Iron County register., 1900-05-03
ne had better make the best of a bad

he had better make the best of bad
business. The struggle with his con-
science was short. He looked at the
dark, deep hole where the stream
FLASHED into the pool, and shuddered.
The struggle was over. He had stood
by his duty long enough. Surely IL
would be folly to go further. So when
the time had expired, and the shep-
herd asked his decision, Il suppose III
hae to dae it, he said; "but I'll pay
We out yet"
''Never fash yourself about that"
said the shepherd. Come moo and Wen
haze crack wi yon saumon.'
With an i'll grace the bailiff took
the hooks and addressed himself to his
unpleasant task. At first he made lit
tie attempt to catch the fish. He had
a vague hope that in time relief would
come from some quarter, and he put
off the evil moment. Meanwhile the
shepherd taunted him from behind.
"Eh, man! We haze little skill. The
saumon's playing wi ye. Div ye no see
he's fair lauchin' at We? And, by the
oAiAAA tildl fISAI VI Jul
to the court-will it be sune, div We
think, or will we pit it aft indefinitely? :?
Personally 1 would recommend the last
way-but ony way We like"
But taunts were of no avail. The
bailiff did not in the least feel his hon
or offended, and his efforts were still
languid. At last the shepherd grew i'm
patient.
See here he said. Its nae use de-
layin'. we've got TO catch that sau-
mon. and if We dinna be smart III pit
ye IN the water again. BY the way
he added, casually, "herS's Jock Shiel
himself comm. If 1 were you I'd hur-
ry up and catch that flush afore ony-
body saw me-"
The bailiff glanced round and there.
sure enough, the six foot of stalvart
shepherd came on leisurely down the
road. His last hope fed. There was
nothing to be expected from the new
conner, whom he knew as Il notorious
pOacher. Besides, it was better that
there should be no witness to his deed.
So he doggedly recalled his ancient
skill, and set himself to catch the
salmon with all speed. With much art
he gradually drove the fish upward
on to the shadows.
Fine, mani" said the shepherd. ap-
provingly. Il keened We were just
shammin'. It's no i'll to see we've been
at the business afore. Set a thief to
catch a thief and max poacher into
bailiff. Ie haze skill after "a Great,
man-great! Just be cautious. moo
autiOus-canny-an there We haze
him"
And just as Jock came up the glitter
ing back was landed at his feet.
Man, Jock" said the shepherd.
''ye're over late. We've been ha'ein'
grand sport, me and the bailiff. He
could gle points in saumon catchin'
even to YOU
The bailiff turned to Jock Il TAX
you to witness that | haze been forced
to this"
Il ken nocht about that" said Jock,
smiling. "A | ken is that | saw a bail
if landin' a saumon."
'Ay," quoted the shepherd. irrever-
emily; ''he diggit pit for ithers and
fell Until t himself"
The bailiff glared savagely at the
two men with impotent hatred in his
face. Rage and helpless longing for
vengeance filled his heart and choked
his utterance. Then he blurted out an
oath and flung himself off.
stop a minute. my bonny man.
said the shepherd. Yell surely never
lea'e this fine saumor ahint ye. Weel.
a willfu' man maun gang his ain gait.
But TAX my advice and tell them that
employs We to pit in bigger men for
bailiffs, or the saumon Wilma haze
muckle chance up the muirs.''
The bailiff deigned not to reply. He
set his shoulders square. drew up his
small body to its utmost and strobe
over the ridge with high dudgeon writ
large on his squat little figure. The
other two watched him as he disap-
peared, mirth and a kind of pity strug-
Cling for mastery in their faces. But
the ludicrous picture of the folIorn
little instrument of the law was too
much for their kinder feelings. 4
storm of laughter caught ard shock
the shepherd. Presently Jock joined,
and these two gigantic men roared in
their mirth. their sides heaving with
paroXysms of laughter and the tears
rolling down their cheeks.
1t was not till long after the bailiff
had vanished over the ridge of moor
land that the shepherd. weak with
laughter, dried his eyes and turned to
Jock. Hunger" he said. oracularly,
| "tames a craw, and cauld waiter 4
bailiff.' And with these sage words
the SheDherd whist led on his doos and
collecting his errant sheep. went
chuckling up the moorland road.-N.
Y. Tribune.
Her Motto.
The mani aha1-S of q Rihln clnS II, n