vote for the bonds. It
was believed it would be a close race if they carried, for it was
by counties that the bonds were voted. Towns that the road would run
through would vote unanimously for them, but outlying towns would vote
solidly against the bonds. There was a big lot of money used, wherever
it came from, for we were royally entertained. Two or three days
before the date set for the election, they began to head for this
cow-town, every man on his top horse. Everything was as free as air,
and we all understood that a new railroad was a good thing for the
cattle interests. We gave it not only our votes, but moral support
likewise.

"It was a great gathering. The hotels fed us, and the liveries
cared for our horses. The liquid refreshments were provided by the
prohibition druggists of the town and were as free as the sunlight.
There was an underestimate made on the amount of liquids required,
for the town was dry about thirty minutes; but a regular train was run
through from Wichita ahead of time, and the embarrassment overcome.
There was an opposition line of railroad working against the bonds,
but they didn't have any better sense than to send a man down to our
town to counteract our exertions. Public sentiment was a delicate
matter with us, and while this man had no influence with any of us, we
didn't feel the same toward him as we might. He was distributing his
tickets around, and putting up a good argument, possibly, from his
point of view, when some of these old long-horns hinted to the boys to
show the fellow that he wasn't wanted. 'Don't hurt him,' said one old
cow-man to this same Wall, 'but give him a scare, so he will know that
we don't indorse him a little bit. Let him know that this town knows
how to vote without being told. I'll send a man to rescue him, when
things have gone far enough. You'll know when to let up.'

"That was sufficient. George went into a store and cut off about fifty
feet of new rope. Some fellows that knew how tied a hangman's knot.
As we came up to the stranger, we heard him say to a man, 'I tell you,
sir, these bonds will pauperize unborn gener--' But the noose dropped
over his neck, and cut short his argument. We led him a block and
a half through the little town, during which there was a pointed
argument between Wall and a "Z----" man whether the city scales or the
stockyards arch gate would be the best place to hang him. There were
a hundred men around him and hanging on to