The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-12-10
Only Five Minutes.

Col. Will Middleby, who has just
returned from the Indian territory, re.
lates startling experience. C! had
permission 10 traverse the territory"
said Ihe Colonel, "but soon found that
the white scoundrels who inbabit the
country had no regard for it. One day,
wet and hungry, | stopped at a 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 l ever saw,
said:
"Cap'n, what's your bus'ness?'
81 am ont here to lock at the country"
"Hain't you looked at it?"
eyes"
"Well, what air you hangin' roun'
fur?"
"I have right to hang around"
"What right?"
"This," replied, producing my pass
port and presenting tito him.
"Tain't worth hell room," he said, as
he coolly proceeded to tear it up. His
comrades roared with laughter. had
pistol, but what could 1 do with a
dozen desperate men? Now" contin.
ued the ruffian who had destroyed my
passport, eve understand you pretty well.
You are detective, an hain't come here
after no good, nuther."
~ am not detective"
"Do you mean to say that am o
liar ?"
"That's what be does, Jack !" shouted
one of his companions. In moment |
was surrounded. Every man had his
pistol.
~ ought to kill you right here" said
the rufian addressed as Jack. II ought
ent 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 you five
minutes to live. Stand right thar, now,
an do your prayin'."
"Iu vain I pleaded. The ruffians
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
eye often it in the meantime you are
gone anyhow"
II gazed at the clock and began to
humble a prayer. Oh, how precious a
single moment of time can be
thought of my home, of my wife and
children. The desperate men stepped
behind me. I could hear their suppress
ed breathing. 1 could hear the beating
of my own heart. Five minutes to live
It had already seemed an age. Would
the time never come? Cold perspira-
ton rolled down my face and almost
blinded my eyes. l could but indistinct.
ly see the face Of the clock, but knew
that only minute more was left me.
That the wretches would kill me had
not doubt, but why had :hey chosen
such a method? Then remembered an
article had once read descriptive of the
delight felt by such men in seeing q
victim suffer. Death, of itself, was not
sufficient punishment. The time must
have nearly expired. My knees were so
week that I could scarcely stand. |
wondered low I'd feel when the bullets
should strike me. T wondered if I could
hear the report of the pistols. I heard
laugh. I quickly turned and saw ne
gro standing near me. The ruftians were
gone. I glanced at the clock. Five
minutes to twelve"
"What are you laughing at?" 1 dc.
manded of the negro.
cat dat ole joke dem COW w-boys played
on yer. Dat ar clock amt runnin' boss.
Der gennerman tole me ter gin yer dis
pistol Heah it is, er haw, haw !-
ArkansaaU Traveller.