The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-08-01
SLIPPERY SAM
lortginaI1

1898 N0A
ne and horses, especially. stolen ones,
the most desirable prize on earth. l
never knew the mans real name, but
he was always referred to as slippery
Sam for the reason hat 10 n had
eyer bee able to catch him. He had
for some time been the terror of the
community.
When Slippery Sam became un-
beGrable 1t was the unanimous wish of
the settlement that l should make an
attempt to get hold. of him either alive
or dead. One day a boy rode in among
us and said that Sam was hanging
about O house In the next county,
where he a counting a widow. and
/ was persuaded to go over and see
what l could do, with a view of check
ing his lawless career.
A travelling parson had been among
us and left a lot of Bibles and tracts.
l was not prescriptions as to the
means / employed with desperadoes.
so l put a white handkerchief around
my neck. stuck a pair of revolyers un-
der my breaches. slung to my waist by
q cord, and made for b widows
house. reaching 1t about supper time
/ told her / was a travelling parson;
that l would like a square meal and
was willing to pay for it. She agreed
to give me the supper. and while we
were eating a mar came in and sat
down opposite me. / had never seen
Slippery Sam. but ] knew in a mo-
ment. that he and the stranger were
one and the same person.
After supper when h widow had
- - .fraA AhnrSn p
they would listen to some things
would like to read to them. Slippery
Sam, who seemed to be especially
pleased about something. lighted a pipe
and told me to fire away l read
some of the tracts to them, when Sam
stopped me and said:
"Wc've listened to you, parson- Now
l 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 l could drink
better than l could preach and was
willing to back my powers against Sam
at any time. l admitted that | drank
occasionally. and the widow filed u
glasses. / knew I couldn't shirk my
liquor and hat 1t was merely a ques-
ton as to whether Sam or I had the
stronger head. If 1 could put him I'M
der the table, I'd get him; if not-well.
there was no telling about what would
become of me in that case.
OF course I demurred every time my
glass was lied. but every time drain
ed it. Ate awhile 1t began to dawn
upon me thPt Sam and l were about an
even match at the business and the
battle woul' be drawn, so l 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 room by Sam and the
widow. Then, while snoring Justify. l
heard the two conyerSing.
Them people over there'll find out
they can't ketch me nappin'. l got the
Teller they :ent snorin'."
"WhatIl we do with him % asked the
widow.
I'm a-goin' to put a bullet into him."
whispered Sam.
NO. you're not goin' to do any such
thing. l have enough to stand harbor-
in you without havin' murder n
in my house"
This was the last I heard, for they
the door and consulted in a very
INV loLC III Xix ONA1Cl OOl1I- L 10y oiA
ering under the covers. Presently the
door opened. and l, pretending to sleep,
knew by the altered light that Sam
vas holding a candle before my face.
l 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 was lying with my face to the win
dow. wondering what to do, when l
saw a rope with a loose on the end de-
scending from the ceiling.
Then 1 heard the door open and a
catlike tread in the oom A figure
seized the moose, glided to my bed and
with a soft touch I knew to be a WON
ans placed 1t around my neck. This
done. she stole away
She had no sooner zone than l 0
OF the moose and held 1t in my hand.
waited half an hour, when l began to
feel a pull on the rope. Clinging to II
with both hands, 1 was swung from
the bed and ORA WI upward. l wiggled
and made a sound as II choking and
when hanging straight down over the
center of the room gave q few spas
modic kicks. after which / remained
perfectly still.
Though / had both hands on the
moose l feared / would not be able to
hang long enough to convince my
would be murderers that I was dead.
could hear ,othing. but was convinced
hat Sam and the widow were at the
other end of the rope and would make
1t fast Presently heard footsteps In
other rooms above and surmised the
Job vas complete.
When the first faint light Of day
shone In at the window I saw a piece
of paper on a chair beside me. On It
written in lead pencil:
Tired of life. Got the liquor habit on
- Z. oo.st cat I'D ~ - ~on'f 40 Pny