Willmar tribune., 1906-01-03

think much of it was certain.
ANY luck?" asks Threednger Bill,
when johnnie strolls into Big Mikes
about six o'clock.
"Nope," says Johnnie, didn't see
nothing but Chink ali day; it was
the only chance I had, so I took it.
Wasn't a bad shot, neither-from clean
across the gulch to in front of Casey's.' -
When Stoessel heard about the
shooting he looked very grave, and
calling Johnnie over from the bar,
asked him if it was true that he had
killed All Sam.
~ amt sure," says Johnnie, "but III
bet a hundred / did,
"Yep, he did," says Abe Fenton, who
was standing near. Il just come from
up there"
"Then it iss MURDER says the Judge.
Il like you, Chonnie, but it iss MUIR
der. I will hang you, Chonnie, says
he, looking very sorrowful. "Next
Tuesday, a week, will hang you.'
IF that's the case, judge" says
Johnnie, kind of embarrassed, have a
drink on me.''
Of course we wasn't going to let
Little Johnnie get strung up-not us
We didn't see, though, how we could
make it all right with the judge unless
Johnnie got out of town for a SPELL
But Johnnie said he'd be hanged afore
he'd leave town.
II have it," says Threefnger Bill;
"well get pardon from Sacramento
I know party over there who's law
yer, and he'll draw us up better par
don that the governor could The
judge amt much on law, so he'd never
know the difference
But the pardon didn't show up. The
day before the time set for the hang
ing come round and still it hadn't ar.
rived. We learned afterwards that the
party Threefnger had wrote to didn't
get his letter, owing to his being in tht
penitentiary under different name al
the time.
When Charley Casey come home hi
was mad as hops about All Sam. I'll
amt him, but his cooking" says he
when Threefnger Bill asked him wha
he was throwing such fit over deat
Chink for.
On the day set for his hanging, John
ME was on deck, having explained tt
the boys beforehand that if they fount
the judge really did mean business
there would still be plenty of time fol
him to get away.
"All you'll have to do," says he, 'i'
to have horse ready, and then, i
things go different from what thinl
! they will, I'll just ride over to DR.,
Rock and stay there till the pardon
comes
The boys was lining up at Big Mike
for last drink with Johnnie, as the,
| called it. They had lots Of last drinks
and was all in a good humor, excep
Johnnie, when the Judge, looking as i
he hadn't slept all night, come dow
the hill, pushing a wheelbarr0w witt
two ropes and cracker box in 1t.
Johnnie had settled on the tree h
wanted to be strung up to some tim
before; it was a sycamore overhangin
the trail leading to Dry Rock, and no
! far from camp. So as soon as tn
judge come down the hill we starte
out, the Judge heading the procession
with his wheelbarrow, Threefinger Bill
next, astridc the horse Johnnie was t
ride to Dry Rock on, and the rest of u
following on foot.
When we arrived at the tree tn
| judge takes a rope and ties Johnnie
arms down to his sides.
''It's all right" says Johnnie, lookin
over at Threef1nger Bill, who was gel
ting restless.
Il hate to do it, Chonnie,' says th
judge, "but it iss the law"
Don't mention it" says Johnnie.
"Now," says the judge, pointing a
Threefinger Bill, lit iss for you to ii
the rope on the tree"
eyes, do," says Johnnie
*'It's gone far enough says Three
finger.
Don't be fool, Bill! Tie the rope,
says Johnnie.
So Bill he rides under the tree, and
standing up in his stirrups, fastens tn
rope according to instructions, th
moose having been already arrange
by the judge.
"You will now on the box stand
Chonnie," says the judge. And John
ME, being still game, steps up on hi
perch while the judge slips the noos
over his head.
And then, the first thing anybod.
knew, the box was kicked out from un
der Johnnie's feet, and we was all of u
facing two six-shooters in the hand
of the Judge, who was saying: 81
you stir a lid of the eye will shoot
Charley Casey told me how it iss yo1
plan, but there iss what ISIS create
than you-it iss the law
Threefnger Bill he prayed and swor
alternate, and was that sick I coul'
hardly stand. But the judge just stoo
and covered us-the judge was a dea
shot and we knowed it-while Johnnie
our little Johnnie, swung over the di
vide, clean into the next world
Then, dropping his two guns, Stoesse
throwed hisself down by the cracke
box Johnnie had stood on and crie
like his heart would break.
MEANING OF SURNAMES.
Derivation Of Some of the Family
| Names Familiar in
| Our Dav.