The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-10-11
What Caused an Arkansas Candidate
Dafaat

who was once q prominent candidate
| for Governor of Arkansas. Some time
ago | was travelling on horseback
through n very lonely part OF the
country. / was never a brave man,
and | was not in the least surprised
upon discovering that | was scared.
Every rustic of the leaves, every sud
den cry of bird startled me. |
couldn't think of anything but robbers
and desperadoes, and shuddered as |
remembered a man who, years ago, had
been found in the woods, murdered in
cold blood. Every feature of the
ghastly face came up, and turned
sick when the gaping wound in his
throat came up with startling verisimi-
| litude.
While / thus reflected, short turn
of the lonely road, winding around a
'thickly wooded hill, brought me face to
| face with two men who seemed to be
standing for me- Their horses were
hitched to neighboring grapevine,
and the suggestive manner in which
| they looked at the animal | was riding
sent thrill like streak of icewater
| up my back. | saw at once that they
| were desperate men, and felt that they
would not hesitate to kill me. Flight
was out of the question, for any such
move on my part would, | was con-
| vinced, prove certain death. For the
first time in my life l resolved to play
the bully, and, assuming what | fancied
was an unconcerned expression. l
said, Good morning"
''How are you?" they replied. GO
ing far?"
Il don't know that it is any of your
business" l replied. Il don't want
any trouble with you, for | have de-
cided to lead better life. Never again
do / want it said that | shed the blood
of human being"
"a bad man, reckon said one of
| the desperadoes.
.'At one time I could not have de-
MED such an accusation; but, as | tell
you, have resolved not to kill another
man. | hope that you will not modest
me.o
Hold on, pardner''
1--we got no time to talk.
but hold on! What's your namepn
''Tm Bill Poston, the outlaw, and the
man of whom you have often heard. l
have killed men for less than this, and
don't want you to cause n breaking of
my resolve"
''Do as you like about your resolve, "
said the taller of the desperadoes. Il
don't know who you are, but l know
that you are not Bill Poston, the rob-
Der. "
How do you know?"
Because [ am Bill Poston, and this
is my brother"
'Oh, Lord!' | supplicated ''have
| mercy on men'
Climb off that horse, Cap; reckon
we'd better hang you right here"
l begged, but saw no mercy in their
| eyes; | prayed, but | heard no answer.
'Ill teach you how to 90 around The
country committing depredations and
laying them on to me! Fine man, YOU
are! Stole this horse, l reckon. John,
get that rope off my saddle Wen
swing him up right here"
''Oh, my kind friends! I-have COM
mlttcd no depredatious, | am a candi-
date for Governor Of Arkansas, and am
on my way to meet an appointment at
a place OF discussion. You wouldn't
hang Governor, would youp Just
think of what your State would lose. ~
wv ho is your opponent?
Colonel Blacket"
"What sort of fellow is he?n
"He's bad man. H."
9 Are you well acquainted with himpn
81 never saw him, but know that he's
bad man..
"1e much better man than YOU
are, or at least will soon exhibit more
capacity for executive duties than YOU
can possibly show. In short, he'll be
the liveliest man pretty soon.''
They put the rope around my neck.
prayed in vain. | asked the Lord to
forgive me my sins, and closed nv eyes.
every moment expecting to be drawn
up.
IF let you 90 Will you promise
never again TO use my name?"
Il swear | won't. Let me live and
II be better man. I'll do anything
for you, and when I'm elected Govern
9r III pardon you"
''All right; you may 90 this tirae.
Take off the rope, john
L mounted my horse and rode away,
with fearful thankfulness, and a deter.
minatlon never TO tell another lie.
Next day, when | reached the place of
discussion, large crowd had gathered.
When | approached the people were
shouting with laughter Great Alex
ander! Some one was relating nv ex-
perlence. Showing my way forward |
recognized in the speaker the tail man
who had accused me of taking his
uame. He was my opponent. | could
mot face the crowd, and left Us rapidly
as possible. The whole thing was Il
joke. At the election l was defeated py
an overwhelming majority.-Arkansa'o
1raUeter.