National Republican., 1886-01-02
Serving a Warrant on Lost nIountaip

From Joel Chandler Harris's humorous
and dramatic story, "rrouble on Lost
Mountain" in the January Century, we
take this charact cterlstlc incident OF noun
tain life In northern Georgia: ION one oc-
casion 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 citizens who was
trine under the influence of liquor. A war
rant was issued, and Dave McLendon, the
sheriff Of the county, q 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 pre-
pared himself. He stood In the doorway,
with his rifle slung carelessly across his left
arm.
"IIiold on thar Dayel' he cried, as the
latter came up. Tho sheriff, knowing his
man, halted.
"'I hate to fling away my manners,
Dave he went on, but folks is gittin' to be
mighty funny these days. A mans ohleeged
to s'arch his best friens fore he kin find
out their which-aways. Dave, what sort OF
adockyment is,yougot agin' meT
"a got warrant, Abe said the sheriff
pleasantly.
"'wcli, Dave, hit won't fetch me- said
"'Oh, yes = said the sheriff. tYesit will,
Ate. bin a-usin' these kind er warrants
mighty long time, an they fetches feller
Now, I'll tell you what, Daye,' said
Abe, patting his rifle, i got a dockyment
here thatu fetch you blame Right
quicker'n your docKyment'll fetch me; an
tell you right now, plain an flat, Ihain't
a-gwine to be drug aroun' an slapped in
jail. - -
"The sheriff leaned carelessly against the
rail fencein the attitude OF man who is
willing to argue an interesting question.
"'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 ut me, an thar's another
warrant after you. This yer one what lin
already got don't amount to shuclxs, so
you better fling on your coat, saddle your
horse, an go right. along WHINE thes or
neigbborly ez you please
"lDave,' said Abe, II you come IN at that
| "'Well, Abe, the sheriff replied, Il lowed
| you'd kick; know what human natur' on
these hills is, am so jes aXed someer 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 afeared Ter ter face little bit or
law
"Ahe Hlghtower hesltated moment, and
then went into thehouse. Inafew minutes
he issued forth and went out to the gate
where the sheriff was. The faces Of the
two men were study. Neither betrayed
| any emotion nor alluded 10 the war.
| rant. The sheriff asked after the crap,
and Abe told him 1t was 'middlin' peart,
and asked him to go into the house and
mako himself at home until the horse could
lie saddled. After a while the two rode
away. Once during the ride Abe said
"'I'm mighty glad 1t want that fellel
what run agi'n you last fall, Dave
"'WhyP asked tine sheriff.
"'Bekaze ia a. plugged him, certain an
shore said Abe.
! "'Well,' said the sheriff, laughing, q
wuz a-wishin mighty hard about that ,timI
that the t'other feller had rot 'lected.h