SEPTEMEBER 17, 1861

Walter dropped the paper to the desk. He was figuring out expenses versus income, and he felt good that income far outweighed the expenses for the last couple of months. But he wasn't all that happy. He had heard about the orphans and the men that Teaspoon had in jail. He felt bad for the children who had to go through such physical abuse. He decided to walk over to the jailhouse to see the low down scoundrels.

Steven walked into the Dreamville jail. He saw the varmints that had been abusing the children and his blood pressure increased enormously. "Those varmints aren't hanged yet? They need to be hanged for all the misery they've caused these orphans." He shouted. "Come on Teaspoon lets take them out and hang them right now." He pounded his fist on the sheriff's desk.

Walter walked in and placed a hand on Steven's shoulder. "Now Mr. Johnson, you know Teaspoon can't hang these man. He's the law, and he has to abide by it."

"I want these men hanged! If you could see how the children look, you'd want the same thing. You can almost see right through them. They haven't been treated or feed properly." Steven raved.

"They probably will be. When the judge comes and there's a trial, I'm sure they'll be sentenced to hang for their crimes." Walter explained in a soothing tone.

"They don't deserve to live another moment. If I catch them out of here, Teaspoon, I'll hang them myself." Not waiting for a reply, Steven stormed out of the jail.

"I've never seen Steven so angry. But then again I haven't seen what those orphans look like either, so maybe I would be just as angry." Walter walked over to take a good look at the culprits.

"He's just letting off steam. I'm sure once he calms down, he will understand the need for a trial." Teaspoon said.

"Has anyone else been complaining about them? Does anybody else want to see them hanged, too?" Walter inquired as he came back to stand in front of Teaspoon's desk.

"Well, yeah a lot of folks here in town want to see them hanged for the mistreatment of the orphans. I even heard my riders saying that they need to be hung." Teaspoon stood up and walked over to stand in the doorway. He watched as Steven tied a bundle of supplies to his horse and then rode out of town. Teaspoon was sorry for the orphans, but his hands were tied. He couldn't let the townsfolk become a lynch mob. He had to keep his town on the straight and narrow.

"You don't think that Steven will rouse up the town and they'll come and try and take the prisoners to hang them, do you?" Walter hoped not.

"No, I don't think he will do that." Teaspoon was confident that he wouldn't.

"Well, if you need any help just let me know." Walter offered before leaving. Teaspoon nodded as Walter past by him.