The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1895-03-01
SAVED BY A BADGE.
A STORY THAT WILL INTEREST ALL
COLLEGE MEN

There Was = Rope Round the Gamma
Beta Mans Neck, and lie Was About to
he Strung Up when his College Society
Emblem Was Seen by cne Who Knew It.
The sixtieth annual dinner Of Gam
ma Beta was certainly n great success.
At the long table sat $50 guests. Of Gil
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 90 years lightly.
Boys. says tho captain, Il haven't
been to Gamma Beta dinner FOR 30
years The last time ! Went / was q boy
III college. As look around RE I am
glad ] am not the oldest aiamnus here,
for | feel rs Young as any freshman.
But 1 came here tonight to tell yua
story, aud if yCu have patience to hear
me / may as well begin ReI.Cmber.
we cid ones are G;uTulous 1T 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 tho war
The state hal declared for the UniCn
early in 1864, but there WAS plenty of
lawless secCssiCnism about, and north
erner's life and property were Eouc too
safe. Before | had been long at my
planting l got "A notice frurl some of lIy
sccessionist friends that must stop OPP
erations or leave the district If ! had
any regard for my life-in short, thcv
gave me TO understand THAT il thcv
caught me they would string me up 70
the nearest tree rs sure a. my uamo was
jim Roberts. Now, / didn't intend t.
stop planting, ard didn't intend 10 he
hanged, 50 ! went ahead ;ud told them
they could hang nie--if they could catch
nc.
About a month after that was rifl-
ing across country one afternoon 10 get
a little business done in the nearest
town. As ! entered a lonely piece Of
road a dozen men jumped ous of the
woods, pointed their guns at MY head
and ordered ne 20 half and dismount
saw | could do nothing hut surrender
at discretion. so came down from my
horse ard was Tcarchcd of III silence
In few minutes We turned into "a lane
that led deeper into the woods and kept
ON until VIC came tn a little clearing
One of my friends brought out a rope.
slUng one e:d az il over the lnah Of
convenient tree and had the other eni
slipkuUtted aVould my ncri. in iiffy.
Probably none of you has ever felt
hanGman's rope around his neck, so yor
can't appreciate the state 0f MY feelings
at that time III tell You. ] fult trctty
serious and thought n.y lease IF life had
run out for certain. But rnan clincs
to life at such times. and all re once ]
had a happy thought / remembered
that 1 had a package Of excellent cigars
IN my pocket, and drew II out.
'Geutlcmen, I said. with as much
coolness as ! could muster. 4 know
tAi.t / nave but few minutes more IL
live. Iwant to ask onc favor. Give me
time to smoke out n cierr bet, re- you
swing mc into eternity VIII You Join
me: You VIII fHd them most excel
lent
MY captors grimly asscnted. and we
lighted uur weeds together. No one
said word Well. boys. / made th:.,
cigar hold Out. you moy depend. REt T.
would bCTE- Little by little the ash b.
gan 20 get longer and drop oil urtil
there was Just so Inuch left. . And the
captain held mp his smoking siuinr.
measuring its small remainder critical
ly with his finger.
We'll thought I to myself. 'fe-c
goes for few moro puifs ANYWAY.
and was Just getting the very last &C
them when we heard a h1rsa comm.
through the trees i fine locking fellows
rode ~, who seemed to Le sprt II j
commander IF the company. II, 10. f.
boysl he called ont, 'who've you got
hcle:' We've got Rob.rts. and wC'~s .
going to hang hun, said they AN
right, said the officer and camo over u
have a look ct me
3" Now. l Lad or my watch chain this .
little badge here, and the captain
touched a jeweled monogram Of gold .
tnat hung tc his breast. "Ihavo Glwavs +
worn II there and expect to ,.s long aS (
live Ny coat was open, and as the Con I
feterate came up his eye caught the
badge Well, sirs, Inc turned al sorts Il F.
colors, and leaning close 70 my ear
whispered the name Of our fraternity,
at the same time grasping my hand with
TIC good old Gamma grip, given with
the strength of a giant. Then he turnel .
to his men. Boys, said lac, this maj
Is my friend. You must let hin 20.
And IN az instant he took the rope from
my neck, Led up my horse, pulled pair
Of pistols from his pocket and handel
one to ne. Now. brotLer. said he. de.
feEd yoursC II ard get away rs best yal
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 When
the captain had finished and had taken .
his seat