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Copper Streak Trail by Eugene Manlove Rhodes
page 148 of 197 (75%)
The scandalized sheriff was unable to reply. He had been summoned by
passers-by, who, hearing the turbulent clamor for breakfast made by the
neglected prisoners, had hastened to give the alarm. He had found the
jailer tightly bound, almost choked by his gag, suffering so cruelly from
cramps that he could not get up when released, and barely able to utter
the word "Johnson."

Acting on that hint, Barton had rushed up-stairs, ignoring the shouts of
his mutinous prisoners as he went through the second-floor corridor, to
find on the third floor an opened cell, with a bunch of keys hanging in
the door, the rope and saw upon the table, Mr. Johnson's neatly folded
clothing on the chair, and Mr. Johnson peacefully asleep. The sheriff
pointed to the rope and saw, and choked, spluttering inarticulate noises.
Mr. Johnson suspended dressing operations and patted him on the back.

"There, there!" he crooned benevolently. "Take it easy. What's the
trouble? I hate to see you all worked up like this, for you was sure
mighty white to me yesterday. Nicest jail I ever was in. But there was a
thundering racket downstairs last night. I ain't complainin' none--I
wouldn't be that ungrateful, after all you done for me. But I didn't get
a good night's rest. Wish you'd put me in another cell to-night. There
was folks droppin' in here at all hours of the night, pesterin' me.
I didn't sleep good at all."

"Dropping in? What in hell do you mean?" gurgled the sheriff, still
pointing to rope and saw.

"Why, sheriff, what's the matter? Aren't you a little mite petulant this
A.M.? What have I done that you should be so short to me?"

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