The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-05-15

in the party, and asked me for chew Of
tobacco, informing mo at the same time
that he was dry as meeting house. -
l carry two kinds-one for myself, and
the other for tobacco beggars, but think
ing it shame to send a man into vast
eternity with wad of niger. head in his
mouth, I pulled out my choice honey
dew and handed it over. That was the
last l saw Of it. Tolley deposited an
enormous quid in his cheek, and cooIly
handed the plug to the little pot bellied
dirt eater, and it went from one to anoth-
er as long as it lasted Lord! George, to
think of man with one foot in the grave
should be capable of an act of ingrati-
tude and downright robbery.
The sheriff now read document to
Tolley, informing him that be war to be
hung by the neck, &C., winding up with
the addition:
"And now, Tolley, you're burned
pretty looking skunk, amt you! I'll
teach you, durn you, to set gentleman 8
house afre, and be guilty of arson. Come
along herel" And he took the rope from
the deputy's hand and led Tolley, who
followed like lamb to the slaughter, into
the inclosure. 94I
Old Bob whispered to me, "Frank give
the poor devil drink" But the fate Of
my honey-dew steeled my heart against
the appeal.
Arrived at the fatal pole, the sheriff
ordered the doomed man to "set down
thar" which he did. The end of the
rope was then tied around the peeled sap
ling on the ground.
"Now, Tolley, git up" and Tolley with
apparently stolid Indifference, slowly rose
to his feet. The Sheriff then put one
end of the peeled sapling into the end Of
the upright, and pulling out his watch
handed it to Tom Simmons, saying:
"Now, deputy, you time i'm, while !
hold i'm up.p
Judge, of my horror, George, when ]
saw the old devil thus coolly prepare to
choke the wretch to death, with no more
compunction than if drowning blind
puppy. l begged Unce Bob to interfere
but he declined doing so.
"All ready Now, Tom Simmons, you
time i'm edzactly, mind you, nary mint
more nor less"
With this he mounted low stump, and
with herculean effort raised the small
end of the sapliug at arms length over
his head. The tension of the rope jus,
raised Talley to his tiptoes, and didn''
seem to inconvenience him much; but the
Sheriff--you should have seen him. Al
the end of about the second minute he
was livid. absolutely purple in the face.
"Tow Simmons, he gasped, chow longs
e bin hangin'-aint time up?"
1.-TWO minits.
.'Durn It'll" painted the sheriff.
Here | ventured to remark, sMr. Sher
if, the law says that the criminal must bt
hanged by the neck until he is dead, nc
matter how long it takes"
This barbarous suggestion met with ;
proper rebuke:
"Cuss you, Frank -! Who the -
asked for your burned lip? | know wha
the law says. 1t says arter gentleman
been hangin' certain time-and | thinl
five lminits is the time-he's got righ
to live if he kin stan it, and l think ht
orter.'
/ Tolley was still dancing on his toes
and his face was fast becoming as purple
as thatof the Sheriff.
"Time's upl" shouted the deputy, ant
the Sheriff flung the pole from him will
a vim that jerked the pendent Tolle,
sprawling to the ground. He picke'
himself up, and the sheriff united tn
clothes line from his neck; then cramminl
| Tolley's hat over his eyes, he thus ad
dressed him: s.
"Now, Eph. Tolley, you've 'scape
hangin' by kibble Of the laws; but
you know what's good for you, you1
leave this county mighty suddint, sayin
which he applied to Tolley posterioro,
tremendous thwack Of his No. II pegge
boot, calculating with each kick, "durr
you, scoot, scootl I'll teach you to com
NIT arson and set mans house afre an
eff l ketch you in these diggins agin, T.
shoot you, you cussed scalliwagF" Wit
one final kick and "scootl'' he turne
Tolley loose, and invited the whole part
Ito "licker."
We did so, and I instantly recognize
the bottle. Old Bob, regardless Of tn
ties Of consanguini.y, had stolen it frol
my saddle bags and presented it to th
] sheriff as a reward for his humanity an
faithful discharge of his duty.