THE sheriff's OFFICER. 139 



my friend, we feel much obliged to you ; and here is something for 

 your trouble.** Jem drew back. " No,'* said he, " I did id all for love, 

 ril take no money;** and jumping from the road, was soon lost 

 in the wood. The gate was opened, and they drove up to the house ; 

 a jaunty-looking groom came and took care of the horse, and the 

 sherifT 8 officer and his man proceeded to the house door and were 

 admitted. " The master is in,'* said one of the servants, " what name 

 shall I give.** ** Oh, never mind the name,** said the stranger ; " say 

 a gentleman wants to see him." " Two," mutters Barney. The 

 visitors were desired to walk into the next room, and there met Col. 

 Morley. *' Your business, gentlemen," said the Col. " Our busi- 

 ness, sir," said Barney's master, *' is one which I am sorry to have 

 to execute, and is nothing less than arresting you ; here is our autho- 

 rity." " Arresting me," said the Col., " why, what the devil do you 

 mean." *' You are indebted to a certain Mr. Gregson, tailor, of 

 Dublin, in the sum of £110," said the officer. " Its a lie," said the 

 Col. " Well, but," said the stranger, " I have several bills against 

 you; here is a wine-merchant's bill for £170." "Yes," said 

 Barney, "for £170." " Why," said the Col., "you are both mad." 

 " Excuse me, sir," said the stranger, "but is not your name Mr. Mo — ." 

 " Yes, to be sure it is," said the Col. " and if you are not offin two 

 minutes, I'll have you thrown into the horse pond, you two infenial 

 swindling scoundrels." " Then I am to suppose you will resist the 

 execution of this warrant, and forcibly keep me from anesting you." 

 " You, shall see," said the Col. " Doyle, Rafferty, Thomas ;" the 

 servants immediately rushed in. " Do you see those men." " Yes, 

 yer honner," said they. Thomas took a lengthened survey through 

 the ring of a bunch of keys, with one eye, and said— " Yes, yer 

 honner, I see them plain enough." " These men have come to 

 arrest me." " Oh ! have they," said Doyle. " What's to be done 

 with them," said the Col. " Crop their ears," said Thomas. *' No, 

 that's too severe," said the Col. " Make them eat the writs, and 

 wash them well down with pump water," said Rafferty. Here 

 Barney fell down on his knees, and was followed by the sheriff's 

 officer, and both strongly protested that if let off this time, they never 

 would offer to serve him with another writ to the last day of their 

 lives. This did not satisfy the scrupulous Thomas, who pleaded 

 hard for their condign punishment, but was finally persuaded to 



