Judge Khushrenada mafe a decision. He wasn't going to wait for people to come to him. He was going to go to them. He was tired of missing most of the action that happened. He was going to go out and see it unfold instead. Witnessing a great commotion at the saloon, he hurried over there. Inside the saloon, a great arguement had erupted over an incident that occured in the daily newspaper.
Appearently, the endless arguing over whether causing the neck to snap by hanging was the most humane way to die had caused someone to snap and post filthy images in the newspaper that morning while it was being printed. Most townsolK figured it was Volente who posted those pictures since he would be most opposed to this hanging idea. However, nothing could be proven. Instead, baseless accusations based on past history could only be thrown around. This had caused folks to pick on two people. Shift Key and 18 Days. Things got so tense over this weird distraction that the town was equally divided as to who was guilty.
Judge Khushrenada checked out the saloon window to the gallows. Yep, there were two ropes. Looks like a double hanging today today, he thought to himself. But then he noticed Saloon Girl Sally mingling with the Vote Shift Key crowd. Now what is that little vixen up to, the judge wondered. She definitely had the eyes of many of the people in that crowd. But there was one person in particular that seemed to be head over heels in love with Sally. As Sally went to get another round of drinks, the love-sick puppy followed her over to the bar. There they talked and flirted for a bit more. The judge was pretty sure the man asked Sally for a date tonight. Then, the conversation took a hushed tone. There seemed to be a bit of arguing. From what words the Judge strained to hear over the noise, it seemed that Sally wouldn't go out with the man unless he changed his vote, which the man didn't want to do. After a bit, Sally walked off in a huff and served the other froup some drinks. The man watched her, torn between his buddies and Sally. Finally, the man decided to follow Sally and but ho's before bro's. With a loud hollar, he announced that he was now voting to hang 18 Days.
Well, that sudden shift of momentum soon eroded the rest of the Shift Key faction's resolve and 18 Days became the most hated man in the room. Noticing the judge was there in the saloon, they brought 18 Days before.
"Open you courthouse Judge. We're pretty sure we found our man."
"I've been watching you argue for quite awhile," answered the judge, "And I say, why bother to hold a trial? Where there's smoke, there's fire. Let's hang the scoundrel!"
The mob roared in approval. Khushrenada smiled to himself. He was always good at inciting a mob.
Standing at the gallows, Khushrenada asked 18 Days if there was anything he had to say in his defense before he was hung.
"Yeah. I'm a townie, you stupid *bleeping* idiots. And another thing, I didn't put those pictures in the paper. RABicle did. Finally, I just want you to all know that you are...." 18 Days yelled defiantly.
He was cut short as the trap door beneath him was released and he was hung.
"Well, you win some, you lose some," said Khushrenada. Then, on thinking about the recent events, he added," Actually. You haven't really won anything you have you. I guess you just lose some. No. Wait. You lose them all. Well, see ya later."
And with that, he went home smiling to himself. Another perfect day in Stumbleton Creek Valley. I should make myself a pro-Volente badge, he thought to himself. It looks like I am going to need it.
------
That night, Pale was following a lead on the filthy images scandal. Pale was the top reporter for Stumbleton Creek Valley's newspaper. Well, he was the only reporter. Anyways, Pale had finished talking to the sheriff about the revent events in town. Both agreed that the Judge didn't really seem interested in helping the townies but in hanging everyone he could. They both agreed that it no doubt stemmed from the incident that occured last week. They both agreed that for their sake, they should keep clear from him. Other than that, the sheriff had no new leads for Pale. But, that didn't matter because Pale had received another lead which he didn't mention to the sheriff.
Slipping through the shadows, Pale went over to the town stable where he had arranged to meet with a close friend of his who always seemed to know what was going on in town. Slipping in to the stable, Pale saw his friend and went over to meet him.
"Hey. What have you got for me?" Pale asked, coming up to him.
"This," he replied. And with that, someone stepped out behind Pale and knocked Pale's cowboy hat off his head.
"Hey, what the heck, man?" Pale asked, "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm sorry buckaroo but you've been a bit too nosy. I'm going to have to take care of that," answered the man. Then 3 other men stepped out of the shadows.
"You're Col. Sancho Volente," Pale said, putting the pieces together.
"Ha ha ha. You are indeed correct, small man. All this time, I, your trusted friend and compatriot was really the great Col. Sancho Volente. Ha-cha!" Volente exclaimed. Then he proceeded to dance a quick jug while his men applauded.
"But enough with the dance and its beauty and mystery. I can not let you live now, you swine! Not when you know the greatest secret of this town. Boys, you know what to do," Volente yelled.
With that, one of the men produced a bucket hat and started walking towards Pale.
"No! Not that! Please. I'll do anything. I promise I won't tell anyone your secret," Pale pleaded.
"There is only one thing that you can do for me. The great Volente. With all you investigative knowlegde, tell me. Who is Black Heart Jack?" asked Volente.
"I don't know. I wish I did. If I did, I'd tell you. I swear," Pale sobbed.
"I believe you. But that doesn't mean I'm going to let you live. Finish it boys," ordered Volente.
"This death sucks," yelled Pale, "But you know what really sucks? Being a townie for the 5 games in a row. I can't believe..." But his complaints were silenced and the bucket hat was placed on his head. Afterwards, Volente realized they were in a stable and decided to put horseshoes on Pale's hands and feet. Then, they rode him around the stable until he died. Volente has a twisted sense of humor.
"Ha ha ha. Well, that was fun, wasn't it amigos? But, you know what is not funny? This Black Heart Jack trying to steal attention away from me. I'm a worse villian than him. I want him found and killed. You understand me? The great Col. Sancho Volente will let no man take his spotlight. Now, let's go," Volente said. And then the bandits went off into the night.
---
At the same time this was happening, Windyman was going to the headquarters of the Stumbleton Creek Valley Newspaper which he owned, operated and printed. He knew that Pale should be back soon with the day's news and they would have to get to work. But as he waited in his office, someone else entered the building.
"Hello Windyman," the man said.
"Yes. Hi. What can I do for you?" Windyman asked.
"Don't you recognize me?" the man asked, "I applied to work for your paper twice now and you've rejected my application both times."
"You know, I get so few applications it's hard to keep track of everyone," Windyman replied, hoping to end the conversation before the man rants about deserving a job.
"You should have hired me!" the man yelled, getting upset, "I have a lot of good ideas for this paper."
"Yeah, I'm sure," Windyman replied, wondering how he could get the man to calm down and out of the office, "Let's hear some of them again"
"Well, for one thing. You should give every good game you review a low score and every bad game a high score. This will generate a lot of controversy and get a lot of people to read your paper. Also, you should make you letters to the editor page like that Nsider Paper and have people working to up the number of letters they send to the paper."
"I do remember you. You suggested we just stop bothering with the paper and shut it down. You have terrible ideas," Windyman said.
"It's a good idea and I'll prove it!" yelled the man. Then he shot Windyman 21 times. "There. Now this paper is shut down. Now everyone will see that I was right."
With that, Black Heart Jack walked out of the Newspaper HQ and slinked off into the night, trying to control the nervous tics that were causing his face to spasm as rage flowed through his body. Revenge is sweet, he thought, as his arm began to twitch uncontrollably.
----
"Did you hear the news?" asked Sheriff Rock Williams.
"That Pale is dead?" replied Doctor John Baxter.
"No. I'm refering to a different townie. Windyman is dead also. Killed last night by Black Heart Jack," explained the Sheriff.
"Cripes," replied the Doctor, "This town is going to hell in a handbasket."
"Well, I'm not going to give up. I'm going to do all that I can to bring these killers to justice. They'll slip up sooner or later," said the sheriff.
"Yeah. I just hope it's sooner," replied the doctor.
And with that, they left the doctor's office and faced the new day.
Topic: Mafia XIX: Hang 'Em High. Day 4 (Read 13070 times)
