The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-01-08

THE SHERIFF'S
sa ~
BY LUCY BAKER JEROME.

Observation-Disclosures


4F it had not been for the gray eyes
u that looked you in the face from
che big SLOUGH hat you might have said
hat the sheriff's deputy was the pro-
verbal square peg in the round hole.
Ever: one in PUTNAM Creek had Won
sIsred when Jack Farley, standing but
five feet two in his feathers. with a
voice like a womap's, a counteuance
apparently hewn out Of wood and
known as the most modest and retiring
man throughout four counties, had
been appointed deputy to Sheriff Hart,
q. giant in stature and a genius at
bEuffing, who boosted that he was the
terror of evil doors all over the state.
Since the deputy's election, now some
three months cold, his duties had main
gy consisted in interfering in q few
cock fights, forbidden sport now, save
ET1 precincts out of reach of the law;
1H the keeping Of an eye on the sa-
Moons along the river front, and in
guiding convivial and belated wander
@rs gently toward the lookup at the
farther end Of town. But this morn
Eng the town was astir. Big Pete, who
made his home in the pine-covered
iz~.Gnntains, descending only at long in
9ervals to secure the needed supplies
for his cleverly concealed cabin far
sIp some mountain trail, was wanted
and the sheriff had set out to secure
sKrins.
He had ridden into town the night
yTDn<~r,. I'D I>Na~,e sxroI.,-J So. I~-rAr,
quarrel with a man whom he had never
se till that moment; had drawn his
revolver and shot, once-twice-and a
znan stretched at horrible length lay
prone in the dusk, while miles away,
heading toward the mountains that
rose gray and grim against the sky
Zine, rode pursuer and pursued with
But a league between.
The sheriff returned the next day
angry and excited. Farley rode mildly
an his real They had ridden 40 miles
Ento the mountains only to be bafied
2.F enc ef Big pete.s clever tricks. Cut
ting across a stream which in dry
weather served as a ford, he had
crossed it again half a mile farther up
ats bank, had discovered the footprints
of a band of wild mustangs and,
doubling on their tracks, had success
FULLY eluded his pursuers, who, riding
on in mad haste, were happily uncon-
ssciOns that Big Pete rode leisurely
along in their rear. On the return way
they had been met by an old noun
faIneer who explained the ruse to them
SO c0nvincingly that the sheriff vowed
TO return for his quarry at daybreak.
The deputy lounging carelessly out
side the store, listening in silence to
the questions and comments Of the
various groups of men, might have
seemed, to a casual observer, slightly
Fs.ssed but the yes under the slonch
saat were unusually bright and keen,
and not a word of the neasing argu-
znEnfs that occurred was lost on him.
He sat quietly on a dilapidated box,
hastily upended for the convenience
sf his small stature, and appeared to
ne Iazily chipping bits Of wood from
the corner of the log building. He
Eeaned forward a little to look at the
sfaat speaker.
What d,you say, Jim?"
i An old man with grizzled hair ard
beard turned slowly toward the dep
Mty.
He got some things cached on the
anonntain side. / seen him there one
day. He was windin' round the place
like d hawk
Where at?s asked Farley, indiffer-
entity.
IKE old 4 q leaned eagerly forward.
Say You know that big lat-top pine
I'D beyond the fork Of the Snow river
It's BY the big bald bluff 40
foot along the river bed.
wonder If Hart11 know about that
e?s queried the deputy In his soft
VOICE rising as he spoke and casting
keen glance sbout.
6he old man shot a contemnt,1ous
aEaAnce ait him. guess the sheriff
wzll set him MI right, he commented
f4aeonically, fitting his chair s. its
hind legs that he might have al nm
Sntexrupted view Of Fariey,s face
Tart pretty keen On the scent. ana
Ne amt q SLOUGH when his MINDS
smAde up. ! reckon wen hear some
ding tOsTnorToM. IL Hart can,t pat
him. nobpGy CAM.
~ this last remark putnaw Creeks