The Winslow mail., 1898-12-17
our possession. am going to do it

"His reply was flourish Of the club
By this time the boat had again
touched the raft. and the sheriff III an
instant lcapod aboard her and ap-
preached lis antagonist, saying
Sir, You may as well submit peace
ably; Tor do you think snail Iaan like
am came here 10 fight you-a big
clustering idiot? For such you are il
you think you can escape with thi2
lumber when 1 have the whole Of Penn
syiyania at my back
''As the sheriff spoke, his slight fig
ure expressed so much dignity and
fCCTiccSG Cs5, and his voice rang ont in
such manly tones, that, fired by his
grit, I. too, stepped on the raft, and
reaching around him, tried to seize the
raftsman's club.
AT this moment II big men sprang
from their cOncealment behind the
shingles.
t''Now we are in for it!' thought I.
Who ordered you to interfere.
young man?' said the sheriff, looking
at me with eyes as stern as fate. Re
turn to that boat Immediately. When
you are needed ] will let you know.
This is not a free fight
81 obeyed, feeling small enough.
Now, men, go back to your Places
said the sheriff, addressing the crew.
Don't be foolhardy, and get your
selves in a worse scrape.
Hello, Bill! What yer doin'?' in
luired one of them of the pilot. who
had come on board a few miles back,
and was employed to guide the raft
down the river.
Well, I'll tell yer. I'm putin on
ny coat, cause I'm not goin' to git in
the same box with you fellers. That
little man there is our sheriff, an
mean to obey him. He's never known
to back down.
Good for you, Bill!' exclaimed the
sheriff, recognizing him. You're the
right sort. Now just take that oar
again under my directions
"'All right, sir he replied.
'And back he went.
'''That little rascal will have his own
way, anyhow remarked the man who
had first repelled the sheriff, so boys,
we may as we'll give up to him.
lone by one they returned to their
posts, and so far the victory seemed
secured.
'Thc sheriff, meanwhile, picked up q
stick, began whiting it in the coolest
way possible; but, nevertheless, he
kept close watch over the men, and,
after awhile, noticed that something
was brewing.
"Ca."elessly sauntering up to the
pilot he inquired:
"'What is it, Bill?'
They re tryin' to git ye over to the
falls, sir
"Now the Conewago falls are the
boundary line between Dauphin and
an adjoining county, and it is exceed
ingly dangerous, unless under eX-
perienced guidance, to pass them.
Tho sheriff stepped forward, with
defiant laugh, and said:
"'You fellows are the biggest fools
I've met in long time. You think by
gettingme overt to the falls that you viii
be oug OF my jurisdiction. Don't you
see that have taken possession Of this
raft and all on it? l might take you
to Philadelphia, and still have you in
my power, SO you may as well abandon
that little trick. Jones, dent pull
quite so hard! There! that's it, Now
we'll run OF to Conewago island and see
what VIC can do about those shingles.'
T'hH11 C,Niorr 10 hn l.11 I, !,
Bill, when we get to the island, I'll
leave you to see about the unloading
Not another word did he speak I'M
til the island was reached, which was
but q short distance ahead.
Calling to some men who were at
work upon it, he had, under Bills di-
rection, the shingles taken Off and
piled up neatly under the trees, amid
the disappearing mutterings CT the
crew; but they never raised finger.
When all was done, he said:
Now, men, I've got what camc for
the shingles and not you. so you can
go your way, and next time see you,
Bill. We'll have a friendly settlement.
Good-by!'
"And leaping into the skif, we
rowed the little sheriff back to the
White House.
"Quite a crowd had collected along
the shore as we returned. and you
never heard heartier cheers than
greeted us.
Headed by Mr.. Hunt, they carried
the sheriff into the tavern upon their
and, few years after, when
some OF those very raftsmen were
gallant leader to take them
through the war, who do you think
they chose?"
The brave little sheriff, sir" I re-
olied
That's so. The little sheriff then,
and now your fathers and my friend
Capt. Darby"
"No. Mr.. Bristol! That quiet man?
It is not possible!"
''The very same, Mark. Muscle is
good thing in its place, but muscle
without moral courage to direct it
makes but poor show at the best
Golden Days.
Torpedo Boats Lost Speed.
After spending $25,O0O in repairing