The Hanging Judge’s Town

The sky is blue, the sun warm, the birds are singing and the noise of traffic is practically nonexistent, yet there is gloominess, a feeling of dread, here at Fort Smith National Historic Site. I mean, I have taken “The Bride” on many research trips and made deviations on vacations, dragging her along across battlefields, traipsing through dusty museums, diligently searching bookstores and walking in boneyards, and usually she’s a silent but smiling trooper about it. I figure she’s ke