The Hangin' Tree

Folks avoid that spooky place 'specially on dark and stormy nights! Heard are eerie moans and shrieks and seen are mysterious lights! A driftin' hoss thief by the unlikely name of One-Eyed Buck LaHore, Was strung up on the 'hangin' tree' way back in '72, accordin' to local lore! Now, ol' Jedge Stern, renowned as the 'hangin' jedge' in them there parts, Owned the hoss that Buck stole, showin' no respect and lack of smarts! Buck vanished in the night a-high-tailin' it fer the Mexican border, Trailed by a posse to bring 'im back dead er alive upon the jedge's order! He was found carousin' in an El Paso cantina havin' a grand ol' spree! The sheriff said, "Son, come with me! You've got a date with the 'hangin' tree'!" There was little Buck could do with a dozen forty-fours starin' 'im in the face! "Boys, you got me! Don't make a scene! Let's git outta this here place!" Hauled before the jedge, Buck admitted he'd been a hell-raiser all his life. "But, jedge" he pled, "I didn't cause no harm like molestin' a feller's wife!" Judge Stern saw things diff'runt 'specially since 'twas his hoss he stole! "Son, you're to be strung up on a tree and may God save yer rotten soul!" To this very day on moonlit nights Buck can be seen swingin' in the breeze, Clawin' at the noose about his neck yellin', "Jedge, have mercy on me please!" That stern ol' jedge has shown no mercy as is evident from all indications. Alas, the ghost of that wily thief will haunt local folks for many generations! Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved