Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-12-10

The Time Man Was Given 20 Prepare
Cor Z Violent Death.


Col. WIN Middleby, who has jost
returned from the Indian territory. re-
lates : startling experience. II had
permission 70 traverse the territory y
said The colonel, "but soon foCnd
that the white scoundrels who inhabit
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. ] at once
noticed that / was regarded with dis
favor, and was on the eve of quit
ting the place when one fellow, as
rough man as / ever saw, said
"Oap'n, what's your business ~
Il am out here to look at the coun-
try =
Hain't you looked at it."
"Yos.r aa
"Well. what air you bangin' roun'
fur I"
Il have right to hang around" !"
"W hat right ~
"This," / replied, producing my
passport and presenting It to him.
"Tain't worth hell room, . be said,
IS be cody proceeded to tear it up -
His companions roared with laughter
I had . pistol, bat what could / do
with dozen desperate men "Now,"
continoed the rufiao. who had de-
stroyed my passport, 1--WE understand
you pretty we'll You are q detective,
an hain't come here after no good
nuther.n
II am not o detective" ("
do you mean to say that ! an
liar -
That's what he does, Jack ~ shout
ed one OF bis companions. In mo-
ment / was surrounded. Every mao
had drawn his pistol
II ought to kill you right here, !"
said the rufian addressed as Jack -
II oughtent to let you live another
mint"
"Some one advanced and relieved
me of my pistol"
"Now, I'll tell you what well do, !"
said Jack. "We'll just give you i've
minits to live. Stand right thar, now,
an do your prayin'."
I'm vain / pleaded. The rufians
would not listen TO me-"
Its jes' Eve minits to twelve,n
said Jack Look up thar at the
clock an count your time, an when
II o'clock comes you are gone, an If
you take your eyes often it 10 the
meantime you are gone anyhow a
Il gazed at the clock and began to
humble prayer. Oh, how precious
. single moment of time can be I
thought OF my home, Of my wife and
children. The desperate men stepped
behind me. could hear their sup-
pressed brea hing. ! could hear
the beating of my own heart. Five
minutes to live! 1t had already,
seemed an age. Would the time
never come? Cold perspiration rolled
down my face and almost blinded
mr. eyes. I could but indistinctly see
the face Of the clock. but / knew that
only 3 minute more was left me.
That the wretches would kill me I
bad no doubt. but why had they
chosen snch metbodl Then / re-
membered an article / bad 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
nearly expired. Ny knees were 30
weak that could scarcely stand. I
wondered how I'D feel when the.
bullets should strike me. I wondered
i'll conld hear The report Of the
pistols. heard laugh. / quickly
turned and saw negro standing
near me. The rufians were gone. 1
glanced at The clock. Five minutes
to twelve
What are you laughing at?p / de-
manded Of the negro.n
"Atdat ole joke dem cowboys play
ed on yer. Dat &c clock ain runuin',
boss. Der gennermen tole me Ter gin
yer dis pistol. Heah il il, haW, haw,
.hawin