Dead Man's Money by Ken Hodgson

Author:Ken Hodgson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2011-11-29T05:00:00+00:00

“I’m not sure what’s getting most tired,” Cemetery John complained to Blue Hand. “My arms from holding this fellow upright or my ears from having to listen to wind—” He realized Cyrus Warwick was only a few feet away. “Uh ... speeches.”

“You got the heavy one,” Blue Hand said. “That is good. I think we should get paid more. It was not agreed that we had to hang them twice.”

“I think the politicians are finally winding down,” Cemetery John said hopefully. “Then we can collect our money and get on with business.”

Judge Thomas Terry Rimsdale swept a hand at the crowd from where he stood at the edge of the gallows. “And in closing, ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Henrietta, Kansas, the future cattle-shipping empire of this great country, I wish to once more say how distressed Mr. Warwick and I are over having to conduct such a terrible event as a hanging in our lovely town.

“But, as we are all aware, evil crept even into God’s own paradise of Eden when Satan tempted Eve to break the divine commandment not to partake of the fruit of the apple tree. Yet evil did come to paradise, yea, as it did to our town. As mortal men, all we can do is cleanse this blight from our midst. Citizens of Henrietta, witness the demise of these murderers and know this is the fate of any and all malefactors who dare sully our sacred earth and the good name of our town.”

The judge made an obviously painful turn to face the two bodies with ropes around their necks that were being held upright over the trapdoor. “You may now drop the condemned.”

Cemetery John and Blue Hand made sure their footing was off the trap. After a long moment, Blue Hand turned to Sheriff Quackenbush. “You need to pull the lever, my hands are full.”

“I reckon with ’em being already dead, I can help out.” Emil gave the wood handle by his side a yank, sending the two men plunging once again into space.

Cyrus Warwick said to the judge in a low voice, “That was a good crowd we drew. I believe the event will be profitable, quite profitable for the saloons. I’ve noticed people drink a great deal after witnessing a hanging.”

“Let’s go join them,” Judge Rimsdale said beginning his slow, painful descent from the gallows. “There’s potential voters about.”

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