“Hang yuh? Huh! Reminds me of a Dutchman I knowed. He runs into a gang of punchers that was goin’ to lynch a horse thief. Dutchy runs into ’em, and asks what it’s all about.
“‘Vat iss it all about?’ asks Dutchy.
“‘Goin’ to hang a horse thief,’ says a puncher.
“‘Oh, dot’s too bad,’ says Dutchy. ‘You shouldn’t hang a man for stealing von horse.’
“‘It was yore horse, Dutchy.’
“‘So-o-o-o? Don’t hang him; dot’s too good for him. Let me kick him in de pants.’”
Joe smiled bitterly.
“Do you think hangin’ is too good for me, Hozie?” he asked.
“I don’t say it is, Joe; but when I got a look at Peggy last night I shore wanted to give yuh some of the Dutchman’s medicine.”
Joe wiped the back of his hand across his cheek and wet his lips with a dry tongue.