The national leader., 1888-12-08
sQUETx'HED.
A Story -Teller's Liae Spared Only on
One Coz aition.

"I know" the Northern member
would occasionally say. ''that people
would be slow to believe some Of the
things have been telling about my
experiences in the war. but they are all
true to the letter."
81 don't doubt for mement.'. said
the Western man, who wasn't In the
war. Sand now just let me tell you
little maritime storY-true beyond o
doubt and not in the least fishy, though
will confess 1t Is SO old that It has
burrs On 1t. A crowd of men were sit
ting In a saloon one night and man
got up and commenced to relate an ex.
perience of his own. It ran like this:
Il was on ship ten years ago which
was wrecked In miC-ocean. Many or
the passengers did not succeed in get
ting into the life-boats and some OF us
had to jump into the water. I sank
twice and then managed to catch hold
Of a piece of timber Just big enough to
support me. Recovering my breath I
congratulated myself on having sup
port enough to possibly keep me aioat
until I could be picked up by some
passing vessel Suddenly felt one
end Of my timber 60 down. and. turn.
ing my head. discovered that another
man had grabbed hold OF my lumber.
In a moment or two we were about to
sink. I urged him to be careful, but
he would not heed me. We drifted
along for some minutes, when I made
up my mind that one or the other Of us
would have to 60 down. for with such
pressure it was only matter Of time
when we would both lose our piece Of
timber. finally edged my way up to
| The man and choking him, made hmm
release his grip. He fell of and sup
pose drowned, for I padded away and
saw him no more. It was o cruel thing
to do, but self preservation being the
nrst law of nature looked out for No,
I. You may not believe this. but, gen
tlemen. it Is the truth
"Then," the Western Congressman
went on to relate, ga big man, with
bushy beard and fierce looking eye
brows, arose from q corner and said:
Alas for you, it was true. I was the
man you pushed that awful day from
the piece of timber. Hal ha! you
thought you had drowned me; but I
| live to face the man who treated me 30.
Kind fortune, when arose from be-
meath the angry waves, sent another
piece Of timber, and, though bruised
by you. had strength enough to cling
like an oyster to my timber, and In
few hours was rescued by passing
ship. For nearly ten long years have
been hunting you, sir, and you shall
die. I will give you Eve minutes to
prepare for death - more than you
would give me In mid-ocean.'
1.-THE crowd seemed disposed to inter
fere, but the big man with bush5
beard drew two pistols and called out:
Stand back. everybody and with the
death-dealing weapons he covered the
party who had narrated the ocean ex-
perience. The latter pleaded for mercy
and eventually the big man with the
busby beard said: Il will spare your
life only on one condition.
Name it, gasped the frightened
man.
That you will confess to this crowd
that no such thing as you have related
ever occurred and that you have simply
been telling whopping lie, thinking
that these people would believe you
LAS quick as fash the man admit.
ted that he had simply been romancing.
He was forgiven, but not until after he
had treated the house."