Bismarck tribune., 1884-02-15
An ImPROMPTU PRAYER.

An lMPROlIPTU PRAYER.
tits pretty rough to string Teller up without
judge or jury. It's pretty rough to run Teller
into the presence o the Almighty without givin'
him q few hours to repent an pray an try to
play even on the eternity game"
Jack Roberts stood with his arms pinioned
behind him, in the center of group of rough
and determined men. A rope looped about his
neck and thrown over a limb of the tree beneath
which he stood told the whole story. He was in
the hands Of the Niobrara vigilantes.
Eyes, Jack Roberts, it's rough, an it's likewise
rough on the poor ranche1s to lose the hosses
you've run outen the country. If you've any
notion O. ladlin' out prayer you want ter
make yer play quick, fur we must git onto the
trail agin an nab that pardner O. your'n sfore
the days wiped out. If you've got any palaver
to turn loose in the direction o. heaven say 90
an cut her loose an if not we'll pull you up an
leave you here an git into the saddle agin.'
The leaders voice was impatient and his every
tone meant business" f.a~a
"Men, I'm not fit to die. never prayed in
my life, an the Lord d take it ~ an insult fur
me to buck agin i'm all my life an then come
in an az big odds on the last layout. Take me
inter the settlement an give me squar' trial an
if I'm guilty send me up, but don't choke the
life out O. me on mere guess work.
"lf yer guilty? Can thar be doubt O. yer
guilt wen we pulled you off'n stolen hoss?
Git hold O. the rope, men. We're losin' valu-
able 1ime."
~"But hold On, fellers! Don't yank me up
without givln' me one little bit of show on the
future deal. Can't some o you pray fur me?
I don't know the fust principles O the game an
I'd make blind buck an fall clear through on
the fust play. If somebody II jes' chip in on
the side with good word fur me it may smooth
matters so won't find things 80 damn bad
when ] land in kingdom come. Have little
mercy on me an help me ont O. this in some
way" .a
The doomed mans face was as pale as DEATH
and his lips quivered as he spoke. When be
had ceased Aleok Cannon, tai, buckskin-clad
member of the committee, advanced to the
front and said:
amt AKIN too much, seein' a. it's his last re.
quest. Isain't on terms O. any great intimacy
with the Lord, but if nobody else II lend q
hand, an it III ease Jacks conscience an make
him feel safer in maxim the trip
over the range, III chip in an try
to say somethin' fur him. Throw yer ha'r in
sight evesy nne o you, an let's rattle this on
pleasant job through quick an git away from
'yar."
Every hat came off at the command, and
Aleck began:
"Oh, Lord, expect it IL break you all up te,
see me edgin' mp to the throne o grace an pre-.
sentin' claim, but this air an extraordinary oc-
casion an reckon you'll excuses me fo1 in.
trudin'. Thou knowest, if thou hast KEEP cases on
this racket, that we air a goin' to send an emf.
grant up your way, an he wants to take claim
an settle if he kin make terms with thee. He's
bad 'un, Jack is, but thou mayst be able to gil
along with him if thou wilt keep thy stable
door locked, an the vigilaHtes o. the Niobrara
d regard it as not bein' particularly outen
place if thou wouldst let him enter claim in
some back township whar' he'll not have many
neighbors an will be outen the way o the high
toned saints that may be choice in the company
they want tn keep. If you can't do this, Lord
and thou hast any inflooence with the devil
won't you ask it as personal favor that Jack be
allowed to hang round the outskirts, whar' the
heat won't trouble him much. I believe that's
all, Lord, 'ceptin' to Ak yer pardon for troublin
you. wouldn't haye had the cheek to come
near you if it hadn't a bin ground hog case
an pledge you my word won't ak you to lose
yer valuable time istenin' to me ag'in fur 6
long time. hope you an yer folks air all we'll
Lord, and enjoyin' yerselves, an that yer havin
nice weather. It's bin nice so fur down here
this winter, an we amt lookin' for any very se
we're an stormy weather from thy bountifu
hand. Good bye, an do the best fur Jack "
kin, an take keer O. yerself now an forever
more, world without end. Amen"
signal from the leader, quick and detet-
mined pull, few spasmodic struggles. Then 8
form hung swinging slowly to end fro in the
breeze, and a body of horsemen filed away out
of sight over the hills to the southwark.