The Constable Who Stole a Deadbeat's Pants

They tell a good story of a constable up to the town of Huron. Several months ago, he was given a judgment of $50 against a 'respectable' deadbeat in that town. The constable was offered more than his usual fee if he should collect the money, and he spent weeks looking for property upon which to make a levy. But all in vain; his efforts were only ridiculed. Then he resolved to make a levy anyway. He learned that this man was accustomed to go to the local bay for a swim with friends every Saturday evening, and he watched his chance. It came last Saturday, when he crept stealthily up to the spot where the man's clothes were lying upon the bank, while their owner was disporting to the water below. An armful of the clothing, hat, shoes and all, was hastily gathered up by the constable, who shouted to his victim that he found he was 'onto' him at last. Protests and threats from the angry man in the water were of no avail. A parley of an hour ensued, during which the constable clung to the clothing, while the unhappy man sat in the water, clad only in his innocence. Finally, one of the man's companions, a responsible citizen, took pity on him and agreed to pay the debt with costs, whereupon the clothes were delivered over to the shivering defendant.