The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1894-10-09
SAVED BY A BADGE.
A STORY THAT WILL INTEREST ALL
COLLEGE MEN.

Beta Mans Neck, and lie Was About to
he strung Up When lis College Society
Emblem Was Seen by One who Knew II.
The sixtieth annual dinner Of Gam.
ma Beta was certainly great success.
At tho long table sat 80 guests, OF all
ages and from all parts of the land
Tho feast was ended when iho captain
arose from his place near the head Of
the board. Straight Of figure and alert
Of eye, he bore his 60 years lightly.
Boys" says the captain, IL haven't
been to "a Gamma Beta dinner for 40
years. The last time went was u boy
in college As look around me am
glad | am not the oldest alumnus here,
for | feel as young as any freshman.
But came here tonight to tell you
story. and IL you have patience to hear
me | may as well begin. Remember,
we old ones arc Farrulous at times and
stop me when you have had enough. I"
His audience was all attention, and
the captain lighted fresh cigar, blew
out puff of smoke and began.
81 was the first northern man 10
Ilhlb NbNNbh III M lhtAlintA' tAANA AiiN shAs
The state had declared for tho Union
early in 1864, but there was plenty Of
lawless secessionism about, and "a north
erner's life and property were none too
safe Before | had been long at my
planting got notice from some of my
seoessionist friends that must stop op-
erations OF leave the district il | had
any regard for my life--in short, they
gave me to understand that If they
caught me they would string me mp 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 month after that was rid
| ing across country one afternoon to get
a little business done in the nearest
town AS | entered lonely piece of
road dozen men jumped out of tho
woods. pointed their guns at my head
and ordered me TO halt and dismount
/ | saw | could do nothing but surrender
| at discretion, 50 | came down from my
/ horse and was marched or in 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 out rope,
| slung one end Of it over the limb of a
convenient tree and had the other end
sipknotted around my neck in a jiify.
Probably none OF you has ever felt a
hangman rope around his neck, so you
cant appreciate the state of my feeling
at that time. III tell You, felt prett S
serious and thought my lease of life had
run out for certain. But man clings
to life at such times, and all at once
had happy thought. | remembered
that | had package of excellent cigars
in my pocket, and drew it out
Gentlemen, | said, with as much
GOODNESS as could muster. Il know
that have but few minutes more tc
live. Iwant to ask one favor Give m,
time TO smoke out cigar before you
swing me into eternity. Will you join
meY You will find them most excel
lieut..
MY captors Rrimly assontcd. and we
lighted our weeds together No onC
] oalh u Nbih NNAlt b'gSi llFlC tIt''
cigar hold out you may depend. But il
would burn, Little by little the ash he
gan to get longer and drop Off unit
there was just so much left. " And thC
captain held mp his smoking stump.
measuring its small remainder critical
ly with his finger.
Well, thought | to myself, here
goes for a few more pufIs anyway
and | was just getting the very last ot
them when we heard horse comm!
through the trees. A fine looking fellow
rode up, who seemei TO be sort Of
commander of the company Hello,
boysr he called out, 'who've you get
here?' We've got Roberts, and VIC ri
going 10 hang him, said they. AL
right. said the officer and cane over Z,
have look ~ me-
Now, | had on my watch chain thi,
little badge here" and the captail
touched a joweled monogram Of Roll
that hung 10 his breast Il have Away
worn il there and expect TO as long as
live. My coat was open, and as tho Con
federate came up his eye caught tht
badge. Well sirs, he turned all sorts ut
colors, and leaning close to my eal
whispered the name Of our fraternity
at the same time grasping my hand wit
the good old Gamma grip, given witt
the strength of giant Then he turne
to 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 a pail
of pistols from his pocket and hande
one to me. Now, brother, said he, de
fend yourself and get away as best yor
can' lost no time in following his ad
vice and made my escape. And here
am today, and that is all. "
There was a storm Of applause whel
the captain had finished and had taker
his seat
But, captain, sried more than one
you'll have to finish the story. Wh'
was the man that got you free, and die
you ever see him again?'
The captain arose again, smiling
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