The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-05-27
TRICKED AN OFFICER
HOW A YANKEE oUTwlTTEo A SUP
PisecsoR CT SMUGGLING.

ways to the Swift.
The boundary line between the United
States and Canada has been the scene of
no end of exciting adventures, because
the desire to cheat cur Uncle Samuel
out of his lawful tariff dues is some
thing that seems to be deeply rooted in
the human breast. There are professional
smugglers, but the larger per cent, l
imagine, are those who, being ON the
Canadian side Ct the line and finding
goods very cheap, cannot resist the temp
tation to try to get them across
Between Maine and the British pcs
sessions is an enormously long stretch Of
boundary line, and patrolling it is en-
tirely cut Of the question, but still, with
all their slips the customs officers do oc-
casionally get held Of clew and run 1T
to the ground-sometimes with results
that are not so pleasant. This was the
case with the officer whose story am
about to tell. At just what part Of I'M
Gle Sans farm line it occurred need not
be told. The story starts upon the Ca
madam side at secluded spot ill the
woods, where man, horse sled with
an enormously big box upon it, good
horse and trunk filled with valuable
articles make u break for the American
side of the line In some way an officer
has got wind Of the attempted snug
Cling, and with still better horse he
starts at full speed after the mysterious
trunk and the driver Of the horse sled.
1t was not until some distance across
the line upon the American side that the
driver CT the horse sled discovered that
he was pursued.
Far back en- distant hill he saw a
team coming at full speed, and knew
its meaning. He got up steam on his
own craft Immediately and the old sled
slid into and cut Of ''thank ye marms"
in a way to make ones hair rise, but
the driver knew very well that he could
not escape Icing overtaken. He only de-
sired to got over the next hilltop and
out Of sight for u moment. When over
the brow Of the Lii, he suddenly pulled
up, took the trunk up in his arms.
climbed on top Of tho enormous box on
the sled, ard holding the trunk as high
as he ooald over the side dropped it in
to big snowdrift, where it sank COM
pletely out Ct sight. Then the race be-
gan again.
Back at the summit Of the last hill
appeared the customs officer i'll hct pur-.
snit, and now lie yelled 10 the man
ahead TO step. but that individual APP
peared singularly deaf and i'll great
hurry as well. He kept his horse at top
speed, and looked neither t. the right
nor left.
A half mile more and ihe officer had
drawn up close behind, when pretense
of not hearing his profane calls could
no longer be made. The driver of the
sled gazed backward over his shoulder,
and then, in apparently great surprise.
he pulled up-so suddenly that the eff
GERS foaming horse nearly plunged
head foremost into the big box.
Wha-wha- what d 'ye want?" drawled
the man ahead.
The reply of the officer is totally UNI
suited for publication. 81 sw ar to ye.
I hain't got thing here" said the
driver of the horse sled.
''Then should like to know what i'll
hades you were trying to get away from
me for, =" said the officer.
''Git away from yer" said the other.
"W'y, gosh mighty! got ter git home
m milk eight caows afore dark, SO I
hain't got no time ter be a-loafln on tho
road. "
''Well, you just haul up, replied the
collector of Uncle Sans duties, land
I'll have look. / know well enough
just what you'y got there. -
Tell ye hain't got thing here but
this old sled n box, - protested the 9TH
er; but the more he protested the more
certain became his pursuer that he had
contraband goods concealed i'll the big
box, the only opening to which was
little door at the end, the normal use Of
the box being for the conveyance Of live
pigs.
The two teams came to standstill,
and the officer got out and investigated
the turnout ahead. He opened the little
door in the rear and looked in. With his
eyes blinded by the glare Of the bright
SNOW, he could see nothing but Stygian
blackness. He locked about for pole or
stick with which to probe the inky in
terror. Stone walls were beside the road
and nothing else.
The suppressor Of smuggling was
man of action. There was nothing else
to do, so he would crawl in the box and
explore the interior. He did so, when,
quick as a flash, the door flew to, the
button turned, and the horse in front Of
the old sled broke into run that threat
ened demolition to tho whole outfit.
Over the uneven road went the team at
the top of its speed, the sled swaying
fearfully and jumping into the air at ev-
cry leap Of tho horse. The man inside
was shaken about like peas in bladder,
the man outside all the while ply ing the
whip and shouting: "Whoar' "Quit
your running away!' Eli, thar"
"Stopr and various other remarks tend
ing to acquaint the unfortunate gentle
man inside with the fact that the horse,
suddenly becoming startled, had run
away.
Tho end came when the driver at last
got his horse under control and sorry
looking object crawled cut Of the little
door.
Gosh mighty" said the driver of
the horse sled, lit wuz few bad the boss
should take it intew his head to run
away jest W EN- you wuz in tharr'
But the minion of the law was too
chagrined fer utterance, and he limped
slowly back mile to where his team
was standing. That night the trunk
was lifted from its bed of snow by the
light Of the moon and carried safely
away. Lewiston Journal.