The Yellowstone journal., 1894-10-24
SAVED By A BADGE.
A STORY THAT WILL INTEREST ALL
COLLEGE MEN,

Emblem Was Seen by One Who Knew 1t.
The sixtieth annual dinner of Gam
ma Beta was certainly Il great success
At the long table sat $50 guests, Of all
ages and from all parts Of the land. |
The feast was ended when the captain
arose from his place near the head OF
the board. Straight OF figure and alert ,
of eve, he bore his 90 years lightly.
Boys says the captain, 4 haven't
been to Gamma Beta dinner for 40
years. The last time | went was boy
in college. AS look around me | am
glad am not the oldest alumnus here, I
for / feel as young rs any freshman.
But came here tonight 10 tell you n
story, and if you have patience to hear
me | may as well begin Remember,
we old ones are garrulous at times and
stop me when you have had enough.
His audience was all attention, and
the captain lighted fresh cigar, blew
out puff of smoke and began.
Il was the first northern man TO
plant cotton in Arkansas after the war.
The state had declared for the Union
early in 1864, but there was plenty of
lawless secessionism about, and north
erner's life and property We're none too
safe. Before | had been long at my
planting got a notice from some of my
secessionist friends that | must stop OPP
erations or leave the district if l had
any regard for my life-in short, they
gave me TO understand that if they
caught me they would string me up TO
the nearest tree as sure as my name was
Jim Roberts Now, | didn't intend to
stop planting, and didn't intend to be
hanged, so | went ahead and told them
they could hang me-if they could catch
me.
About a month after that | was rid
ing across country one afternoon 10 get
a little sbusiuess done in the nearest
town. As / entered lonely piece of
road dozen men jumped out of the
woods, pointed their guns at my head
and ordered me 10 halt and dismount.
i saw / could do nothing hut surrender
at discretion, so ! came down from my
horse and was marched off i'll silence.
In few minutes We turned into a lane
that led deeper into the woods and kept
on until we came TO little clearing
one of my friends brought ont a rope,
Sung one end of il over the limb of a
convenient tree and had the other end
siipknotted around my neck i'll Jiffy.
Probably none of you has ever felt a
hangman's rope around his neck, so You
can't appreciate the state Of my feelings
at that time. I'll tell you, felt pretty
serious and thought my lease of life had
run out for certain But man cllngs
~ life at such times, and all at once
had happy thought. / remembered
that had package of excellent cigars
m my pocket, and | drew it out.
Gentlemen, said, with as much
soolness as l could muster. 1 know
that | have but few minutes more tc
hve. Iwant to ask one favor. Give me
zine to smoke out "a cigar before you
swing me into eternity. Will you join
me? You will find them most excel
lent.
My captors grimly assented. and We
kghted our weeds together. No one
said a word Well, boys | made that
cigar hold out, you may depend. But il
would burn. Little by little the ash be
gan to get longer and drop off until
there was Just so much left" " And the
captain held up his smoking stump
measuring its small remainder critical
~ with his finger
I" Well, thought | TO myself, here
goes for few more puffs anyway.
and / was Just getting the very last OF
them when we heard horse coming
through the trees. A fine looking fellow
rode up who seemed to be sort O
commander of the company. Hello
boysr he called out, 'who've you go
here?' We've got Roberts, and We n
going to hang him, said they. al
right, said the officer and came over e
have a look at me.
Now, had on my watch chain thi
httle badge here" and the captain
touched a jeweled monogram Of gol'
-1at hung TO his breast. u have alway
worn it there and, expect to as long as
live. My coat was Open, and as the Con
federate came up his eye caught tn
badge. Well, sirs, he turned all sorts o
oolors, and leaning close to my ca
whispered the name Of our fraternity
at the same time grasping my hand wit
the good old Gamma grip, given wit
the strength Of giant. Then he turne
90 his men. Boys, said he, this ma
is my friend. You must let him go.
And in an instant he took the rope froI
my neck, led up my horse, pulled pal
of pistols from his pocket and hande
one to me. Now, brother, said he, dc
fend yourself and get away as best 20
CAM / lost no time in following his &C
vice and made my escape. And here
an today, and that is all ="
There was a storm of applause whe
the captain had finished and had take
his seat
But, captain, cried more than one
you'll have to finish the story. VIII
was the man that got you free, and di
you ever see him again?'
The captain arose again, smiling
"who was he? Well, he belonged TO on
Of our southern chapters. And did
ever see him again? Yes, | did.
Lid his hand II