Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-01-12
SAM
tOriginal.1

d most desirable prize on earth. T
never knew the mans real name, but
ne was always referred to as Slippery
Sam for the reason 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 I'M
bearable it was the unanimous wish of
the settlement that l should make an
attempt to get hold of him either alive
or dead One day Il boy rode in among
us n said that Sam was hanging
abo a house in the next county,
where he was counting n widow, and
l was persuaded to go over and see
b could do, with n view of check
ing his lawless career.
A travelling parson had been among
US N left a lot Of Bibles and tracts.
l was not o~verscrupulous as to the
means l employed with desperadoes,
so l put a white handkerchief around
my neck, stuck a pair of revolvers un-
der my b%reeches. slung tt my waist by
a cord, and made for the Widows
house. reaching it about supper time.
l told her I was a travelling parson;
that l would like q square meal and
was willing to pay for it. She agreed
10 give me the supper, and While we
were eating Il man came in and sat
down opposite me. l had never seen
Slippery Sam, but l knew in q mo-
ment that he and the stranger were
one and the same person.
After supper, when the widow had
washed the dishes, I asked them If
they would listen to some things I
would like to read to them. Slippery
Sam, who seemed to be especially
pleased about something, lighted q pipe
and told me to fire away" l read
some of the tracts to them, when Sam
stopped me and said:
We've listened to you, parson. Now
1 want you to listen to me for awhile.
Liz, bring out that demijohn."
The sight Of a gallon Of whisky didn't
trouble me much, for 1 could drink
better than I could preach and was
willing to back my powers against Sam
at any time. I admitted that I drank
occasionally, and the widow filed our
glasses. 1 knew l couldn't shirk my
liquor and that it was merely q ques-
ton as to whether Sam or I had the
stronger head. If 1 could put him un-
der the table, I'd get him; If not-well,
there was no telling about what would
become of me in that case.
OF I demurred every time my
glass was filled, but every time drain
ed it. After awhile it began to dawn
upon me that Sam and I were about an
ever match at the business and the
battle would be drawn, SO I changed
my tactics and gave way to an appear
ance of being very drunk, sank down
under the table and was put to bed in
the adjoining DON by Sam and the
widow. Then. while snoring Justify, I
heard the two ~conversing.
"Them people over there'll find out
they can't ketch me nappin'. I got the
Teller they sent snorin'."
"What'l we do with him?" asked the
widow.
"Im a-goin' to put a bullet into him."
whispered Sam.
mo, you're not goin' to do any such
thing. I have enough to stand harbor-
in you without havin' murder done
in my house."
This was the last 1 heard, for they
shut the door and consulted in a very
low tone in the other room. 1 lay shiv-
ering under the W. Presently the
door opened, and 1, pretending to sleep,
knew by the altered light that Sam
was holding a candle before my face.
I didn't know whether he had come to
kill me, but snored for dear life. He
went out and shut the door, and it was
to me like coming to life again.
l wa lying with my face to the win.
dow, wondering what to do, when
saw a rope with a moose on the end de,
scending from the ceiling.
Then I heard the door open and a
catlike tread in the ROOM: A figure
seized the moose, glided to my bed and
with a soft touch l knew to be a won.
ans placed it around my neck. This
done, she stole away.
She had no sooner gone than l took
off the moose and held 1t in my hand.
waited half an hour, when I began to
feel a pull on the rope. Clinging to it
with both hands, l was swung from
the bed and drawn upward. I wiggled
and made a sound as If choking and
when hanging straight down over the
center Of the room gave a few spas
modic kicks, after which I remained
perfectly still.
Though I had both hands on the
moose I feared I would not be able to
hang long enough to convince my
would be murderers that l was dead.
could hear nothing, but was convinced
that Sam and the widow were ut the
other end Of the rope and would make
it fast. Presently I heard footsteps in
other rooms above and surmised the
job was complete.
When the first faint light Of day
shone in at the window I saw q piece
Of paper on a chair beside me. On 1t
was written in lead pencil:
Tired of life. Got the liquor habit on
me and can't get rid OF 1T. 1t won't do for
one Of my calling.