What do ya know, a new story!
I walked the dusty streets over to the edge of town where the gallows stood. Mr. Hartness stood leaning against a rail near the scaffold, looking through a magazine or something. The burly, older man looked up as I approached.
“ 'Afternoon,” he said.
“You doing hangin's today?” I asked, trying to look calm.
“Yep. Sheriff ain't booked me yet. Ya got someone who needs hangin'?”
I paused a second, then said “Yer lookin' at him.”