The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-01-08
THE SHERlFF'S
- DEPUTY. -

>By LUcy BAKER>' JEROME.

:s::sssss:s3sss
Fey lucy sAxER, JEROME: s
8 eeoeceoeoeoeoa
IF it had not been for the gray eyes
i. that looked you in the face from
the big SLOUGH hat you might have said
that the sheriff's deputy was the pro-
verbal square peg In the round hole
Every one in PUTNAM Creek had Won
dered when Jack Farley, standing but
I'VE feet two in his feathers, with
voice like a woman's, countenance
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
blnfing, who boosted that he was the
terror of evil doors all over the state.
r. Since the deputy's election, now some
three months cold, his duties had main
" consisted in interfering in . few
cock fights, forbidden sport now, save
In precincts out Of reach of the law;
I'm the keeping Of an eye on the sa-
looms along the river front, and In
guiding convivial and belated wander
ers gently toward the lookup at the
farther end of town. But this morn
ing the town was astir. Big Pete, who
made his home in the pine-covered
mountains, descending only at long in
tervals to secure the needed supplies
for his cleverly concealed cabin fsi
up some mountain trail, was wanted
and the sheriff had set out to secure
him.
He had ridden into town the night
before; had become involved in 9 hasty
quarrel with man whom he had never
seen till that moment; had drawn his
revolver and shot, once twice-and q
man stretched at horrible length lay
prone in the dusk, while miles away,
heading toward the mountains that
rose gray and grim against the sky
line, rode pursuer and pursued with
but league between.
The sheriff returned the next day
angry and excited. Farley rode mildly
In his rear. They had ridden 40 miles
into the mountains only to be baffled
by QUE of Big Pete's clever tricks. Cut
ting across stream which in dry
weather served as a ford, he had
crossed it again half a mile farther up
Its bank, had discovered the footprints
OF a band of wild mustangs and,
doubling on their tracks, had success
fully eluded Ms pursuers, who, riding
on In mad haste, were happily uncon-
scious that Big Pete rode leisurely
along in their rear. On the return way
they had been met by an old noun
taineer who explained the ruse to them
% convincingly 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 q casual observer, slightly
bored, but the eyes under the SLOUGH
hat were unusually bright and keen,
and not word of the heating argyll
ments that occurred was lost on him.
He sat. quietly on dilapidated box,
hastily upended for the convenience
Of his small stature, and appeared to
DO lazily chipping bits Of wood from
the corner of the log building. He
leaned forward q little to look at the
hast speaker.
Z 'sWhat d'you say, Jim?"
An old man with grizzled hair and
beard turned slowly toward the dep
uty. -:
Il Hes got some things cached on the
mountain side. I seen him there one
day. He was windin' round the place
Hike . hawk"
where att" asked Farley, indiffer-
emily.
The old man leaned eagerly forward.
SAY! You know that big flat-top pine
up beyond the fork of the Snow river
canyon? It's by the big bald bluff 40
foot along the river bed"
II wonder If Hartn know about that
placer" queried the deputy in his soft
voice, rising as he spoke and casting
.askeen glance about. ~
&. The old man shot contemptuous
glance at him. II guess the sheriff
will get him all right" he commented
1aconically, fitting his chair on it's
hind legs that he might have an I'M
interrupted view of Farley's face.
s.HArt's pretty keen on the scent, and
~ xir't no SLOUGH when his minds
ado up. reckon we'll hear some
thing to-morrow. II Hart can't get
him, nobody can.
TO txis last remark PUTNAM Creeks