The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-20
SHORT STORIES OF THE DAY.

Il have been fishing in the Potomac for
the last fifteen years, and | never heard
o. shark getting into the historic
stream said Louis Rudolf an ardent
disciple of IzaaL Walton and a member
of the Sycamore Fishing Club of Chevy
Chase. enc day last week. However, on
Monday last l came pretty near believing
that one of the salt water scavengers had
me. ard 1 would not have given thirty
cents for my chances at the time.
You see, l was on a fishing expedition
with some friends, and we had hired
two-masted 'bugeye' from a native. We
were cruising around the lower Potomac
below St Georges Island, and had dozen
lines out. l had big strong line. with
big hooks, SO that a taller might not bite
through, and had pretty good luck with big
trout. | was bothered with a number OF
severe tugs which had nearly lost me the
line, and to make sure of il tied one end
around my waist ard sat on the extreme
edge of the boat feeling for bites.
Suddenly the line was whirled out oil
my hands with a fierce jolt. and before l
knew what the matter was | was tangled
up. and, in the excitement. went over
board like a shot. / had sense enough to
yell shark before going under, and my
companions armed themselves for the fray
Well the thing on the other end of the
line nearly drowned me. and hauled me
about at its pleasure. 1 was certain it
must be a shark, and my sensations were
anything but pleasant. Finally got close
to the boat and was hauled in. Two oil
my friends caught the line and fought the
expected shark for fully half an hour.
When his finny highness was tired out we
hauled him in and found drum hsh wnlcn
was four feet three inches long. He was
a harmless fellow. but / won't get over
my shark scare for some time to come.
For a good example of stupidity, give
me the sheriff and deputies that hold forth
in the average country town." said local
newspaper man the other day. Il bumped
up against the game in the early part of
my career as a purveyor of news and
have never forgotten it.
Il was working on a sheet down South.
The town had begun to attain metropolitan
proportions, speaking from a Southern
standpoint, and the routine l had, that OF
the court house, was one of the most i'm
portant on the paper. As usual thing,
was pretty careful about writing up any
thing that would give offence to the county
officials, and was therefore given pretty
free access to the records One day went
into the sherin's office and was looking
over a fresh batch Of indictments on which
warrants were going to be issued. l did
not expect TO use any of them until au-
thorized to do SO by the sheriff. However.
noticed one against a man by the name
OF Jim Tucker who was one of the charac
ters of the town. He was charged, in con-
junction with another man, with running
a speakeasy.
Tucker was one of those incompetents,
known as Crackers who drift into cities
find the battle of life too strong for
them, and resort to some means whereby
they can make both ends meet with little
or mo exertion. He was an inoffensive.
harmless fellow currently reported non
compos mentis.' and with good cause, from
what / knew of him. He was the butt of
half the newspaper jokes in the town and
| could not resist the temptation OF writing
him UP in jocular fashion, just to please
the boys.
when 1 went to the court house the
next day | was given a very chilly recep-
ton. The deputies refused to speak to me.
and as for the sheriff. he simply glared.
asked for an explanation.
"'You wrote story about Jim Tuck
al
easy said the sheriff. He'll hide out now
for aboiit six months and we'll not be able
to get linn
'Didf't you get his partner?' / asked.
Yes. but we haven't got Jim
Il II find him for you / said. I see
him every day. He is too silly to give
anybody the Slip
That very afternoon I saw jim leaning
up against a lamp post. It was winter.
but he wore the same old straw hat he
had worn for the past three years. and
there was no mistaking him. / passed
him and met a deputy
Go right up on the next corner 1
said to the deputy. and you will find Jim
Tucker. He IS the man with the straw
hat and he won't move for an hour
THE deputy started off. but stopped
into saloon TO get a drink. When he
came out an hour or so later Jim had
moved.
After that ! did not see Jim for about
two weeks. When | met him again he had
On the same old straw hat and was lean
ing up against the same lamp post.
stopped and began talking with him. Jim
felt troubled.
Mr. -" he said in a weepy sort of
way. Il feel bad The sheriff has arrested
the best friend ever had. He is a good
man. who never did anybody any harm
/ have been ont to the Jail TO see him.
but they won't let me in
That's ali right, JIM / said ri
fix you up. L know the sheriff, and I'll
give you note to him. He'll let you see
your pal, and YOU can stay with him as
long as you want to-
Jim wept few tears OF gratitude, and
wrote note to the sheriff. l was not
afraid 20 say what l wanted to. for Jim
could not read. AS near as / can remem-
br my communication was like this:
This is Jim Tucker. lie has been mp to sec
sou several times. Let him in this time. lie
has friend who is staring with you.
Jim took the note up to the sheriff
who was also warden OF the Jail lie was
welcomed gladly. and il is unnecessary to
state that he did not get away for some
time. Later On. | felt rather conscience
stricken over the part / had played and
got him out on a straw bond, and he went
back to the rural districts from which
he came
ATTACKED BY AN OCTOPUS.