Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-01-11
Spoiled by Office.
He Kept Up the Dignity Of Sheriff,
but Got Into Debt.

be sheriff
Hearing the unfamiliar, high pitch
cd. piping voice, Mrs. Charles peered
through the panels Of the Japanese
sorcen that concealed her desk and
chair in the bay window alcove of her
husbands Office and saw 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 filing in the various counts of
complaint in q writ.
"Ahi How is that?'
"She says I'd better stick to farm
in. She says | shall lose more in the
long run than l shall make, but any
body hadn't always orter be on the
make, he'd they? And there has to be
sherlfs,"
Certainly, and the citizens of 4
county should cheerfully serve their
turn in filing the offices prescribed by
law. There should be no vulgar scram-
BILE for office nor Sinking of RESPONSE
bility."
"Ies So ! must remember that 30
tell Mari. It may reconcile her to hav-
in me gone some CT the time
Your legitimate duties will not OF
ten take you from the farm, and fan
CIV You are too well settled to be led
astray by bad company or to go idling
about to magnify your office"
"Waal, | guess not I've allus stuck
ter hum pretty close, and don't know
as ! shall like sherittin at all. You'll
hey ter tell me what ter do. ! don't
know no more how to sarye a writ
than that lettle stump tail dog over
there do
The little animal, recognizing the
word dog. waggod his short tail and
the young farmer, laughing a little,
gave his attention as the man of law
unfoIded the document, explained it
and gave explicit directions to the new
ly made officer.
"Who is hep came from voice in
the alcoye as soon as the door was
closed
stephen Staples" was the reply.
you know his farm, over in Staples
hollow"
where we called for 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"
"les So" laughed Squire Charles in
comical imitation Of his client and the
matter was dropped for that time.
At intervals TIE 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. Il am afraid
poor sheriff is spelling a good farm
er"
staples has n new suit. l hardly
knew him when | met him in the city
today. lie evidently enjoys his h,tle
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
cane. He strikes an attitude like
Judge Coleman, and the uninitiated
might take him for member of the
legal profession"
Il wonder what his wife thinks of
l'E' remarked Mrs. Charles
The question was answered by that
good woman in person several months
T. wit
her husband early one midsummer
morning. They both looked neat and
ta~Hesslke i'm Bingham and denim,
nut ii was Staples who piped excusinS-
~. Come in a hurry; didn't fix up"
The clothes he wore before he took
uD shcrtIin are good enough to wear
when he rides with me-" said his wife
70 low, heavy ground tones. "They
aga good Ill lie can afford. and. best
or W. they are paid for Tile things
Ae Iad to mortgage the farr 20 luy |
CON take no stock In myself don't"
Has it come to that?' ash S uire
Charles 10 surprise.
ass so,' piped Staples II tell
F9a how twas. We've come &c, the
t-..ts made
Who are you going to ~ ago it
.". fad the lawyer to gai ae. Tor
f. would not Tor the world had
l sta miss hearing the 81
ron. Mrs Staples here got
U-'
Aes I've got money, but won't
81 r. sheriff around on IN, have
Security"
saat IS all proper" said 4 lan Of
Oh. here's my wife, ID be
sd 10 Meet Mrs. Staples in, my
VOW let Us hear about per
pies Uesv
"aal twas this way" d the
sr who had left his clair and
bis shoulder against the door
n the old way. where be could
down upon the desk: "All along