The Van Buren press., 1893-05-13
THE GOVERNORS MISTAKE.
A Determined Dignitary Whose Word
Was Law.

determined Dtgnitary Whose Word
Was Law.
II once made . mistake myself by
trying to be very thorough" said the
governor, shutting his teeth down on
his Habana, and closing his eyes retro
spectively.
"When was it," we asked.
"Not SO long ago, said the governor.
"Does any of You think look like
felon?" he asked The replies were
not unanimous. "Well, was arrested
as one within the last two years." he
said. "When came into the governor
ship l thought would be very thor
ough, and one of the first things in
vestigated was the convict system.
The newspapers said had made prom
ises that ] would give honest labor
show. Perhaps had. So one day
slipped of by myself and went up to
the mines to see how the thing was
being worked when no one was ex-
pected. The charge had been made
that the lessees ran things very differ
emily when an investigation committee
was expected from the way they usual
ly ran them, and that ordinarily the
treatment was very harsh. intended
to go down into the mines, and put
on an old suit of clothes in which
used to hunt occasionally. They were
torn and muddy, and ! congratulated
myself that no one would know me.
SIN the pockets were all sorts of odds
and ends, such as string, wire, a knife,
nippers, etc. l got the conductor to
let me off the train at crossing, and
walked mile or two to the mines. A
! got near them, thinking would look
over the ground before going out into
the cleared space, turned out of the
path and struck up the hill through
the brush. | took a survey, and saw =
small group of men around fire, one
or two of them convicts, one or two
perhaps visitors, and one guard with
a double-barrelled shotgun across his
arm. was thinking of going down,
and took a step or two, when some ono
behind me said, Hold on; come back
here turned, and there thirty steps
from me was guard. an ugly old fell
low, long and bony, standing with his
shotgun across his arm. What do you
wanty asked.
:" Il wants YOU he said, and wants
you quick. Come here
81 went over, moved rather by curl
osity. We'll, what do you want with mey
I'm going to take you to the war
den,' he said.
"'But won't co. said I don't
want to go to the warden, and won't
go.
"'You won't? Well, we'll see il you
won't. If you don't, you'll git load
O. buckshot in you,' he said, dropping
his gun and pulling back the hammer
slowly.
II saw that he had me, and l deter
mined to explain. 4 am visitor up
here said
"'Yes, no doubt; that's why wants
you. wants you to finish out your
visit. We can't bar to part with you.
Walk along thar a
Butt began.
"'But nothing said he; You don't
want no but but this and he gave me
a crack with the butt of his gun which
nearly knocked me over. March on
"Look here; I'm the governor of the
state,' said 1, trying TO look imposing.
"He looked at me quizzically.
You're pretty-looking gov'nor. amt
you?' said he. Well, gov nor, I'm glad
to see you; I'm gwine to help you finish
out yo' term. Walk along thar and
shet up yer jaw. I'm gittin' kinder
tired on it, and I've good mind to let !
you have load of buckshot anyways,
Jest to teach you manners ~
"Well that old fellow marched me
down, and made convict go through
my clothes. The things in my pockets
were proof positive Of my guilt, of
course and you never heard such 4
lambasting as he gave me in yonr life,
all the time keeping . running
fire at me, asking me what was
in for etc. The circumstantial evil
dence was that l was burglar, but
they all agreed that | looked like
pickpocket, and one man even sug-
gested that had picked a burglars
pocket. That was the worst OF all.
Then he marched me off to the wnr-i
dem" t8f
'What became Of the guard, = asked
one. s..s ~
"He's my manager on my farm, said
the governor, and lie still makes me-
march straight" Thomas Nelson
Page, in Harper's Magazine.