"You hear that, do you. He has confessed," said the spokesman to his son who was the reporter of the world-wide news agency that was to give to the reading public an account of the affair.
"Well, we are ready to act," shouted the spokesman to the crowd.
Two men now stepped forward and reached the spokesman at about the same time.
"I got a fine place, with everything ready. I knew what you would need and I arranged for you," said one of the men.
"My place is nearer than his, and everything is as ready as it can be. I think I am entitled to it," said the other.
"You want the earth, don't you?" indignantly asked the first applicant of the second.
Ignoring this thrust the second applicant said to the spokesman,
"You know I have done all the dirty work here. If you all wanted anybody to stuff the ballot box or swear to false returns, I have been your man. I've put out of the way every biggety nigger that you sent me after. You know all this."
"You've been paid for it, too. Ain't you been to the legislature? Ain't you been constable? Haven't you captured prisoners and held 'um in secret till the governor offered rewards and then you have brung 'em forward? You have been well paid. But me, I've had none of the good things. I've done dirty work, too, don't you forget it. And now I want these niggers hung in my watermelon patch, so as to keep darkies out of nights, being as they are feart of hants, and you are here to keep me out of that little favor."
The dispute waxed so hot that it was finally decided that it was best to accept neither place.