Sheriff Hartford of Claiborn county had been elected on a promise to keep the county quiet, and peaceful.

The youth of the County were the personal responsibility of the Sheriff. Should a young man find himself in troublr then his first stop was the Sheriff's offfice.

Glen, and Tim were 17 year olds that liked to have a little excitment. One night they decided to joy ride a neighbors tractor . It was only a matter of minutes before they had it stuck in a creek, and the noise of the efforts to free it brought the owner down to the spot.

After telling his hired hand to call the Sheriff he and the two teens got the tractor out of the creek.

Sherrif Hartford was on the scene in a matter of minutes, and after some discussion with the owner put the two young men in the back of his squad car. The journey to the court house was not a long one, but a very quiet one. Bboth youths were led into the office.

"Sit down" the Sherrif pointed to a bench.

The Sherrif went on to explain the options, a court appearance, an almost certain 30 days on the road gang. He elaborated the likely attention two young men would get from the older inmates at night. The alternative was to be punished by Henry the court house janitor in his basement office. No court appearance no written record.

Both had heard rumors of the road gang camp, and they were well aware of the treatment they would get from Henry. It took only seconds for both to opt for the basement. The necessary phone calls were made to parents, and after brief explanations permission was gladly given for the two to be dealt with by the Sherrif.

They were led to the basement door and told to go down and wait. The boys sat in the basement, it was one room, a bench, chair, desk, and one end curtained off. After what seemed an eternity they heard the door open again and footsteps on the stairs, the Sherrif, and Henry appeared in the light.

The Sherrif went to the curtain and pulled it back. An old vaulting horse occupied the center of the area. It had been altered somewhat, straps had been attached to the legs. A table against the wall was what caught the attentiion of the boys. Arrayed upon it were at least a dozen straps and canes of varying lenghts, and thickness.

The Sherrif went to the table and chose a strap, about 30 inches long and about 4 inches wide. The boys looked at one another knowing that the strap would soon be lashing their buttocks.

"Strip, and put your clothes on the table", both boys fumbled out of their clothes and soon stood naked embarrassed trying to cover their manhood. Henry took Tim by the arm and led him to the horse and pushed him over it. Quickly fastening his wrists and ankles to the four legs. Tim was helpless across the horse his legs spread, buttocks high and exposed. He tried to clench his muscles but the position of his legs would not let him.

"Yell as loud as you want, Henry gets frustrated if he does not get a lot of hollering, nobody can hear you down here." handing the strap to Henry the Sherrif ordered, "A dozen _d_a_m_n_ good ones each with this, then we will finish with a cane. Take your time we have plenty of it." Turning to Glen he said "You count, and dont miss one or it does not count".

Without further ceremony Henry brought the strap down across Tims raised buttocks the loud slap brought a yell from Tim, Glen was awestruck. Henry's arm was almost on another downward swing when he croaked "one". The strap continued to hiss down across the buttocks, Tim yelled, screamed, and strained at his bonds. All to no avail, "ten, eleven, twelve", it was over. Tim was released and ordered to stand with his hands on his head and count for Glens whipping.

Fastened on the horse Glen could feel the sweat left by his friend, and could see where the tears fell on the concrete floor.

A ball of fire erupted across his taut buttocks, and his yell was gagged short as he realised Tim had not counted the stroke, a second ball of fire then Tim sobbed "one". Glen tore at the straps, yelled, all uselessly. After the sixth counted stroke he just lay, and let the strap lash his bottom. At last he was releasedand told to stand by Tim with his hands on head. Henry went to the table put down the strap, and chose a cane 36 inches long 1/2 inch in diameter. Tim was again led to the horse and put in position.

"Henry you count this time, a dozen each again, and make them something to remember", ordered the Sherrif.

The cane slashed the now scarlet buttocks, Tim shrieked, and begged for them to stop. A white stripe appeared on the red, Glen watched silently as one after another the white stripes appeared one above the other across his friends buttocks. Tim was released and fell in a heap on the floor his body wracked by sobs. Again Glen was strapped in place, he cried out as the flesh stretched across his bottom. He determined to bear this part of the punishment silently. He clenched every thing he could, fists, eyes, sphincter. The first red hot stroke was borne silently, the second brought forth a scream, it was beyond his tolerance to be quiet. The cane continued to sear his flesh , each stroke a hairs breadth above the other. His entire bottom felt like someone had poured molten metal across it. The last scream was torn from his lips, and the room became quiet, the only sound the sobbing youths.

"Get dressed I will take you home, take a good look around down here we have never had a return tripper". TheSherrif and Henry started up the stairs. The two sobbing youths looked around through a veil of tears, the horse, the strap, the cane, all burned in their minds more vividly than they had burned the flesh of their buttocks.

Never . . .never . . . ever again was the combined reflection that crossed both minds.