Evening journal., 1892-01-06

the exciseman.
BE It SO. / suppose you know that
Jock has sworn to brain the first revenue
officer who dares to set foot within his
doorssn
"I'll even take my chance of it. Search
his house this very day / will.n
"Well, my good friend, +" sighed the mag
istrate, "if you will not be advised you
must even gan your own gate. A wiilful
mon will hae his way; but for your own
sake l wish you would think better Of it.n
The officer, however, was not to be
moved by either fears or favors; so the
necessary search warrant was duly made
out, and he started alone upon what was,
/ TO say the least, a dangerous errand. Al
though alone, however, he had taken the
precaution to be well armed, and being
| really brave man, felt no fear as to the
consequence Of his proceedings.
| On arriving at his destination he found
Stockoe sitting over peat fire, alone ex-
| cept for the presence OF young girl.
Thrusting his legal document before the
| eyes OF Stockoe, who, being unable to read,
knew just as little as he cared what it was.
he announced his business.
The smuggler, sitting with his head rest
| ing upon his hands, neither looked up nor
Without a words or interruption from
the smuggler, the exciseman commenced
his search, going through his self imposed
! task thoroughly, like one accustomed TO
the tricks and wiles OF the smuggling
| crew He ransacked the room, hunted
through the closet delved into the oat-
meal chest, pried into the cowhouse, and
| found-nothing.
Encouraged by Stockoe's apathy or ter
ror, the man Of law next inquired, "What
is up thereW pointing, as be spoke, to the
loft.
Stockoe jerked his head in the direction
Of the ladder.
The exciseman climbed this, feeling elat-
ed at his success in bullying the redoubted
smuggler
ut only requires a little common sense.
with true courage he said TO himself.
land these wild fire eaters will become as
meek as mice Who would have supposed
that this huge. numbering fellow was a
coward, with no more pluck than q school
girlW
Communing after this manner with him.
self, he continued to prosecute his search.
Very soon a perfect shower Of turfs and
peat, with avalanohes Of straw and hay,
descended into the lower apartment.
careful investigation failed to bring to
light any Of the articles Of contraband for
which he sought. Somewhat disconnected
and chagrned at the non-success which
had attended his labors, he descended and
prepared to depart
"Lassie," now said Jock Stockoe, "bring
me Brown Janet"
The girl disappeared only to return inn
mediately with a large oaken sapling-a
young tree which had been twisted up by
the roots, and formed weapon fit for
Samson.
Nov, you rascal" he thundered to the
astonished disturber OF his peace and quiet
'if you will even turn an honest mans
house upside down, you must leave it as
you found it,
What do you mean by this outrage?n
stammered the exciseman, as soon as he
could regain his breath.
II mean that you will put back all this
mess into yon loft, or l will break every
bone in your ascurseds body, you sooun-
drelly land rat"
The exciseman wanted not courage. lie
drew pistol, but a sudden blow with the
cudgel knocked it up, and as it exploded
the bullet lodged harmlessly in one Of the
rafters. The next moment the cudgel was
thrust full into his face, and Stockoe with
eyes ablaze with terrible anger, glared
down upon him.
Spare me, for the sake OF my wife and
children" gasped the terrified man, who
expected nothing less than instant death.
Get about your work." growed the
smuggler, expediting the others move
ments with kick. PUT all these things
back just rs you found them. Quick,
nowp
With a heavy heart the supervisor set
about the task. It was novelty 20 him,
and a painful one. Like many modern
critics, he had hitherto found the work Of
destruction more congenial than that Of
construction. II had been one thing for
him TO tumble jocks winter stores about
the ears Of their owner-it was quite an
other for him TO be compelled TO replace
them. Yet il must be done there was no
escape The eyes OF the smuggler were
upon him. So he worked on, grooming
YEARLY the while. Whenever he hesitated,
shake Of the club sulliced to quicken his
ungainly movements. For four mortal
hours he toiled on, until every square Of
turf and peat had been replaced and the
last bundle Of fodder had been put back
again.
AS the final signs Of litter were cleared
away, Jock said;
Now, mon, be seated, wiz yen
Exhausted with his endeavors, and al
most more dead than alive, the disgraced
supervisor complied.
"Run, girl, and fetch us the other Brown
Janet"
This time the little maid brought a gray
hen, |. e.. huge bottle OF brandy. Fill
ing two cups with the liquor, Jock tossed
one OF and then handed the other to his
visitor, who drank with evident relish.
1T is good, said Jock, Every good Of
the kind, and never paid duty either.
Now, just listen to mel have a word to
say-then 20 aud see that you never come
here again. You are the first man who
could say that be ever searched my house.
let You do so, and forgive you, because
you are nobbut a stranger in these parts;
but il you ever think Of playing this game
again, take my advice and get measured
for your coffin before you leave home.n
Nothing 10th, the revenue officer quilted
the dwelling Of his dangerous entertainer,
who was ever afterward left to follow his
free trade pursuits unmoested by the resi-
dent agents Of the government
The story might have ended here, but ii
y universally and everlastingly true that
the way Of the transgressor is hard. The
evil doer weaves the web Of his own punish
ment.
Jock Stockoe, after having for many years
maintained the sanctity Of his well worn
habitation inviolate, paid the penalty Of
his rashness and his crimes. He was shot
dead upon the Northumbrian shore in a
bloody fight with the representati ives OF the