Oregon Old-time Courtesy

There wasn't any particular excitement over the hanging of the man pointed out and arrested at Big Bend as the chap who stole a pack mule from Col. White's camp, over on Fish River. One of White's men, who was over after bacon, happened to meet the stranger, and he went to Jim Redfern, president of the vigilance committee, and said : "Jim, is it a good for a hanging?" "Wa.ll, tolerably fa'r," replied Jim. "The kuss who stole our pack mewl is down in the tin front saloon." "I see. And you want him hung?" "I don't keer no great shakes about it myself, but I reckon the Kurnel would be pleased." "I'm willing to obleege Col. White, as he's a good friend of mine; but do you think the critter down thar has any objecshuns to bein' hung?" "He don't look like a man who'd kick about it. 'Pears more like a critter who'd be glad to be off the airth." "Wall, we'll take chances on him," said Jim, and he went to lus shanty and got a rope and asked eight or ten of the boys to go along. When the crowd reached the tin front saloon, the stranger was just coming out. "Say, we want you," said Redfern. "What fur?" "Goin' to hang you." " 'Cause why?" "Fur stealin' Kurnel White's pack mewl." "Wall, fire away." He was escorted to a tree whereon a dozen or more men had been duly liauged, and, lifted up on an empty whisky barrel, the noose was soon placed over his neck. "Want to say anything?" asked Jim, as all was ready. "Nothin' 'tall." "Then let 'ergo." An hour later, White's man, who had started for home, returned to hunt up Mr. Redfern and say : "Look-a-yere, Jim, that feller didn't steal our mewl." "No!" "No. They got the feller and the mewl over at Clay City, and hung him ;his mornin'. I thought this was the 'eller, but I must hev bin mistook." "I see. Wall, he's bin hung and juried, and we can 't help him any now. We'll jest let the next one off, to even up thiugs. My compliments to tlie Kurnel, and teil him I shall always stand ïeady to obleege him."