Mr. Willett and Hank Tims were given camp-chairs directly in front of "the judge," who was making a desperate effort to maintain the dignified bearing supposed to be essential to the office.
The judge rapped with the bottom of a heavy tumbler—the contents of which he had just drank—on a little pine table by his side and called out:
"The next thing in order, gents, is to 'lect a sheriff and a clerk, for I propose that everything in this court shall be square and reg'lar; and, if the prizners has any objections to the officers they must say so now, or forever after hold their peace."
When the judge had ceased speaking, a man with a bullet-head, a red shirt and no neck to speak of—he was the proprietor of this remarkable hotel—pushed himself through the crowd and called out:
"I nominate Badger for sheriff of this here court."
Without waiting for this motion to be seconded, the judge yelled out:
"All in favor of Badger for sheriff say 'aye,' all opposed say 'aye,' too."
As this arrangement left no chance for those who might be opposed to Badger to say "no," he was declared to be unanimously elected.
"Next thing in order is to 'lect a clerk," said the judge.
The man who had nominated Badger now yelled out: