The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-03-08
neck until you are dead which sem
tence shall be carried out Immediate
L..

1 a ltt 10
ly."
Williams" continued the Sheriu
| addressing one OF his deputies, "throy
the end Of the rope over that branch
that's 1t. Pull it all the way over Sc
the moose will hang about five fee
from the ground. Just hold the noos,
there while take the end of tho ropt
ana step OH how many PAGES till it get.
taut. III make mark Eere with my
loot ike this. And sec, l'll make
announcer mark over here, six steps
farther sway. Tie this end of the
ropc in the middle Of that wagon stake
with strong knot, one that YOU'RE
sure won't slip. Thatll do. Bring the
gentleman over here. Is there any
one you wish to send message to
Shall | notify them that-that you died
on such date? No? Any request tC
make ,"
Tho prisoner gazcd languidly at the
long rows OF hills to the eastward
drew deep breath Of the soft summer
air, and then raised his eyes to heaven
for one last look-and lowered the II,
instantly.
Almost overhead buzzard was sail.
ing lazily in circle. YES" he said
quietly, 'cOver my face with my hand.
kerchicf, and bury me as soon as Pm
dead"
All right. sir. Where is the hand
kerchief? Inside your shirt, ch &:
Pretty one, too; hand embroidered
with an initial w worked in the cen.
ter. You want to be buried with il
covering your face? Very well. Now,
sir, hold your head little to one side
like this; so. Here, boys, stand side
by side, and hold the wagon stake
against your bodies. Grip it tight
with both hands. That's the idea
He's 8 heavy man, and it will take q
strong pull. Walk slow until you come
to the first mark; by that time the
rope will be taut. Then, when | fire
my revolver, step lively, but with a
steady pull, and when you reach the
second mark brace yourself and stand
still. Now, both together: steady,
steady. Co"
He stood calmly, with his revolver
raised. Secretly he admired the mau's
courage, and wished he might pu: a
bullet through his heart and spare
him the shame OF death by the rope.
But the law-thc great unwritten law
which says that Il horse thief shall
hang--must be carried out : for if the
Sheriil obey it not, VINO then should
heed it?
The men started with an even step
and the rope let out kink after kink
then gradually grew taut. AS they
reached the first mark the Sheriff
fired, and the prisoner rose steadily In
the air till the nOose almost touched
the limb-whcn an accident happened
At the li(th stop one Of the men slipped
on Is bunch OF grass, and IN trying tt
recover himself tripped the other one
As they plunged sidcwis sc they let gt
the rope and tho mans body came
Sheriff cried, we've got TO do it Owe
again. Quick, now while hold hin
up. Start even. Steady, steady. ant
when"
The report OF a rifle startled them
Over the crest Of a hill a. horsclnal
was coming. The reins were hanging
loose, and he was swinging his hat a.
signal. Before the blue smoke haC
cleared away number OF men were
galloping down the hill, cheering
wildly. They came to ragged front
few yards from the trees, with theil
Winche ;ters at rest, when their leader
quickly dismountcd, lifted the hand
kcrchicf from the prisoners face, ant
said
This is the man ). we want"
On Christmas Day wedding was
celebrated at the home Of the post
master Of Whitfield. After supper
the host WAS telling an experience o
his new son.in-law to several OF tn,
guests.
You sce,' said the postmaster, u
he finished the tale, about min
O'clock that morning ridcrlcss horse
without stirruDs or bride, galloped VI
to my door. His ears were under tn
headstall, and stuck through the girtl
was letter written by my daughter t,
Will Markham, in which she sent hin
handkerchief to remember her by
but told him not to call any more, be
cause she had made up her mind tina
she would never, mover, never marry
anybody. On the back Of the envelope
written in pencil, were the word.
Squire Houston, Shcrif of Rcdstonc.
OF course the horse wanted somcon.
to loosen his ears, and having become
SO well acquainted with this place
when Will was c0urting, | suppose h
came here because it was nearer thar
going home. AS soon as | recognized
the horse | concluded something wa
wrong. So [ gathered posse and go
over to SedstOne as fast as | could
dllo W. ~ S5St ahy IOO SOOll.
Nor any too late," observed Squir
Houston, who had performed the wed
ding ceremony.
would like to bet that the littl
girl who sent the letter to the fairic
got her present this morning." sal,
one OF the guests.
80 would ~ agreed another.
Say Will," jokingly called third
"trying to steal that hair from the tai
Of blue roam horse got you into 81
awful scrapc. 1t doesn't seem to hav
brought you any more luck than it di,
the man | was telling you about, VIII
went to Fresno and bought"
"Didn't it. though ?" cried tn
groom. ct brought me the girl
loved for wife. Why, it WAS tn
luckiesI thing in the world for me-
70 which u acynical deputy from Red
stone retOrted
81 thought the luckiest thing IN tn
world for you WAS that bunch Of gras
slipped on when We had you in tn
air."
The valdc OF the egg crop OF tn
! State Of Missouri exceeds in amour
! tho value OF the cereal crop OF tha
. State sold on the market.
: Troosuror a f. Smith of Coljoto