St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-29
ONLY FIVE MINUTES.
The Time a Man Was Given to Pre-.
pare for a Violent Death.

Arkansaw Traveller.
Col. Will Middleby, who has just returned
from the Indian territory, relates startling
experience. 81 had permission to traverse
the territory" said the colonel. ''but soon
found that the white scoundrels who in
habit the country had no regard for it. One
day, wet and hungry, stopped at sort of
public house. A company of rough white
men had assembled in the bar room of the
house. l at once noticed that l was re-
garded with disfavor, and was on the eve
of quitting the place when one fellow, as
rough man as saw, said:
''Capn, what's your bus'ness?"
ST am out here to look at the country"
''Haint you looked at it?"
eyes"
''Wall, what air you hangin' roun' fur?''
g I have right to hang around
"'What right?'
""This' replied, producing my passport
and presenting it to him.
'''Taint worth hell room,' he said, as he
cody proceeded to tear it up. His COM
panions roared with laughter. had pis-
toll, but what could do with dozen des-
perate men? Now continued the rufian
who had destroyed the passport, we under
Stdld JOu plClty we'll Ou dIC d uctGCe
tive, an haint come here for no good,
nuther.'
'''I am not detective
"'Do you mean to say that I am a
liar!'
"'Thats what he does, Jackp shouted
one of his companions. In moment was
surrounded. Every man had Drawn his pis-
toll.
''I ought to kill you right here said the
ruffian addressed as Jack. I Oughten to let
you live another mint
''Some one advanced and relieved me of
my pistol.
Now, I'll tell you what we'll do said
Jack. We'll just give yon five minits to
live. Stand right thar, now, an do your
prayin'.'
I'm vain I pleaded. The ruffans 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 IL o'clock comes you
are gone, an if you take your eyes often it
in the meantime you are gone anyhow.
Il gazed at the clock and began to num-
BILE prayer. Oh, how precious single
moment of time can be! l thought of my
home, of my wife and children. The des-
perate men stepped behind me. could hear
their suppressed breathing. I could hear
the beating of my own heart. Five minutes
to live! 1t had already seemed an age.
Would the time never come? Cold per-
spiration rolled down my face and almost
blinded my eyes. could but indistinctly
see the face of the clock, but I knew only a
minute more was left me. That the
wretches would kill me had not doubt.
but why had they chosen such a method?
Then l remember an article had once read
descriptive of the delight felt by such men
in seeing victim suffer. Death, of itself,
was not sufficient punishment. The time
must have expired. My knees were SO
weak that could scarcely stand. won
dered how I'd feel when the bullets should
strike me. ! wondered it could hear the
report of the pistols. 1 heard laugh. ]
quickly turned and saw negro standing
near me. The rufians were gone. Iglanced
at the clock. Five minutes to twelve.
"'What are you laughing at?" de-
manded Of the negro.
Sat dat ole joke dem cowboys played on
yer. Dat ar clock amt runnin'. boss. Del
gennerman tole me ter gin yer dis pistol.
Heah it is, er haw, haw, hawp"