Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-07-03
LITTLE STORM.
CHAPTER XI.

AS has been narrated, Jim Dane was
bound to a wagon wheel and was forced
to witness the construction of a rude
gallows. He looked upon the three.
strand rope running along the upreared
tongue and out through the neckyoke
stop and down again about three feet
to where deity arranged moose swung
to aud fro in the morning zepbyrs.
That moose came to possess a strange
fascination and Jim could not keep his
eyes from it. To his imagin alton it
grew into large o and the twists of
rope running up from it took unto them
selves theform and meaning ofmammoth
black letters, so that the two combined
stood out against the bright sky and
read. 80, Deathe'
In Jim's past life, too. he had often
and often found it money in his pocket
to shake hands with the devil, and he
had not hesitated in extending to the
old boy right willing hand of friend
ship; but now that the chances of q
closer companionship with the Father
of Evil seemed to so far out-number
the likelihood of an escape, l am sure
he felt horror at it and would have
| given worlds to have escaped Satan S
eternal embrace. But Jim was strong
man-strong of nerve, strong of will,
strong of body-and the foul images of
his mind or misgivings of his heart
were not visible in his words or face
while the towns people were preparing
| for his death.
Tomorrow morning he was to be
swung off into the land of murderers,
| and as it yet wanted few hours of
noon on the day of his capture, he had
almost tweniy-four hours to prepare for
the end
"You butter-mouthed devils are go
ing to a good deal of trouble to nix up
that old wagon tongue. AS I've got to
do the dying act you might as well give
me my way about doing it. I'd rather
have you shoot me, and it would save
you all the extra work "
1--WE propose to give you the regular
death Of murderer, jim Dane, and
iuasmuch as you did not give Professor
Cam any choice in the mode of his
exit, we will not consider any of your
likes or dislikes in the matter. 1t is the
right of every man to have time given
him to prepare for death. God gives
every man time to prepare for the
grave; Nature warns both tree and
Hover of the fatal hour. We have Civ
en- you twenty-four hours, and that is a
day and night longer than you give
Cam. Make your peace with the here
after, Jim Dane,' the gallows-makers
said.
"All right, 60 ahead, you fine-haired,
silk-stockinged hounds. When the
devil SKINNED his worst pot he found
you lousy, moth-eaten. hy-blown pups
in the dipper. You'll not hear Jim
Dane squeal," And Jim remained quiz
ct until dinner time. He spent the
hours IN trying not to look at the moose.
The few hours of waiting had drawn
a terrible strain on Jim's nerves, and
when they fed him at noon it was re-
marked that his shut eye had come
open and the devil in it looked nervous
and scared. After eating his dinner he
said:
II never thought to ask a favor of
you fellows, but now | will. | want you
to 60 to Martha and get me a ripping
snort of whisky. and then | want you
to hang me right away. | don't want
to wait till tomorrow morning to die"
They procured the liquor and gave
him fair-szed draught; but steadily
refused to make any change in the hour
of his execution.
In the middle of the afternoon he
asked his guards for a conference. He
was growing pale in the face and his
savage moods were titful, coming and
going in gusts. After gaining the at
tention of his audience he said:
II don't want to be hung. | do not
deny that knitted Cam last night, for
ever ything is against me; but | hate to
feel that rope tighten round my wind
pipe. Now, want you to give me
chance. | saved this whole camp last
night. if did kill that cussed Professor,
and | want you to pick out six of your
best men, give them good sharp knives,
unite me and give me knife, give us
the word go, and if | kill them all I'm
free, and if they kill me it will save you
a job of rope-pulling. Will you do it?"
One young fellow, possessing frame
and neck quite bull-like, stepped out
and said:
Gentlemen, will fight him alone.
Give us knives and form ring. If he
kills me let him go Free"
"No, no." said the older heads; this
is not question of honor. Dane has
committed foul murder and he must
suffer for it. No one can fight him, for
he must be hung as provided by the
laws of civilization
You cowardly whelpsn' screamed
Jim Dane, Juggling madly at the ropes
that restrained him. ''You dare not
fight me. ] would give your carcasses
to the dogs. 1t would make me laugh to
hear the carrion crows croak over your
bones"
In tent, across the camp from the
gallows, two persons, mother and son,
were holding an earnest conference.
Sam, my boy, if YOU have any love
for your old nanny, you'll do it to-
night said the woman.
II tell you, mother, it's useless to try.
The whole camps suspects me. If | try
to get near father-and l have tried
four or five times to-day-the guards
will order me to be Off" answered the
son.
Then you went try to save your
father. hey? Well, you're no son of
Martha Danes; you're fool and cow
ard; | disown you forever, and I'll cut
husband Dane loose tonight if I'm rid
died by hundred bullets one moment
after. Git out of my sight, Sam Dane
git out!'. Aud Martha's agitation
reached white heat.
'Now, mother, do use little sense
in this matter. If I'm killed and father
is hung, who is there left to get you and
the children living? Besides, you nor
1 could never get near father, let alone
cut the ropes. There is only one per-
son who would be allowed TO see him
only one person
Speak, boy, or I'll choke you; who
is that person?' cried the woman al
most wild with excitement.
''Our Fanny" he answered gloomily
$50 out and find her, right away"
Martha whispered vehemently-
You forget" the boy answered with
a meaning look in his eye.
"Yes, | understand 1t was on her
account Cam was killed and she will
gladly see Jim die But go and bring
her, and you will help me try to per-
suade her. tell you she must let Jim
loose tonight"
Sam went in search of Storm. He
found her lingering beside new made
grave out on the prairie. She had
transplanted a wild rose and some vio-
| lets from the sod to the new mound of
dirt. Her face was very pale. but as
| Sam looked into it he saw the peace
there that ''passeth all understanding.