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"Did your oldwhen you left home, Roy?"

"Not one bit In Fact, he was quite respectful and kind"

"Well,for the two of us"

"That's true You know, Pop was going hunting for antelope today"

"You're kidding? Why didn't you go with him?"

"He promised to take me another tiave s we have to buy in town"

"That's great We'll have fun I'et o hunting"

"Pop had other plans He urged me to take you to town Said he wouldn't be home, 'til after supper"

"Well then, we have all day to play and have fun You know, they're having a hanging in town this afternoon We uy by the naun Smitty"

"How do you know all this Stanley?"

"I overheard Papa and Maht I heard he's killed over a hundred men"

"A hundred men? That's ie robber, plus he shot four men in the town saloon last week"

"In our saloon, where we drink root beer with Sheriff Dawson?"

"Yup Sheriff Dawson made the arrest himself"

The two boys rode in silence as they pondered these thoughts Roy looked up at the sun and squinted

"We better get uess it's a little after eleven now"

Both boys slapped their reins and dug heels into their horses, prodding theallop

As they entered the town, athered near the sheriff's office Quickly tying their horses to the nearest open hitch, Stanley and Roy ran toward the allows stood near the jail A fresh hang adjusted by two deputies The noisy gathering was giddy with excitement

"Pull!" yelled one of the deputies, and abruptly everyone stopped talking

The people looked up at the gallows as one deputy pulled a large handle A trap door in the raised floor swung open with a loud bang A burlap bag full of potatoes attached to the end of the rope dropped straight down jerking it tight The heripped the sack of potatoes One of the deputies loosened the noose and removed the burlap potato sack, then lifted the trap door up into a closed position The other deputy locked the release handle, which kept the trap door in place Both deputies readjusted the rope and tied the end to the supporting post