The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-12-25
ONLY FIVE MINUTES.

L
/ boys.
Colonel viii Middleby, who has just
returned from the Indian Territory. re-
lates startling experience. II had
permission to traverse the Territory. y
said the Colonel, '.but I soon found
that the white scoundrels who inhabit
the country had no regard for it. One
day. wet and hungry, 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
! was on the eve of quitting the place
when one fellow, as rough man as /
ever saw, said:
:. 'Cap'n. whats your bus ness?'
81 am out here to look at the coun-
try
!" .Hain't you looked at it''
".Yes.'
wall. what air you hangin' 'roun'
fure' if.'ss
I'D !" 4 have right to hang around
What right?'
This l replied producing my
passport an presenting it to him.
!" sTain't. worth storing ROOM he
said as he coolly proceeded to tear it
ip. His companions roared with
laughter. had a pistol. but what
could do with dozen despei ate men?
Now continued the ruifian who b d
destroyed my passpo' {. I'VE understand
you pretty well. You are !, detective,
an hain't come here after no good
nuther.'
81 am not detective
Do you mean to say that I I'm
liare'
..sTha IS what he does Jackr shout.
9 one OF his companions. In mo-
ment / was surrounded Every man
had drawn his pistol.
- ought to kill you right here =
said the ruffian addressed as Jack. 4
oughten't t, let you live smother mint.
Some one advanced and .elieved me
Of my pistol,
Now III tell yoa what we'll do
said Jack. Wen just give you five
minits to live. Stand right thar. now
an 10 your prayin'.'
an vain l pleaded. The ruffians
would not listen to me.
ats 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 tt
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.
| 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 Precipitation rolled
down my face and almost blinded
my eyes. / could but indis-
tinctly see the face of the clock. but
knew that only . minute more
was left me. That the wretches
would kill m !, had not a doub.. but
Why had ths y chosen sue \ method?
Then I remember d an article / had
once read. desert. tive of the delight felt
BY such men in seeing victim suffer.
Death. Of itself. was not suffs lent pun
sh emit The time must have nearly
sx led. NV knees were so weak that
|. could scarcely stand. ! woi dered
how Id feel when the i.ullets should
Itrike me. / wondered it l could hea-
he report of the pistols. heard .
augh quickly turned and So me- /
10 standing near me The ruffians
we're gone I glanced at the clock.
Five minutes to twelve ~
What are you laughing atf de-
handed Of the negro.
AT dat ole joks dem cowboys
j aved on yer. Dat ar clock an run
lin. toss. De gennermen to me ter |
.in yer dis pistol Heah il is. er haw,
lawi' s'-Arkaas0s0 Traveller.