West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-10-26
SERVING A WARRANT ON
LOST MOUNTAIN.

From Joel Chandler Harris hui
morous and dramatic story, Trouble
on Lost Mountain" we take this
characteristic incident of mountain
life in northern Georgia:
"On one occasion shortly after the
war, Abe had gone to the little coun-
try town on business, and had been
vexed into laying rough hands on
one of the prominent citizens who
was a trihe under the influence ofli-
auor. A warrant was issued, and
Dave McLendon, the sheriff of the
county, stumpy little man, whose
boldness and prudence made him
the TERROR of criminals, was sent to
serve it. Abe, who was on the look
out for some such visitation, saw
him coming, and prepared himself.
He stood in the doarway, with his
rife flung carelessly across his left
arm.
"'Hold on thar, Davew he cried,
as the latter came up. The sheriff,
knowing his man, halted.
al hate to fling away my manners,
Dave he went on, but folks is git
tin to be mighty funny these days.
A mans obleeged to s'arch his best
frien's fore he kin find out the'r
which ways. Dave, what sort of q
docyment is you got ag'in me!'
81 got warrant, Abe said the
sheria, pleasantly.
"Well, Dave, hit won't fetch Inc,
said Abe.
"'Oh, yes~ said the sheriff. Yes,
it will, Abe. l bin a-usin' these
kind er warrants mighty long time,
an they fetches 4 fellow every
whack.'
"'Now, I'll tell you what, Dave,
said Abe, pat.ing his rife. i got a
docyment here that'll fetch you a
blame sight quicker'n your docyment
III fetch me; an 1 tell you right now,
plain an fiat, / hain't a-gwine to be
drug areun' an slapped in Jail.
"The sheriff leaned careessly
against the rail fence in the attitude
of man who is willing to argue an
interesting question.
"'WelI, 1 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 war
rant 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 ez
you please
Dave said Abe, if you come in
at that gate you er goner.
"'Well, Abe, the sheriff replied, i
lowed you'd kick; know what hu
man natur' on these hills is, an so
| thes axed some er of the boys to
come along. They er right down
thar in the holler. They hain't got
no mo- idea what | come fern the
man in the moon; yit they'd make a
mighty peart posse. Tooby shore, a
great big man 1.-The you amt afeard
fer ter face little bit er law
"Abe Hightower hesitated mo-
ment, and then went into the house.
In few minutes he issued forth and
went out to the gate where the sher-
iff was. The faces of the two men
were study. Neither betrayed any
emotion nor alluded to the warrant.
The sheriff asked after the scrap,
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 tive rode away.
Once during the ride Abe said:
"'Tm mighty glad it want that
feller what run agi'n you last fall,
Dave
"'WhyY asked the sheriff.
"'Bekaze I'd "a plugged him, Ger
tain an shore, said Abe.
We'll" said the sheriff. laughing,
Il wuz a.wishing' mighty hard tbes
about that time the t'tother feller
had got 'lected.