Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-25
Spoiled by Office.
! He Kept Upthe Dignity of Sheriff,
but Got Into Debt.


my wife, she don't think I'd orter
be a sheriff"
Hearing the unfamiliar, high pitch
ed, piping voice, Mrs. Charles peered
through the panels of the Japanese
screen that concealed her desk and
chair in the bay window alcove Of her
husbands office and saw a tall, lean,
sunburned young man, with one
brawny shoulder braced awkwardly
against the casing Of the outer door as
he looked down in awestruck admira-
ton at the lawyer whose pen was rap
Idly filling in the various counts Of
complaint in a writ.
"Ah! How is that?"
"She. says I'd better stick to farm
In. She says l shall lose more in the
long run than | shall make, but any
body hadn't always orter be on the
make, he'd they? And there has to be
sheriffs."
Certainly, and the citizens Of a
county should cheerfully serve their
turn in filling the offices prescribed by
law. There should be no vulgar scram-
BILE for Office nor a Sinking Of response
bility."
"Jes' so. l must remember that to
tell Mari. 1t may reconcile her to hav-
In me gone some err the time"
"Your legitimate duties will not Of
ten take you from the farm, and l fan
cy you are too well settled to be led
astray by bad company or to go idling
about to magnify your Office"
"Waal, I guess not. I've allus stuck
ter hum pretty close, and I don't know
as I shall like sherifin at all. You'll
hev ter tell me what ter do. l don't
know no more how to sarve a writ
than that lettle stump tail dog over
there do"
The little animal, recognizing the
word dog, wagged his short tail, and
the young farmer, laughing a little,
gave his attention as the man Of law
unfolded the document, explained it
and gave explicit directions to the new
ly made officer.
"Who is hep came from a voice in
the alcove as soon as the door was
closed.
stephen Staples" was the reply.
"You know his farm, v e in Staples
hollow"
"Where we called for a drink of milk
once when we were driving? His wife
Is one Of the old fashioned homespun
kind, a staple Of the community, you
told her that day, and her voice sounds
like distant thunder"
"Jes' So" laughed Squire Charles In
comical imitation of his client, and the
matter was dropped for that time.
At intervals the sheriff came to the
Office or the lawyer mentioned seeing
him here and there.
"Steve Staples can't be doing much
farming" he would say. II am afraid
a poor sheriff is spelling a good farm
err"
STAPLES has a new suit. l hardly
knew him when I met him In the city
today. He evidently enjoys his little
journeys in the world"
Next it was, STAPLES is wearing tan
colored Shoes" and later at court time:
STAPLES is sporting a high hat and q
cane. He strikes an attitude like
Judge Coleman, and the uninitiated
might take him for a member Of the
legal profession"
II wonder what his wife thinks Of
IT." remarked Mrs. Charles.
The question was answered by that
good woman in person several months
later. She came into the office with
her husband early Il midsummer
morning. They both looked neat and
b~usinesslike in Bingham and denim,
but 1t was Staples who piped excusing.
ly: "Come In a hurry; didn't fix up"
"The clothes he wore before he took
up sherifin are good enough to yea
when he rides with me-" said his wife
In low, heavy ground tones. "They
are as good as he can afford, and, best
Of all, they are paid for. The things
be had to mortgage the farm to buy |
don't take no stock in myself don't"
"Has it come to that?" asked Squire
Charles in surprise.
"Jes' So" piped Staples. "Ill tell
you how twas. We've come to get the
papers made"
who are you going to mortgage 1t
toT asked the lawyer to gain time, for
he would not for the world have had
his wife miss hearing the story.
"Oh, Mrs. Staples %here-she's got
money!
eyes, I've got money, but he won't
git 1t to sheriff around on unless I have
security" Z
"That is all proper" said the mar Of
law. ooh, here's my wife! You'd be
pleased to meet Mrs. Staples again, my
dear. Now let us hear about these per-
plexities."
"Waal, twas this way" said the
farmer, who had left his chair and
braced his shoulder against the door
frame in the old way, where he could
look down upon the desk: "All along