The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-07-13
SAVED BY A BADGE.
A STORY THAT WILL INTEREST ALL
COLLEGE MEN, 49,,

Be Strung Up When His College Society
Emblem Was Seen by One who Knew It.
The sixtieth annual dinner of Gam
ma Beta was certainly a 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 eye, he bore his 60 years lightly.
"Boys, - says the captain, II haven't
been to a Gamma Beta dinner for 40
years. The last time went I was boy
in college. AS I look around me am
glad l am not the oldest alumnus here,
for l feel as young as any freshman.
But CAME here tonight to tell you
story, and if you have patience to hear
me may as 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 a north
erner's life and property were none too
SAFE Before l had been long at my
planting got notice from some Of my
secessionist friends that l must stop op-
erations or leave the district if had
any regard for my Efe-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 tC
sop planting, and didn' It intend to b.
hanged, so went ahead and told them
they could hang me-if they could catch
me-
"About month after that WAS ri<l.
ing across country one afternoon to IS:
a little business done in the Ec:u.r,'
town. AS | entered Lonely piece: =,
road dozen men jumped out 81 i ,
woods, pointed their guns at ny hoi~:'
and ordered me to halt and di:n:oun1
saw | could do nothing but surreEt>
at discretion, SO l came down from my
horse and was marched off in silence.
In few minutes we turned into IL lane
that led deeper into the woods and kept
on until we came to a little clearing.
One Of my friends brought out rope,
slung one end Of it over the limb of
convenient tree and had the other end
slipknotted around my neck in a 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 clings
to life at such times, aud all at once I
had happy thought. | remembered
chat I had a package Of excellent cigars
In my pocket, and drew it out.
Gentlemen, said, with as much
GOODNESS as I could muster, I know
that have but few minutes more 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 asserted. and we
lighted our weeds together. No one
said a word. Well, boys, I made that
cigar hold out, you may depend. But it
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,
~ with his finger.
WELL thought to myself, here
goes for a few more puffs anyway.
and was just getting che very last of
them when we heard a horse coming
through the trees. A fine looking fellow
rode up, who seemed to be sort Of
commander Of the company. Hello,
boys!' he called out, 'who've you got
here?' We've got Roberts, and we're
going to hang him. said they. AL
right, said the officer and came over to
have look at me.
Nov, had on my watch chain this
little badge here" and the captain
touched a jeweled monogram of gold
that hung to his breast "Ihave always
worn it there and expect to as long as
live. My coat was open, and as the 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
che 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 horse, 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
canP I 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
But, captain" cried more than one,
you'll have to finish the story. Who
was the man that got you free, and did
you ever see him again?'
The captain arose again, smiling.
who was he? Well, he belonged to one
of our southern chapters. And did /
ever see him again? Yes, did,
H.