The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1885-11-28
ONLY FIVE MINUTES

The Time a Man Was Given to Prepare
for Death-An Innocent Little Amuse-
lneut Arranged BY Frolicsome Cow
boys.
Colonel VIII Middleby, who has Just
returned from the Indian Territory, re-
lates startling experience. II had
permission to traverse the Territory"
said the Colonel, ''but / soon found
that the white scoundrels who inhabit
the country had no regard for it. One
day, wet and hungry, 1 Istopped at sort
of public house. A company of rough
white men had assembled in the bar
room of the house. | at once noticed
that was regarded with disfavor, and
when one fellow, as rough a man as ]
ever saw, said:
" 'Cap'n, what's your bus ness?'
4 am out here to look at the coun.
try
" 'Hain't t you looked at it?'
"'Yes.'
"'Wall, what air you hangin' 'roun'
fur?'
q have a right to hang around
What right?'
This l replied producing my
passport an presenting it to him.
'Tain't worth storing rOom,' he
said as he coolly proceeded to tear it
p. His companions roared with
laughter. l had q pistol, but what
could do with dozen desperate men?
ha T. Il
Destroy d my passport, I'VE understand
you pretty well. You are detective,
an hain't come here after no good,
nuther.'
"'I am not detective
{" DO yoa mean to say that am
liar?'
"'Tha S what he does Jackr shout
e one of his companions. In mo-
ment l was surrounded Every man
had drawn his pistol
Il ought to kin you right here
said the ru1lian addressed as Jack
.e.,~...-f,'t t.-l-a Won smother mia'f
Some one advanced and elierel INC
of my pistol
b. Now Ill tell yoa what wen do
said Jack Wen Just give You five
miui.s to live. Stand right thar, now.
an 10 your prayin.
''In vain l pleaded. The rufians
would not listen to me.
"It's jes' five minutes to twelve,
said Jack Look up thar at the clock
an count your time an when twelve
o'clock comes, you are gone; an if YOU
take your eyes often it in the meantime
you are gone anyhow.
81 gazed at the clock and began to
humble prayer. Oh, how precious
single moment of time can be. thought
of my home, of my wife and children.
The desperate men stepped behind me.
1 could hear their suppressed breathing.
| could hear the beating OF my own
heart. Five minutes to live. Ithad al
ready seemed an age. Would the time
never Gomez Cold perspiration rolled
down my face and almost blinded
my eyes. 1 could but indis-
tinctly see the face of the clock, but
l knew that only minute more
was left me. That the wretches
would kill NJ, had not a doubt, but
why had they chosen sucl meth0dP
Then l remembered an article l had
once read, descriptive of the delight felt
by such men IN seeing Vlctlm suffer-
Death, of itself, was not sufficient pun
ish rent The time must have nearly
xyired. My knees were so weak that
l could scarcely stand. wondered
how I'd feel when the bullets should
strike me- I wondered if l could hear
the report of the pistols. 1 heard a
laugh. Iquickly turned and saw ne
-ro standing near me The rufians
were gone. l glanced at the clock.
Five minutes to twelve.
What are you laughing atP' 1 de-
manded of the negro.
cat dat ole joke dem cowboys
PLAYED on yer. Dat ar clock ain run
min, boss. De gennermen toe me ter
gin yer dis pistol. Heah it is. ar haw,
hawr "-ArEanSdW Traveller.