The Washington herald., 1906-12-09

admired the enterprise displayed in pho
tographing a lynching bee on that out
landish isle and resolved to purchase a
copy. cost what It may,
Having successfully absorbed the sec
ond round OF gin. during which operation
the tourist again inspected the epitaph
on the foor the pair re-entered the gar
den, passed around the post-office and IN
vaded Mr. Dix's sitting room at the rear.
An ancient melodeon, on which no one
ever played: half a dozen chairs and a
high-topped desk. one small table. on
which burned a shaded lamp. and a few
mats scattered about the floor comprised
the furnishings of the room.
zone cannot put on much style with a
native housekeeper' Mr. Dix observed,
as he noted Willie taking in the layout.
a tattoOed woman reared ia a bungalow
along with pet pigs has domestic ideas
Of her own. But I'm used 20 IL now.
ne sighed "sit down, Bloke. old man,
while ] rUmmase for the picture"
Throwing off his cork helmet and
starched coat. the postmaster rummaged
much. He pulled out all the drawers in
the desk and knocked some musty books
from The shelf. after which he stopped TO
light a pipe and scratch his head for
clues.
when was this photo taken?" Mr.
B1oIe asked. by way Of filling in time
More than fifteen years ago
And haven't you seen it since?"
no; but it's in this desk somewhere"
he said. hopefully.
Resting and hunting by turns the
postmaster AZ length turned Up the mis-
laid picture between the leaves Of his
Bible. II was a faded print. six inches
square. in which the last public appear
ance of Tom Colder was most vividly
portrayed. The chief subjects visible I'm
the photo were a tall tree with the
spreading tuft of palm at the top and
d small white object OF human shape
outlined against the trunk What struck
Mr.. Bloke was the height Of this object
from the ground, for, as nearly as he
could judge. it swung thirty feet or more
above the base Of the tree. Directly over
The head OF the suspended body appeared
a hosting block from which descended a
thin black thread parallel with the pole
At the foot Of the tree the line passed
through another block at right angles,
and then out and beyond the cameras
range.
Seems TO me they strung him pretty
high" was the first comment Willie ven
tured. after absorbing these details.
rs that distance uncommon MIR. Dix
wanted 20 know.
I'm not an expert on lynching, but !
think a person would strangle as read
lily three feet in air as thirty"
Now that you speak Of it. they did
waste some rope" said the postmaster.
taking another thoughtful squint at the
picture. The vigilantes were mostly
seamen In their day and used 60 long
hoists, like top-gallant yards. That might
account for a lofty taste in hanging"
After eonfesslng this one fault Of the
vigilantes. Mr.. Dix grew drowsy. He
adopted an intermittent doze style Of mar
rative, and finished the story IN jerks and
starts.
1t was all about wedding. The groom
didn't see fit to invite Tom Colder, and
he got sullen drunk
How il must have stung him." said
Willie.
Fisher. the Trader. arrived that day
and he and Tom were hoisting the gin
in that place where you saw the epitaph.
Colder had borrowed Fishers knife to
cut toDaco. and. while the Trader had his
head back taking a nip. Colder jammed
the blade into him. Then his head hit"
Mr.. Dix slumbered a few moments
Why he did 1t no one ever knew. The
Trader just landed that day. and was
the only white man on the island, except
Colder. who was not invited TO the wed
ding. Perhaps Tom feared the bridegroom
would hear about Fisher and invite him
before morning. Anyhow, the murderer
fed 10 an American schooner in the har-
Dor and claimed protection under the
flag. When the vigilantes went out at
midnight to fetch him. Tom. not know
ing what was wanted, said: All right,
gents. wait till I get my shoes"
A spell Of inward chuckling aroused Mr..
Dix to the repartee point
Never mind the shoes, said the lead
er; your feet won't get hurt
4 should say they wouldn't said VIII
lie, gazing at the bare toes dangling thir-
ty feet above sea level. The only answer
from the rocker was a snOre Mr Bloke
passed out sdizzilly, and fell over the
pork barrel monument on his way home.