Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-05-18

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desperadoes 70 whom human life was
lof no value. and horses, especially
stolen ones, the most desirable prize
on earth. / never knew the man s
real name, but he was always refer
red 10 as Slippery Sam. for the rea-
son that no one had ever been able
TO catch him. He had for some time
been the terror of the community.
When Slippery Sam became IN
bearable, IL was the unanimous wish
OF the settlement that / should make
an attempt to get hold of him either
alive or dead. One day . boy rode
In among as and said that Sam was
hanging about 9 house in the next
county. where he was courting q
widow, and / was persuaded TO 90
over and see what / could do, with
q view OF checking his lawless Ca
reer.
A travelling parson had been among
us, and left number of Bibles and
tracts. / was not overscrupulous
as to the means Iemployed with des-
peradoes, SO put white handker-
chief around my neck, stuck pair
of revolvers under my breeches,
slung to my waist by a cord, and
made for the widow s house. reach
ing there about supper time. told
her was travelling parson that |
would like square meal and was
willing to pay for it. She agreed to
give me the supper, and as we were
eating a man came in and seated
himself opposite to me. Ihad never
seen Slippery Sam, but knew in a
moment that he and the stranger
| we're one and the same person.
After supper, when the woman
had cleaned the dishes, Il asked them
If they would listen to some things
l would like to read to them. Slip
perry Sam seemed to be especially
pleased about something, lighted a
pipe and told me to fire away"
read some OF the tracts TO them,
when Sam stopped me and said:
We've listened to you, parson.
Now l want you to listen to me for
awhile. Liz, bring out that demi-
john.
The sight Of a gallon of whiskey
didn't trouble me%much, for could
drink better than | could preach
and was willing to back my powers
against Sam atany time. Iadmitted
that l drank occasionally, and the
widow filed our glasses. / knew
couldn't shirk my liquor and that il
was merely question as to whether
Sam or had the stronger head. II
could put him under the table, I'd
get him; il not-well, there was no
telling about what would become oil
me in that case.
OF course demurred every time
my glass was filled, but every time
drained it. After awhile it began
to dawn upon me that Sam and
were about an even match at the
business and the battle would be
drawn, SO / changed my tacticts and
gave way to an appearance Of being
very drunk, sank down under the
table and was put to bed in an ad-
joining room by Sam and the widow.
Then, while snoring Justify. ! heard
the two conversing.
Them people over therell find
out they can't catch me nappin'.
got the feller they sent snorin'."
"What'll we do with him 2" asked
the widow.
I'm a-going to put bullet into
him" said Sam.
mo, you're not goin' to do any
such thing. have enough to stand
harboring you without havin mur-
der done in my house."
This was the last / heard. for they
shut the door and conversed in q
very low tone in the other room.
lay shivering under the covers.
Presently the door opened, and I.
pretending to be asleep, knew by
the altered light that Sam was hold
ing a candle before my face. Ididn Z
know whether he had come to MUIR
der me, but snored for dear life.
He went out and shut the door, and
it was to me like coming to life
again.
l was lying with my face to the
window, wondering what to do,
when ] saw rope with a moose on
the end descending from the ceiling.
Then i heard the door open and a
cat-like tread in the room. Afigure
seized the moose, glided to my bed
and with q soft touch, that / knew
to be womanis, placed it around
my neck. This done, she stole out
the room.
She had no sooner gone than
took OF the moose and held it in my
hand. waited half a hour, when l
heoan In faal n r.n1l m a. ...-