The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-07-11

party. and asked me for chew of tobacco,
informing me at the same time that be was
a. drv as a meeting house" | carry two
kinds-oue for myself and the other FOR to-
baccO beggars, but thinking il j shame 10
send q man into eternity with wad OF
nigger-head in his mouth, l pulled out my
choice hOney-dew and handed 1t over That
was the last saw OF it. Tolley deposited
an enormous quid in bis cheek, aud cOOlly
handed the plug 10 the little pot-bellied
dirt-eater, and il went from one 70 another
a. long a. it lasted. Lord George, TO
think Of a man with one foot 10 the grave
should be capable OF an act OF ingratituGe
and downright robbery.
The sheriff now read a document 10 Toll
ley, informing him that be was 10 be hung
by the neck, etc, etc, winding up with
the addition:
O. And now, TOiley, you're burned pref
y looking skunk amt y0u- I'll teach
you, durn you, TO set gentleman's house
afre, and be- guilty Of arson. Come along
here - and be took the rope from the depu
tvs hand and led TOlley, who followed him
ike lamb TO the slaughter, into the en-
closure Old Bob whispered 10 me
B.. Frank, give the poor devil drink. but
the fate Of ms hOney-dew steeled my heart
against the appeal.
Arriving at the fatal pole, the sheriff or
dered the doomed man to sit down thar, -"
which he did. The end OF the rope was
then tied around the peeled sapling on the
ground.
Now Tolley. git up" and TOlley with
apparently stOlid indifference, slowly rose
u his feet The sheriff then put one end
OF the sapling into the fork Of the upright,
and pulling out his watch handed it TO Bill
SimOns saying. d" Now, deputy, you time
I'm. while hold i'm up.
Judge my horror, George, when / saw
this old devil thus cOolly prepare 10 choke
the wretch 10 death. with no more com.
FUNCTION than if drowning blind puppy.
begged Uncle Bob 20 Interfere but he de-
clined doing so.
"Al ready Now Bill Simons, you
time i'm edzackly; mind YOU, nary mint
more nor less.
With this be mounted low stump. and
with a herculean effort raised the small end
Of the sapling at arms length over bis head.
The tension of the rope just raised Tolley
10 his tip-tOes and didn't seem to incOn-
venience him much; but the sheriit-yOu
should have seen him. AT the end Of about
the second minute he was livid, absolutely
purple In the face.
"Bm Simons he gasped, " how longs
e bin hangin'-aint time up
Two mlnlts'
Durn it," painted the sheriff.
Here ventured 10 remark: "Mr Sher-
! i'll, the law says that the criminal must be
hanged by the neck until he is dead no
matter how long il takes
This barberOus suggestion met with 4
proper rebuke.
"Cuss YOU, Frank -! Who the
asked for your burned lip | know what
the law says. 1t says arter a gentleman's
been hanging a certain length Of time-and
think i've minutes is the time-hes got a
right to live if he kin stan it, and | think
be Orter."
T0lley was still dancing on his toes, and
his fEce was fast becoming as purple as
/ that OF the sheriff.
Times up" shouted the deputy and
the sheriff flung the pole from him with q
vim that jerked the dependent TolIey
sprawling upon the ground. He picked
| himself up, and the sheriff united the
/ clothes line from his neck; then examining
TOlley's hat over his eyes, he thus addressed
/ him:
Now. Eph. TOlley, you've 'scaped hang
| ing by a kibble OF the law; but if YOU know
what's good for you, you'll leave this cOun-
try mighty suddint, saying which he APP
piled to TOlley. pOSteriOri, tremendous
thwack Of his No. II pegged boot. eiacula-
ting with each kick, "durn you, scOOt,
scOOt I'll teach you TO commit arson and
set a mans house afire and eff ketch you
in these diggins again, I'll shoot you, you
cussed scalliwag :" With one final kick
and scOot!" he turned T0lley loose, and
invited the whole party to Ticker"
We did so. and | instantly recognized
the bottle. Old Bob, regardless of the ties
Of consanguinity had stolen it from my
saddle-bags aud presented il TO the sheriff
as i reward for his humanity and faithful
discharge of duty.