The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04

fleeti0ns. he who was boss called for a
halt and courteously said TO me:
stranger, would it be AKIN too much to
AK the name ye so by as ye wander back
and forth?"
''Not at ALL" says I. Il am called Pill
grim Joe, and my mission is to gladden.
the hearts of the sorrerful and make the
afflicted bust into song and laughter"
That's powerful good mission" says
he, and would you be SO kind and con-
deseendin' as 10 git off'n your wagin?"
With all my heart. What else kin l do
fur the erowd?'
we are sOrrerful and want our hearts
gladdened. How much do you weigh as
you stand?'
''Clus on TO 160"
And this rope" says he, as he takes Il
from his saddle. will stand twice that.
and that limb up thar is good fur 500.
Stranger, the situashun is favorable, and.
though We amt in no pertickler hurry.
it's jest as well TO take advantage of this
beautiful weather"
i don't quite ketch on" says I. "and
mebbe you kin help me out bit. What's 5
the connection between men the rope and
the limb%
"A Gus one. stranger In about five
minits you'll be hangin' by the neck"
"But whyfore?"
ITS The custom Of the boundless West,
as you orter know The feller We was ar
Ter got away. and so we take the next.
NO hard feelin's about il. you know. We
are goin' to put tfle job through in the
greatest good natur'. and you shall hev a
marble headstone as soon as ever the
railroad strikes this locality | hope you
won't be captious about the matter"
! 1 N not captious man." says /. "but
this is leetle bit sudden II il was 10
take place a week from now, might feel
more resigned. l might even hunt up two
other critters 10 take my place"
But We can't put off TIL to-morrer
what We kin CO to-day" he replies. and |
sees that the crowd is with him. 'It amt
no stupendous undertaken, like bridgin' a
river, and will be over with in ten minits.
All you've cot to do is to embrace Your
dog, say farewell TO your hoss, and ak the
/ Lord TO furgive your sins. I'm sure
you're not the critier to begrudge this
crowd leetle amusement TO brighten and
cheer"
Bein' spoken to IN that kindly manner,
I could hardly make up my mind to dis
appoint the crowd. and yit ] preferred to
remain on EARTH / was reflecfin' on IL
when they throwed the noosed rope over
my head, hustled me along 10 the tree,
/ and thar was a fatherly tenderness in the
voice of the boss as he patted me on the
back and observed:
II can't tell you how much obleeged we
ar, but l promise you that the headstone
shant cost lessn $50 and that lamb
shall be carved on the top. / has bin a
, leetle surprise on you, but you hev acted
/ Ike a man and won our esteem. Hast a
wife anywheref'
Not a one"
ANY relative to whom you want to
send a few farewell wOrds?'
"I can't think OF none"
| And II amt much use to DO any pray
/ in, bein' as you are good man and duly
prepared 10 go. ! sorter wish | was g0in'
with ye, as this is sure to be hard win
ter and I'm bound to git ehilblains, but
I've got 10 tarry fur while longer 10
look after my motherless children. You
seem 10 be about ready"
Il reckon l am" / says. "and I hope
you won't loaf away no time over the
Job. Bein' hung by the neck Is a heap
different from haulin' up bale OF hay"
1T is. pilgrim. IL is, and ! pledge YOU
my solemn word you shall hev no fault
10 find with the way We manage this
leetle picnic Stand over TO your left a
bit and hold your head up. Rest easy on
your feet so they won't stick To the
! grass. Now, then, are you ali ready"
1t seems Ike | ain"
Then haul away"
The crowd hauled. and | riz I choked
and kicked and swung about and had BE-
I gun 20 wonder why ] didn't reach the
I shores OF that brighter land and near the
] nf The angels when L gnEnEI
eyes to find myself on the grass and stiiI
! akve AS soon as could look around the
I boss says 10 me:
/ sPngrim. kin you ever furgive meg
J thought the rope was strong enough 10
/ hold a bull, but IL broke with you. Instead
I Of bein' in paradise. you are still in OKLA
And am to try il over ag'in?" asks.
! ION! ro no. no, Ye must know the Gus
tom Of the b0undIess West on sich Occa-
I sions When the rope breaks the victim Is
turned loose, 10 be hung some other time
/ by some other crowd Git on yer wagin
/ ard we'll feel proud 10 escort We TO fhe
/ young and enterPrisin' town OF Lucky
Ard an hour later We entered the town
/ as conkerin' heroes enter, and the popu-
| lace crowded about and shook me BY the
/ hand and bade me welcome. | opened up
my tintype foundry and took in S21 in two
( DAYS and later on my flghtin' dog and my
I 0Id hoss won q tight and a race, and was
I 90 ahead OF the game when departed /
I went forth as the SUI rose and natar'
pat On Ter smiles. and the man who had
bOEsed the hargin' reached Up TO shake
| hands with me and said:
/ Pilgrim. farewell. and may the world
/ be kind 10 thee. In peace / found thee
1 full OF reason; in adversely found thee
( with the sand OF a man. In prosperity
| thou art not blg-heGded nor yafnglorious.
Return again some day-when We hey
.sarned more about she game Of poker"