Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-04-04

UOuuu.
Well, the sheriff now thought the
worst part of his work was over.
Your turn total in now, Birdsell,
said he, throwing open the door to the
desperado's cell.
Turn for what?" said Birdsell, in
an ugly voice,
ITO take that walk up the steps
we've hadin mind for some time past,
said the sheriff.
Il don't need no walkin, said Bird
sell, sullenly IAN you all's a-goin' t
hev time maxim me do any walkinl
OF course, we all saw right away
there was going to be trouble with the
very man we had figured on most for
a stolid indifference on this morning
and it certainly surprised us a heap.
Take him and bind him, said the
sheriff, quietly, his face white with
surprise and determination; land give
him no show at you.
Three of the marshals were on Bird
sell ina twinkling. Fora few minutes
be gave them the fight of their lives,
bowling and cursing like madman,
trying to bite and gouge and kick them.
But they finally got him down and Sc
cured his arms and legs, his cursing
suddenly ceased. He began to scream
for mercy-for just another trial-and
to yell out the fraction Of the Lord S
prayer that he knew, all in terrible
tumble that was frightful to hear, and
all the time writhing on the floor Of the
prison corridor like man in his death
throes. never saw a human being
cave in so utterly after life that, how
ever wicked and devilish, had never
yet been cowardly. think it msde
every one of us there watching it more
or less sick.
While be lay there shouting with
the other condemned and bound men
standing watching him without trem-
or, the sheriff opened the door of the
Cherokees cell. The Cherokee had
been standing at the bars of the cell
watching it all, with a terrified express
sion on his face, that had only been
brutally sullen for months, and when
the sheriff opened the door the giant
fell forward on his knees. He had
probably learned the trick at the mis-
sion school on his reservation, ard
also the trick of putting his palms to-
gether, appraised, in the attitude of
prayer The attitude struck us dumb
not that there was anything abject
about it, but that this herculean and
perfectly heartless fend, who had been
taking his life in his hands almost since
his boyhood, and had often beer on
the very brink Of death from wounds,
should now fall into posture that
he had probably not seen since his
earliest youth, and beg for his worth
less life, was the surprising part OF 1t.
He did not make the slightest resis-
tance as his arms were tied, but the
tears ran down his hardened copper
hued face in a stream, and he fell on
his side, moaning.
Here was an exact turning around
of things that set the coolest in the
party wool gathering. But the sher-
iff ordered the legs of the Cherokee
and Birdsell to be tied, and this was
done, neither man making any effort
to resist, but both wailing piteously
that their lives be spared. 1t had
been the original intention to hang
all four Of the men at the same time,
the trap having been so set, but this
was now aeen to be out Of the question.
Birdsell and the big Indian had to be
carried up the steps Of the scahold, the
white man alternately reviling and
praying and the redskin taking his all
out in a steady wailing.
Tascom and the Choctaw, still per-
fectly impassive, were in the mean
time kept below in the corridor, await
ing their turn. Both liked steadily
up the steps of the scafold after the
trap had been reset, and they submit
ted TO the hXlng OF the black caps ana
nooses with the same composure they
had exhibited when they were PIN
ioned. The Choctaw only gave lit-
tie groan when his feet were Pinioned,
as if it hurt, and the rope was relaxed.
Tascom was asked if he had any,
thing to cay.
Nothing" he replied in a clear
voice, except that it came to me all
Of sudden this morning that if | had
been dog in my life l wouldn't be
one in my death.
"And guess my side partner here,
nodding toward the silent Indian.
"must have had the same sort Of a