Margaret McLivier

In the summer of 1900, he was arrested and imprisoned in Blackwater for hiding fugitives and assisting them in escaping, and according to Sergeant Dunbar of the Blackwater Police, Margaret had developed an anti-social concept because her husband was shot and killed with the Skinning Gang, so she reached out to the most wanted man, John Coaster, when he wandered to Blackwater, and committed serious crimes.

Margaret McLivier was convicted of complicity and abetment and sentenced to death by hanging in federal court, which will be executed in Blackwater two days later.

The newspaper was published on March 2, that is, tomorrow was the date of Mrs. McLiver's execution. John remembers Sergeant Dunbar promising to clear Mr. McLifevier's name, and the report still portrays him as an accomplice of the Skinned Brothers, and the truth is buried deeply.

It is true that John Coster is a fugitive, and Mrs. McLivere assisted him, but this is not the way they chose to live, and if the so-called western civilization is accused of slandering good people, then John will definitely not watch them hang a good woman again.

"I've got to add one more item to my schedule."

John said silently in his heart.

In an instant, the sky was cloudy, and John realized that it was time to return, and on the way back it was raining lightly, and the horse's hooves beat on the sleepers of the railroad tracks, as if playing a symphony of revenge, telling the unwillingness and grievance of the people in the wilderness.

Because of the rain, the people in the camp took refuge in tents, and Miller also sat under a camphor tree, picked up the "American Purgatory" next to him and flipped a few pages.

Suddenly he heard someone behind him calling his name, it was John's voice, and Miller wondered how this kid came back in the rain and was so sneaky.

"Miller, I need your help." John appears next to the camphor tree.

"We are brothers, and we have something to say."

After receiving Miller's affirmation, John tells him how he met Mrs. McLivier and how he got help from Mrs. McLifever, and finally he talks about Mrs. McLifever's imminent hanging.

"So you're going to save him." Miller stared into John's eyes, where there seemed to be a burst of anger.

John nodded and shook his head: "But I can't do this alone, I thought about telling the gang clearly, but this will only increase their anxiety, so I came to you." John patted Miller on the shoulder and tried to encourage him, as if to cheer himself up, "Just like you found me in Reagan County." ”

Miller held his chin and thought for a while, then returned to the tent and took his gun and walked over with the wind, John saw it in his eyes, and his heart was indescribably relieved that his brother was really powerful.

"I'm joining." Then a shadow came out from behind the tree, it was the lean figure of Mr. Fowler, who seemed to have stood there for a long time, "It is not a problem to deal with the few casual policemen." Stirring up the troubled waters of Blackwater, Detective Pinkerton will most likely come to investigate, and at that time, we will slip away early, and at the same time lure Detective Pinkerton away. ”

John and Miller looked at each other in surprise: "You heard them all?" ”

"You two young people won't let me participate in the plan, can't you believe me?"

"No, no, I just don't want you to worry about it, I think you should rest for a while after the breakout in Strawberry Town." John hastened to explain that he had no intention of alienating Mr. Fowler, but that he thought it would be best for Mr. Fowler to avoid gunfights and firefights, given that Mr. Fowler was getting older.

Mr. Fowler said no more, but came to a horse not far away, climbed into the stirrups, and sat firmly in the leather saddle, "I'm still a hard bone, let's go!" Go and save your Margaret. ”

The three of them swung their weapons and set off, the distance from the Great Valley to Blackwater to the north of Strawberry Town was not too far, but it took a lot of time to climb the steep Demon Ridge and cross the Montana River on the way, but fortunately John and the others had enough rations to avoid starvation as they traveled through the wasteland.

There was still a light rain in the air, and John and his party were still walking at full speed through puddles and mud, and the stars rose and set in their eyes, and the night passed quietly, and when the east was first white, John finally saw rows of houses appear on the plain.

"It's time for Blackwater, we have to be cautious." John pulled up the mask on the neckline.

The three of them rode into the city, searching for their target amid the sounds of the city in Blackwater. It stands to reason that a town of size should have its own laws for executing those who break the law, and what can really kill a prisoner is often not a bullet that slides through the rifling but a bundle of ropes, because this can make him die in full view of the public, so as to kill the chicken and the monkey.

Blackwater has such a torture device, a tall gallows, which looks like a bracket built before a house is built, except that it is the prisoner who stands on it, not the worker.

The three of John saw the gallows from afar, and it was crowded with spectators, and the people of Blackwater were talking about it below, and they couldn't wait to see the terrible situation of the dying man. John jumped off his horse and blended into the crowd watching the execution, with Mr. Fowler and Miller following behind, and the three of them remained in a triangular formation in the noisy crowd so as not to attract attention.

After some time, when everyone passing by was attracted to the ceremony, a small policeman stepped up the stairs to the shelf, it was Oswald Dunbar, the chief consul and sheriff of Blackwater, and such an important official appeared, and the crowd burst into loud applause, and John knew that many of the people who had watched the execution had come to see the respected sheriff for himself.

"The people of Blackwater, all the American citizens who have the law in mind at every turn, we are here to witness the majesty of the law." With a wave of the white-gloved hand, the noisy people immediately fell silent, and Sergeant Dunbar looked down at his watch and nodded in satisfaction, "It's time, Swift, bring the prisoner in." ”

So, under the watchful eyes of dozens of people, including John, the police officer named Swif dragged a thin woman with her hands and feet tied, and John recognized her at a glance - it was Mrs. McLife.

The widow, Margaret McLiver, was sentenced to death for being the most wanted person in the state, and the trial lasted for a year because the case was the first of its kind in the state. During the course of the trials, we invited legal experts from all over the country to discuss the verdict of the crime, and the widow of McLivere appealed several times in an attempt to deceive the sympathy of outsiders, but the law could not be violated, and she was finally sentenced to death by hanging. ”

Sergeant Dunbar gave a look to Sweif next to him, who put the noose around Mrs. McLifever's neck, who was yellow-skinned and apparently had been treated unfairly in prison.

When everything was ready, Sweif stood back in place with his hands behind his back, and Sheriff Dunbar said to the other cop next to him.

"Such a person doesn't deserve the prayer of a pastor, so please pull the lever directly."

The executioner carried out the order without saying a word, and he walked briskly to the lever in front of him, and Mrs. McLivier gazed calmly at his back, tears quietly dripping from the corners of her eyes. John saw her bite her lip fiercely and didn't want to say a word, as if he wanted to hold the grievances and last words in his heart forever, but for John, who knew the truth of everything, the silence was as deafening as the sound of gunshots.

Let me speak for you, Mrs. McLiver!

John meditated in his mind as he pulled out his pistol and entered the Eye of Death, he first aimed at the hand where the executioner was about to touch the lever and pulled the trigger, the bullet pierced through the palm of his hand and shot into his right abdomen, the shot frightened people and began to flee in all directions, and Sheriff Dunbar was also frightened and took a step back, all slowly in John's eyes, like playing a slow tape movie.

Miller and Mr. Fowler also began to shoot, and they had already kept an eye on the guards by the gallows, just waiting for John to fire the first shot.

Because the chaotic crowd couldn't figure out where the gunshots came from, the guards couldn't effectively fight back, so they could only stand in place with their guns in their hands and didn't know what to do, becoming a live target for John and others.

In the midst of the chaos of gunfire, the crowd dispersed, and the torture apparatus was littered with corpses, on which Mrs. McLiver's eyes were closed in fright.

"It's all over, Mrs. McLifever." John patted Mrs. McLifever on the back and cut the rope for her.

"You ......"

Mrs. McLivier was speechless in astonishment, she did not expect to meet again in this way.

Sirens were sounding from afar, police reinforcements were coming, and John and they had to get out of the place.

"Madam, you have saved me twice before, this is the first time I have saved you, come with us to a safe place, let me return the second time."

Mr. Fowler also rode over and saluted the frightened Mrs. McLifever, "Please admire, ma'am." ”

Sheriff Dunbar, hiding under the planks, endured the blood of his companions dripping from the cracks, and he only suffered a few scrapes, but it was enough to terrify him, and he didn't dare to climb out until the sound of the horse's hooves faded away, and then looked down at the belated deputy sheriff.