The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-12-15
SAVED BY A BADGE.
A STORY THAT WILL INTEREST ALL
COLLEGE, MEN.


A STORY THAT WILL INTEREST AL
COLLEGE MEN.
There Was . Rope Ro1nd tho Gamma
Deta M.n's Neck. and He w.s About 10
BE Strung Up when His College Society
Emblem was Seen BY One Who Knew 1t.
The sixtieth annual dinner of Gam.
ia Beta was certainly a great succesa
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 eye, he bore his 60 years lightly.
Boys" says the captain, II haven't
been to q Gamma Beta dinner for 20
years The last time I went I was q boy
in college. As look around me am
glad l am not the oldest alumnus here,
for feel as young as any freshman.
But came here tonight to tell you q
story, and If You have patience to hear
me may a. we'll 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.
81 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 q north
erner's life and property were none too
safe. Before had been long at my
planting got notice from some Of my
secessionist friends that must stop op-
erations or leave the district if had
any regard for my Hfe-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 Roberta Now, I didn't intend to
stop planting, and didn't intend to be
hanged, 80 went ahead and told them
they could hang me-if they could catch
me.
About q month after that was rid
ing across country one afternoon to get
q little business done in the nearest
town. As l entered lonely piece Of
road q dozen men jumped out Of the
woods, pointed their guns at my head
and ordered me to halt and dismount
I saw could do nothing but surrender
at discretion, SO came down from my
horse and was marched of in silence.
; In few minutes we turliea TITO lane
that led deeper into the woods and I6pt
ON until we came to little clearing.
One Of my friends brought out a rope,
slung one end Of it over the limb Of q
convenient tree and had the other end
slipknotted around my neck in a jiny.
Probably none Of you has ever felt a
hangman's rope around his neck, 60 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 clings
to life at such times, and all at once
had q happy thought remembered
that had package Of excellent cigars
in my pocket, and drew it out.
Gentlemen, / said, with as much
coolness as could muster. Il know
that have but few minutes moro to
live. Iwant to ask one favor. Give me
time to smoke out cigar before you
swing me into eternity. Will you join
me? You will find them most excel
lent. -
my captors grimly assented. and we
lighted our weeds together. No one
said word Well, boys, made that
cigar hold out, you may depend. But it
would burn. Little by little the ash be-
gan to get longer and drop of until
there was Just SO much left" And the
captain held up his smoking stump,
measuring it's small remainder critical.
" with his finger. -s %.~.
Well thought to myself, here
goes for q few more puffs anyway
and was just getting the very last Of
them when we heard 4 horse coming
through the trees A fine looking fellow
rode up, who seemed to be sort Of
commander Of the company. Hello,
boysl' he called out, 'who've you got
hefer We've got Roberts, and we e're
going to hang him. said they. All
right, said the officer and came over to
! have a look at nie @a
s Now, ! had on my watch chain this
little badge here, and the captain
touched jeweled monogram Of gold
that hung to his breast. II have always
worn it there and expect to as long as !
live. My coat was open, and as tho Con-
federate came up his eye caught the
badge. Well, sirs, he turned all sorts of
colors, and leaning close to my ear
whispered the name Of our fraternity.
at the same time grasping my hand with
the good old Gamma grip. given with
the strength Of giant. Then he turned
to his men. Boys. said he. this man
is my friend. You must let him 60.
! And in an instant he took the rope from
my neck, led up my horze, pulled pair
Of pistols from his pocket and handed
one to me. Now, brother, said he, de,
!: fend yourself and get away as best you
CAM | lost no time in following hisad-
vice and made my escape. And here /
am today, aud that 10 all =
There was STERN Of applause when
the captain had finished and had taken
his seat
But. captain. Z cried moro than ones
you' II have to finish the story. Who
Was the man that got ron frea.. and did
You ever see him again?'
l The captain arose again. smiling.
l..' Whowas be? Well, he belonged to ono
Of our southern chapters And did I