Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-10-03

unjustly. Threats were made and
plans concocted to go down on some
dark night and slip the moorings o
the old gondola. But the good Doc
tor discouraged any violence. though
he did not prevent the more pioul
brethren from fervently praying that
the good Lord would send q rain and
freshet to sweep the craft of the
wicked down over the dam and to it,
well-deserved damnation and destruc'
ton. When old Domer, the owner
Of the boat and bar, heard Of these
devout imprecations, he threatened in
strong profanity that if such freshet
were sent by the Lord, he would have
them all up before court Of justice fOr
conspiring to destroy his property.
But the contingency never occurred,
though there would have been bon.
fires of rejoicing along the banks had
a high water come to wreck the
wretched old craft among the rifles
and rapids about the dam; nor were
the prayers of the righteous, that avail
much, ever impugned in open court
for destruction of property. But DR..
Andrews by his petition brought the
affair into court and in a more practi.
cal way.
The bridge toll-gate over and above
Domer's craft was then kept by the
well-known genial gentleman, yclept
Jacob Grow. He was hale fellow,
but not a partner with the soakers.
When asked by DR.. Andrews to go
with him to the Maryland court at
Hagerstown to state what style of
goings.on he witnessed at the wharf
and boat, he begged to be excused
he did not want to challenge the ma
lignant enmity of old Domer. The
good Doctor went away sorrowfully
thinking as he said, "Aye, aye; all
know and feel that iniquity should be
nipped, but how few are willing to
help in the nipping when there is any
ill will to be feared"
Some days afterward a well-dressed
gentleman walked over the bridge,
having strangely left his horse and
buggy on the other side, in place of
riding in it over to town as usual.
He said he would pay his fare for
round trip on return. After an hour
or 80 he came back, and, watching
somewhat furtively, he took advantage
of Crows going into the house to
walk rapidly past without paying toll.
This aroused the ire of the treasury
Watchdog, and Jake took after him
for foot race across the bridge-he
meant to have that nickle, if it were
the last act of his existence. A well.
matched race, but Jake kept gaining
on the dodger and finally came up
with him, near the other side, out Of
wind, but in a good, warm temper,
while the other man appeared to be
in rather cheerful mood for a hauled:
up derelict. Grow pumped up in
jets:
"Here, my friend-I-I want-I
want that TOLL
The gentleman looked at him some.
what curiously and du ubiously.
"Are you the toll-gate keeper, Mr..
Jacob Crow2"
"Thst's just who I am, begod 7.
emphasized Jake.
Then his antagonist, who had al
lowed him to get point blank in front
of him, said with an oily smile:
II am the sheriff of Washington
county, Maryland, and have here,
quilting it out of his pocket sub:
poena for jacob Grow to appear at
court in Hagerstown to give testimo-
ny in the case against DOmer and his
whiskey boat. which l hereby serve
upon you.
Jake saw the ruse, how he had
been trapped over into Maryland to
have this writ served upon him. The
fun Of it struck him keenly, as he put
his hand to his head to scratch it.
He acknowledged he was outwitted
and could not help blurting out, but
good-humoredly:
"Well, darn your soul If you
were not bigger man than 1, you'd
be pitched out in the river for this
trick-but, say-did old DR.. Andrews
put you up to it1"
So the eluctant Grow was obliged
to put in an appearance at the Mary
land court to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth about
the old whiskey scow, and it suficed,
or, in the modern slang, what was
drawn out of him twas plenty.