SELLING A SERGEANT.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 34, 27 June 1877, Page 3

SELLING A SERGEANT.

(From the Londonderry Standard.) Not long ago the guardians of the law connected with a township about twenty miles from Derry were " sold" in a most aggravating fashion by a simple, untutored child of the soil. Rusticus, it appears, k being a " connoiaeur" in mountain dew, ] was driving to its destination in C— —, a tight little keg of the contraband article carefully concealed under a load of turf. En route, he stopped over night at a decent farmer's house, and, doubtless, slept the sleep of the just, notwithstanding the seeming error of his ways. A fellowguest, however, possessed of a keen, discriminating nose, seems to have fathomed the secret of the wayfarer, and is the morning made haste to overtake ►v tbe cart, which was then approaching the town. Passing his friend of the keg with • hearty morning salutation, he hurried on to tbe police barrack and lodged in information, tbe effect of which was that a sergeant went out to meet the incoming cart In the hope of making a seizure. Meantime the suspicions of Bustious had been awakened by tbe unwonted haste of bis friend, and so at a certain part of the road he bad concealed tbe keg in the month of a large pipe or drain which chanced to be "convenient." Tbe sergeant being a man who liked to effect the seizure according to tbe rules of art, made an offer, on meeting his intended prisoner ta purchase bis turf for £1— Serhaps three times its market value. Inch to that official's surprise his offer was accepted, and the cart drove up to the barrack-square, where Paddy emptied his load with cheerful alacrity, spreading it ostentatiously over the largest possible

area. Immediately the constables swooped down upon the turf and raked vigorously but in vain for the prize. And now was the sergeant "rilled" indeed, for, not only had he missed the whiskey, but he had bought an indifferent load of turf, for which he had no use, at an exorbitant price. A veil must be drawn over the refit of the scene—suffice it to say that Rnsticug, by resorting to the nearest S.V: kept his man to the bargain and west home rejoicing.