The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-02-15
AHEAD OF The JAlLER.

AuekU Ur Inc JAILIns
A Horse-Thie Surprises Deputy
Sheriff.
Nv father was Sheriff of a certain
county in Kansas about twenty
years ago and during certain sum-
mer we received on a sentence for
six months very tough fellow
named Joe Williams. He had been
sentenced for attempted horse-steal-
ing, and my father knew that sharp
watch must be kept over him or he
would take French leave.
Joe had put in about two weeks
of his term when my mother start
ed off on visit, was hurt en- route,
and father had to go to her. His
first deputy and assistant jailer was
a man of so, named Stebbins, who
was his cousin. "Steb" was a pep
perry old chap and great brag and
liar. According to his statements
he had licked more men, killed
more Indians, run down more horse
thieves and helped lynch more des-
peradoes than any other man liv-
ing. Father cautioned him over
and over about watching Williams,
who was the only prisoner we had,
and "Steb" sturdily replied:
"You go right along and rest easy,
Henry. If l was fool huff to let
him get away I'd expect to be shot
and throwed to the gophers."
Father had scarcely gone when
Williams began calling, and l went
into the corridor with the old man
to see what was wanted. l was only
10 years old, but l can wildly re-
call everything. The Jail was made
of rough stone, and one-half of it
was the Sheriff 8 residence. The
Jail part was only one big room,
with a plain but stout iron-grated
door leading into the corridor. AS
the weather was warm both corridor
doors were open. When we looked
in on Joe he said:
"See here, Steb, l hear you are
Dragging good deal about how
many men you have put on their
backs"
There's no brag about it, replied
the old man. II never found hu-
man 1 couldn't lay down in FIVE
minutes"
= "That's all wind, and you know
it !" retorted Joe. "You ought to
be ashamed of your jaw"
"Who are you talking to?'
"To you, you old wind-bag! You
talk of wrestling! Why, kin
grease the floor with your carcass. D
Don't git my dander up," warn
ed Steb, in a tremulous voice, "or
I'll trounce you."
"Trounce me! Say, old blow
hard, l kin lather you with one hand
tied behind me! If l could only
git at you I'd make you holler in
one round"
"Shet up"
II won't, and you amt big 'nufl
to make me-"
Eyes, / am"
you're liar!"
"Take that back -
"Never |"
take that back or I'll come in
and make pulp of you"
"You dasn't! I'll dare ye to
come in and pint finger at me J"
Some more of this followed and
Steb got the idea that he must en-
force his authority or suffer loss
of prestige. He was the older, but
also the bigger man, and he kept
getting mad until he finally peeled
off his coat, unlocked the door and
lodged in. He made for Williams.
but the latter ducked under his arm
upset me at the door and was of
like a shot, and before pursuit could
be organized he was beyond reach.
Old Steb stood in the back door
and watched him for fully five min.
utes before saying a word. Then
heard him growl:
"Consarn him for skipping out,
but I've got the consolation OF
knowing that he's the forty-third
man Tve licked outer his boots in
the last five years IN. Y. Sun.
A Haunted Pitcher.
Ahont five miles from Aiken, sc.