St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-04-07

Hetufn N blessings On my darling boz.
Carrie Stern. in Babyho
a LITTLE DIPLOMACY.
It Was Worth More Than Bluff to
a Revenue Collector.
Some years ago received a tcmpoary
appointment in the internal revenue
department, and was assigned TO the
duty of looking up violations OF the
law in regard 10 manufactured tobacco.
All reported irregularities were referred
to me for investigation. I was tel
c2raphei by the collector at Nashville.
upon one occasion. TO go TO Shelbyville
Immediately and take action in case
where a manufacturer. !. II. Ladd, had
been using Cancelled revenue stamps
When arrieed. 1 found Capt Nor
willie, the district deputy, awaiting me
with a posse OF half a dozen men.
Ladd lived twelve or thirteen miles from
Shelbyvillc, in the richest section Of
the county. I explained to Norvillc
that there was no necessity OF going
that night rs Ladd could not remove
his property If he were disposed to do
50; that we would start before day in
order to make the trip, effect the seiz-
ure and return that night ! learned
the following from him: He had come
up with two of Ladd's wagons = couple
of days before in an adjoining county
laden with plug tobacco pnt up in
boxes varying in weight from twenty
five to one hundred pounds each; that
the stamps on them had been reused;
that he had gone the next Gay with =
deputy United States marshal to seize
the factory; that when he arrived old
man Ladd was not at home and the fac
tory was locked. He had gone to the
dwelling for the keys, when Mrs Ladd
told a servant to look for them. She. III
the meantime. stepped out into the
yard and rang the farm bell as vigor-
cusly as If the building was on fire.
In few moments three of Ladd's sons
and hired nan rushed TO the house ~
fast as their horses could carry them
they had been plowing-Mrs Ladd met
them at the gate, and. he supposed.
explained. the situation. They came
into the house, a large two-story frame
with l.. and in moment into the
room where he was sitting, waiting for
the girl to find the keys, armed with
shotguns
Mrs Ladd then abused the officer Tor
everything she could think OF, and or
fcred him to leave and not to stand on
the order Of going; that II he did not
she would have him and the deputy
killed and thrown into the hogpen,
where they ought to be. The old man
did not stand we'll in the collectors
Office, and when Norville returned and
reported the situation by telegraph ]
was ordered to the scene. told him
TO secure a carriage that would accom-.
modate three besides the driver, and an
hour before day we sverc en- route over
n fine turnpike road. When we got in
. front Of the house l saw two men 60 In
from one side, ard noticed several faces
1t the window. two of them females
ordered the driver TO go directly to the
factory almost in the rear Of the dwell.
ing and at a corner of the garden fence.
Leaving the party in the hack re
turned to the house, entering by what
Afterwards ascertained to he the rear
door of the kitchen. An elderly white
woman and a negro girl were in the
room, washing the dishes and clean
ing up after breakfast. asked
politely if this Was Mrs. Ladd. She
5erked out q yes" approached and ex.
Sendcd my hand, assuring her was very
elad to see her. and giving my name.
i was SO friendly, greeted her SO cor
daily. that she was nonplussed for q
moment When ! asked IL Mr.. Ladd
was in she answered yes" in = more
5ng to door leading to the main build
3ng.
opened it and walked in. and there
at fonr men and q fourteen-ycar.o old
10y, all except the old man having Z
aoublc- barrel shotgun lying across hi.
lnn approached the old man and
6aid:
This is Mr.. Ladd. presume7'
.sYes. that is my name"
gave him mine.
.'These are your sons. presumed"
some Oh Inem-
Turning to the one nearest me said
ssYOur nameY'
.:James.'
"Well, James. how do you do? I an
vlad to see you You favor your f.
Her. Eye and forehead exactly"
inquired the name Of every one
! hook hands with each, complimented
u>r~ e<opuod u-hou Ahn .>lr
nan said:
S s'Strangcr. since you have got &c
auaanted with all the boys, there il
sfWo more you ought to know. One il
~ wife and the other my daughter.
ssNarinda, Marinda, you and Zol
ssrcme IN here" he called
IS fexplained that had met his wife
q "a most charming lady she was. bu
59ar3nds came In and was formally
Ss.trodu.ed to her, and shook handl
esvith her again. and complimented hel
- her manly boys Then the daugh
s - came in, who was indeed . modest
Z ,.et GIRL of sixteen. could read il
- fnce Of every one of them: "Wha
|55s|5sea al this smean?" After I ha.
zzs.lked awhile about the weather AM
vsuo. I aslksd Mr.. L1add to step into q
ain1uin9 room with me, rs wished b
~ 10 him privately.
ohl no. not any. It you please.
n have any business with me blur
- This family has no secrets"
11hen told him that had heard that b
q ~ sSsne trouble with Capt Nos