The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-04-02
SAN HousToN.s PRACTICAL JOKE.

pnAG tGAI JUNE
Ha stepped Just lin rime ID save Mia own
Life.
II was some time Ia the forties, not
long after Sam Houston had come TO
the senate. The great Texan was at
tended by a faithful black from vir-
ginia, bearing the distinguished name
of Richard Henry Lee. Richard
proved himself a good body servant
III al things save one.
He attended faithfully on every
want of his eccentric master, who
was keeping bachelors quarters. But
no argument was sufficiently persua-
sive to induce Richard Henry Lee to
keep the rooms in order. A general
air Of slothful neglect marked the
surroundings Of their domestic estab.
1ishment, and time and again Hous.
ton threatened to have Richard fiayed
and his black hide hung over the back
yard fence as o frightful example to
all evildoers.
Things ran on in this way until one
day Houston returned to his rooms
from the senate and found the condi-
ton of affairs at home SO bad that he
determined then and there to teach
his hunky q good lesson. He delib-
erately locked the door, and without
saying q word crossed over to table
where he kept his pistol case, re.
moved two pistols, loaded them,
handed one TO Richard and took the
other himself.
"Now, Richard Lee, " he began In
d low voice that foreboded iii, s'you
stand In that corner while / take my
vposition In this, opposite you, face to
face. man to man, pistols in hand.
Won have betrayed my confidence
and trampled upon my feelings until
patience has ceased to be q virtue.
have reasoned and pleaded with you
TO maintain my roomsin that state OF
cleanliness to which, as q free born
Texan, ! am accustomed, and you
have basesy ignored my wishes in
the premises and have gone on In
your slothful, shiftless ways without
regard either to my feelings or my
comfort.
Now, you Internal scamp, ! have
made up my mind to kill you. ] could
do 80 without giving you a show fol
your life, but absolute fairness shall
distinguish the method Of your tax
ing off. Get into your place, and
when ! drop this red bandanna hand
kerchief shooti If you kill me, sc
be II. | forgive You now. Ii I xii
you, it won't make any difference
anyhow. You are good for nothing
and your removal will be q blessing
tosociety. Remember. however, thai
no man aver faced me with a pisto
in his hand and lived to tell it"
With ashen face Richard Henry
who, despite his negligence, loved hi
master most devotedly, took his stand
in the corner assigned him and me
chemically followed Houston's mo
tons The Texan took d handker
chief out of his pocket, which he he'll
aloft as a signal, and then raised hi
pistol with the other hard to a leve
with his lackey's heart.
As he did so an involuntary smile
fitted across his face, and instantly
Richard dropped his pistol, while hi
face spread out into a huge smile.
i say, Mars Sam, he shouted in
a transport Of rejoicing, II though
yo' rally meant it, but yo' just pokir
fun at me Goramity," he added
with a sigh of relief, 1T makes me-
shiver to think how near yo' was tx
death. Dat smile was all dat saved
yo' life.
Houston told the story as a good
joke on himself, assuring his hearers
that he was positive Richard woult
have killed him il he had carried ths
joke a hairbreadth further .-Wash
ington Post.