Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-10
THE sHERIFF'S. DAUGHTEp
~'ALE OF MAINE sMUo0l-ERs.
Wontinued from last Saturday,.
EXCEEDING CHAP he SIRE
By J. OTIS SWIFT.

ne stretched his long legs out farther
and farther till he was flying by the
sleeping farmhouses and under the
spreading apple trees like GHOST
speeding through the darkness
Bessie was good enough driver to
know that the safest way was to let
the colt nave his head. and only urge
him to speed. She heard the SNUG
giers in front flashing their horses and
swearing as the stone walls flew past.
The express wagon made great
racket as IL Numbered along the road.
and now and then a light appeared in
I the house of "A farmer by the way. a
head was thrust out of "A window and
watched silently as the race swept by
and was lost in the distance. Again
a great watch dog raced out To bark
fuiiously as the team in front went by.
Once Bessie saw the flash of revolv-
or from the seat of the smugglers'
wagon and a dog ran yelping back To
the house.
"One Of them is a good shot she
muttered through her teeth.
! Bessie. said her father clutching
her arm. IF we come up with them
and there is shooting. keep behind
me -
Not l." said Bessie. shouting to the
horse and urging the reins forward
IheE were now galloping furiously
into "A little villege a doctors car
ria"e stood AT the door where someone
's.was dying in the night. AS the
Heading team went by the physicians
'shorSe started to run. and crashed BY
| Ressies wheels, a shower of splnters
and varnish showing that one of them
had suffered. but as the buggy still
rode safely it was apparent her car
riage was all right.
Passing under the single lamp that
lighted the village street the carriage
i'll front showed clearly. Bessie saw
kedusky hand the reins to his COM
panion, and leaning backward roll the
beer key out into the street Then he
watched to see the wreck he expected.
1t was too late to steer her horse
around it. but she did her best to pass
it with the wheels on one side and the
flying feet of the colt on the other. There
was a shock as the key rolled away
into the gutter and again the buggy
sped on. swaying from side to side Bes-
SIC III iict tNtlttIiitit "dS iloW
ing up and swapping the whip above
the colts back. She could see that
the horses in front We're white with
lather and We're fast losing their
wind. Half mile ahead was a steep
| hill. Here she hoped To nvartake the
| Smugglers. and in the excitement of the
chase she vowed that if they did not
surrender promptly she would shoot
them down like dogs. as they richly
deserved. she thought. for setting the
will Of the people and the constitution
| of the State at naught.
| She forgot that at the foot of the hill
was a narrow pike with the river on
| one side and a wall on the other The
| smuggiers heard the colt gaining upon
| them and drove close to the side of the
stream. There We're two splashes in
the dark. and the horses began to
| slacken their pace.
Bessie drew up the colt in season to
see by the light of the moon which just
then came out from under a cloud.
that the heads of the two outlaws We're
far out in the river. fast making for
the other shore. Enraged at their es-
cape. and excited beyond all bounds by
the rigor of the chase. she ran down
| II the edge of the stream and began
emptying her revolver at the two
dark objects far out in the water.
Her father ran down and threw up
her arm.
| Would you shoot them like dogs in
the water?' he asked. Another time
will leave you at hOme."
Well leave me at home. she
screamed in his face. IF men in your
place would do your duty and use
| your guns oftener. there would be
fewer smugglers and less drinking IN
| Maine"