law. Bang away at me,
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 90 right along wi me thes ez neigh
borly ez you please
":Dave,' said Abe, If you come in
at that gate you er agoner.'
"Well, Abe the sheriff replied, II
lowed you'd kick; / know what human
natur on these hills is, an SO I 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 The man in the moon; yit
they'd make a mighty peart posse.
Tooby shore, a great big man like you
amt afeard fer ter face a little bit er
law
"Abe Hightower hesitated a moment
and then went into the house. In a
| 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 al
luded 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 and make himself at
home until the horse could be saddled.
| After a while the two rode away. Once
during the ride Abe said:
"'I'm mighty glad it Want that
fellar what run agi'n you last fall,
Dave
"'Why?' asked the sheriff.
"'Bekaze I'd plugged him, certain
an Shore said Abe.
"'Well, said the sheriff, laughing,
4 wuz a-wishin' mighty hard thes about
that time that the t'other foller had got
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