The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1886-02-05
ASE AND The SHERIFF.
The Diplomacy Necessary In Serving q
s. Warrant on Lost Mountain,

The Diplomacy Necessary In Serving n
). Warrant on Lost Mountain. c
On one occasion, shortly after the war,
Abe had gone to the little county town on
business, and had been vexed into LAYING
roagh hands on one of the prominent citizens
who was trif1e under the influence of
liquor. A warrant was issued and Dave
McLendon, the sheriff of the town, 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
"Hold on thar, Davep' he cried. as the
latter came up. The sheriff, knowing his
man, halted
osI 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
agsin' meP'
II got warrant Abe," said the sheriff
pleasantly.
"Well, Dave, hit won't fetch me-" said
Abe
s'Oh! yes," said the sheriff. eyes it will,
Abe. bin a-usin' these kind er warrants
mighty long time, an they fetches Teller
every whack.'
snow, I'll tell you what, Dave, ''said
Abe, patting his rife; II got dockyment
here that'n fetch you a blame sight quicker'n
your dockyment'll fetch me; an tell you
right now, plain an fiat, hain't a gwine
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
s'Well, 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 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 go right along wi me thes ez neighborly
oez you please"
Dave" said Abe, ''if you come in at that
gate you or goner"
"Well, Abe" the sheriff replied, 81 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 ho)ler. They hain't got no mo-
idea what come fern'n the man in the
IL pACy u i11dhC pSdrU
posse. Tooby shore, a great big man like
you amt afeared ter face little bit er
law"
Abe Hightower hesitated moment and
then went into the house. In few minutes
he issued forth and went out to the gats
where the sheriff was The faces of the two
men were 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 and make himself at
home until the horse could be saddled After
awhile the two rode away. Once during
the ride Abe said:
''I'm mighty glad it WANT that feller
what run ag'n You last fall, Dave"
''Whys" asked the sheriff
''Bekase Pdoa plugged him, certain an
Shore" said Abe
#'Weil." said the sheriff, laughing, 81
wuz a!:'ishin' mighty hard thes about that
time tAat the t'other Teller had got 'lected"
II >Al Chandler Harris in The Century.