DELBERT BRIGGS 15

the next morning delberts hand was throbbong like it was going to jump off the end od his arm. he swallowed a hand full of aspirin and put the coffee on the stobve. he felt miserable. if that drunk had appeared he would have gladly gut shot him. when he finished eating breakfast he felt a bit better. he started to the barn to feed his horses. he didnt feel like rideing this day. just before he reached the barn door he smelled gasoline.he slowed down but continued walking to the barn door. just as he got to the open door the smell got stronger. thenhe heard some one shuffling around in the barn. he looked around and found the only weapn at hand was a rusty pitchfork.oicking it up with his good hand he laid it across his forarm with the bad hand. just as he stepped back up next to the door the drunk from the day before was backing out of the barn trailing a small stream of gasoling from a gallon can. delbert steped up behind the drunk and pushed the pitch fork into the seat of the mans britches. " HEY"the man yelled and dropped the gas can and started to turn. " get over against that wall with your hands over your head or ill turn you into barbque meat" delbert made his point with a little push of the bars on the pitch fork. the man made a little jump and moved to the wall placeing his hands on the wall above his head. " now, just who hired you to do this? you were bragging about it last night , tell me now."he gave a little push with his pitchfork. "HEY THAT HURTS!" the man yelled. " so does my hand brother, now who told you to do this? this pitchfork is rusty ya know , a man could get a good case of lock jaw, now who hired you?"delbert pushed a little harder. the man tried to twist his but to one side to escape the tines. a red blotch was soaking through the seat of his pants.. " i dont gottta tell you nothin " your stealing from the bank! i wont tell you.........."delbrt pushed harder, the man groaned. " you gotta stop that !" the man yelled. " who hired you and ill let you go, now talk!" del wiggled the fork. " jackson down at the bank. he and his bUddy what ever his name is!" the man was slobbering at the mouth. " now turn me loose!" " I LIED IME NOT TURNING YOU LOOSE. , IME HANDING YOU OVER TO THE LAW. AS FOR THIS FORK, WHAT ITS DOING IS JUST PAYING YOU BACK FOR THIS HAND!i hope every time you sit down the rest of your life you think of me. get down on your belly."delbert instructed. there was a handy pile of poly baler twine laying close and he used some to tie the mans hand behind his back. then he got him up and marched him to his truck and dumped him in the back. then useing more twine tied the man to the head ach rack and put a noose around the mans neck and tied it snug to the front. " rest easy jerk ill have you in town in a bit."delbert then rolled out of the yard in high gear. he didnt look back to see id his prisoner stayed on the truck or not. in town at the sherrifs office delbert went in and explained why he was there. two officer rushed out to his truck. the drunk was turnning blue from the twine noose around his neck. when the deputys stood the man up one looked at the mans butt, seeing the bloody spots he snickered" you menstrating buster?" every one broke out laughing except the prisoner. after filling out the complaint on the arsonest delbert announced he was going to the bank. but one of the deputy stoped him" with that hand you better not. we will take care of those two birds. go to the emergency room and get that changed to a clean bandage. leave it to us. didnt you say you had some cattle selling in marana? go check on them. leaave this to us." delbert nodded and headed to the hospital.