the snake

i was born by the river in a little shack i wanted to conquer the world but couldn’t get on track i found a bag of gold in a hole out back and got a ride to town from a guy named mack he left me at the station at fifth and main mixed emotions swirled around in my brain the feelings i had were hard to explain but with the bag of gold i got on the train ckickety clickety clickety clack no one suspected what i had in my sack i bought a ticket for the very last stop at the stroke of midnight off the train i did hop the moon looked down with a wistful frown i put my bag on my shoulder and entered the town the streets were filled with men with guns but i did not know anyone i was accosted by the famous jack slade i looked in his face and was not afraid you look like a tenderfoot, he said give me that bag or i will shoot you dead i handed it over without a qualm knowing i would never come to harm slade opened the bag and a snake popped out he had no time to even shout the snake hardly made a sound and slade fell to the ground the rounders witnessing the scene turned various shades of green the hour has come at last i heard black dan riley gasp the owlhoots all drifted away and night slowly turned to day the end is quickly told the snake did not turn back to gold i was left with no cards up my sleeve and a story no one will believe stranger, take pity on me all i wanted was to be free i grasped at the ghost of a chance but only devils can dance