The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-08-12
OUR TEN MINUTE STORY

I The old lady fumbled in a satche
hung from her belt and then held out
little gold-rimmed miniature. This Is
his picture. | reckon he has changed
some-it was painted most ten years
ago-but maybe yo' would recognize
him"
The Sheriff took the picture and
looked steadily at the smiling face for
full five minutes. 1t was not that he
had not known the owner of the merry
eyes and curling hair; he was trying
to think of something to say. 1t was
the face of Gentleman Dan.
Wilson handed back the picture
Yes, marin, l sho do know him, but
he lives off from heah a piece, punch
in over on the Big Sandy. Eff yo' will
come down to mar house an stay, |
will send him word yo' are heah"
She made him an old-fashioned cour-
tesy. 81 am delighted to accept yo'
hospitality, sub, and my son will add
his thanks to mine"
Together they passed down the de-
serted street towards the Sheriff's
shack, which nestled in the brush a
mile from town.
All through the sultry day the Sher-
iff sat on a little bench on the shady
side of his house and pondered. There
were two facts, apparently irreconcil-
able; but both, to the mind of the
Sheriff, irrefutable. First, it would be
impossible for him to hang Gentleman
Dan, almost within hearing of his
mothers voice. Secondly, Aloe was
justly entitled and bound to have the
hanging on the morrow for which such
elaborate preparations had been made.
1t was dark when a slow grin came
over his face, and he slapped his
thigh with delight. wall, eff that
won't be the best joke ever!" he said
to himself, He sought the old lady
Wall, marin, have hearn from
him, an he is plum delighted to hear
that yo' air heah, an he will be over
tonight. He has to be mighty careful
the way he travels round. There is a
lot of bad men-cattle rustlers an the
like-that has took a dislike to him.
They likes him so little, in fact, that
he will have to light out from these
here diggins PERCEPTIONS like, mighty
soon. So he will come heah tonight in
a blackboard an then split out with
you back to Alabama. l hearn him
say the other day that he was gwine
back. He has saved up some money,
an he says he is gwineter buy back
the old home an raise cotton"
In all his life before Wilson had
never made so long a speech-nor
drawn so heavily on his imagination.
"Oh, 20 say he is goin' to buy back
the old placer" The old lady's sweet
face was almost rosy with delight.
Yes, marin, that's what he said
an he will" The Sheriff's mouth took
a determined set. He picked UP his
hat and started for the door, then
paused, flushing like a girl. 81 reckon
| will say good-by now, marin: l have
got to go on trip an won't get
chanst ter see yo' agin. Yo' son will
be heah all right, bout 10 o'clock"
He looked at the ceiling and shuffed
his feet. There was a little bell on
his spur that tinkled.
"Yo' reminds me powerful of my
maw' marm-would yo' give me
blessin'?"
There were tears in the old lady's
eyes as she came and placed her hand
on his head. MAY God bless We, my
boy, for yo' kindness to an old woman
in strange land!"
Then the Sheriff of Aloe went out of
the cabin and across the plain towards
the town.
By daylight on the 10th of June the
punchers began to pour into Aloe. BY
ones and twos and in squads of a
dozen they rode in from the ranges
Even the far-off Clearwater furnished
her quota. By 10 o'clock the special
barrel from Kentucky was half empty.
Then the crowd began to drift to.
wards the Jail, to stand and gaze at
the scaffold erected against one side
of the building. At ten minutes TO
the time set for the execution Buck
skin Charlie, deputy sheriff and in
separable friend of Wilson, appeared
on the platform. Some strange emo.
ton seemed struggling in his breast
as he advanced to the edge of the
scatrold and addressed the crowd.
Gents, l regret to announce to yer
that our popular and capable Sheriff is
at the present time of sbeakin' in
parts unknown to this here cote-be
he gittin' word last night that a gang
of greasers was goin' to jump a bunch
of steers from the A2Y outfit TODAY
while the boys was all in TOWN o.,