Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-27

! Have Been Sent on an Errnnd.
| 1T. With the other he took off his glasses
| and looked at Mr.. Kent with a broad smile.
why, bless your enterprising SOUL he
said. that old alligator won't talk. You
couldn't pump ten words out of him if you
worked a month
| Nevertheless replied Mr. Kent, II am
mere 10 make the attempt, with your kind
permission"
lake a seat" said the governor. II
never heard that Laport was mixed I'D in
Mr.. Kent sat down. well. sir. II isn't
generally known. But he is nevertheless
| the depository of certain secrets which to
h hSlo VIII no longer be of any service to
MIN and which IL he will give them away
as we say, will secure for him the inf1uence
OF a number of powerful friends who can
II tney set to work, get him a commute ton
Of sentence"
Mr.. Kent was evidently a clever tslker.
ne was thoroughly posted in he political
SITUATION; he brought with him from New
YORK good deal of inside news and sever
dldly confessed that he had no stomach for
this JOB and wanted TO be back in the me-
lropolls. Sut duty was duty and he'd have
70 make the attempt. He did rot think he'd
get mucn out or 1t, but II he lid il would
be feather in the cap of the present aI-
himself. ioii
Mr. Kent talked so long that the COVER
|
1amlly, and the guest proved such an infer
estlng talker that Mrs. Ixtel, late in the
afternoon, proposed to the governor that II
would be far more hospitable to have tho
gentleman stay with them than TO 20 off 70
hotel ~
He played backgammon that night with
the governor; sang the latest songs for Miss
lxtel and accompanied himsen on inc
piano; and he sat up till II O'Clock talking
politics and drinking the governors
whisky.
The next day about o'clock in the morn
1rg the prisoner, a round-shouldered old
man with a great deal of Character in his
square Jaw and massive chin and deep-set
sclntIIant black eyes, was brought into the
once OF the prison No one was present
but the governor and the reporter
"i.aport," said the governor. "here.s n
gentleman wants to talk to YOU I hone
youH treat him with more consideration
than you do me-"
The old man looked from one of the men
to the other with a sullen defiance. You
can save yourself the trouble" he said.
We nothing to say"
He folded his arms and stood ,ooliro =.
the ceiling. ."
We'll. sit down and be comfortable. II
you can't be human said the governor.
There's chair
Kent then began free and easv exn,ano
ton, TO which Iaport paid very little AT
tentlon. He approached the subject of his
inquiry. the governor thought with greet
tact, and then asked one or two unimport-
ant questions
The only answer the man made was n
turn to the governor:
is there anything in my conduct" he
saIu, 10 warrant you in inf1icting this ex-
ira punishment on me? Send me back tn
my. work" Y
I'm Inclined said the governor. "to
put You in dark cell for week to pun
ish You for your Internal obstinancv Tva
treated you altogether too we'll old man >.
The old man gave a slight shrug of his
shoulders, but was silent
Kent began to apologize for him, and. as
coaxIngly as he could asked him several
more questions. To one of them he erou1'
ed out sullen NO" and was on the point
OF saying something else when one of the
guards came In with message for the gov
ernor at which he relapsed into silence
and no further attempts could induce him
to say a word $1,000
When he had been taken away the gov
ern H SAID: You see l was right when 1
toio you 1t was a hopeless task
On the contrary" said Kent ct feel
him." e"s VI
1t will make him CIVIL
WISH, said Kent, you'd lock me En-
with MIN for half an hour. If 1 don't make
any neadWay then I'll give up the job and
The next day the governors family want
10 ehurch picnic and Kent accompanied
theHi: he proved on this occasion TO he
tne NE OF the little party. There seemed
- iolHiHS tnal ne could not do. from
making an omelette in the woods to maxi
ing speech to the children. The yoyeruor
was really quite proud of his guest
Nent mad now been three days inside the
PRISON jurisdiction, and how we'll he mad
improved his time appeared afterwards
men they were coming home from the
picnic he told Mrs. Ixtel that he mad over
,,,,s,t go ms tiIne' and must finish up his
business on the morrow. If the governor
would lock him up with Laport he thought
ne could make the fellow confidential
Inc uPshot of all this was that on the
fourth day Kent was taken 10 ono.t,
cell, carrying nothing but a pencil and 80
MniSh ihe governor had furnished him. and
J0cuIarly remarking as he was eoina
ualoush the corridor that they ought TO
sedrcn MIN first for he might have go
mes ABOUT him. and let that rascal ont -,
teaen the world a golden silence. -
Inc governor laughed. as he now did at
marked: IF he gets away frn,-, oi,iy re- re-
take all the blame" 0A'1 me HI
An right" retoined Kent. but as vo,,
VaIue human life don't forget to LET me
twenty minutes" Ae IL
They entered the cell together T..rort
was sltt1nS on the stone floor with his head
between his knees. He neither roSa 80 -
looked up as they came in. The nlsce W ,,os
uirniy III Dy one embrasure. 1t was fur
nished with an iron pallet and a nail
heht Went toward the light and looked
Of 10: he said. Give me till a Quarter
past" H ei
Laport looked UP and addressed himself
to the governor. -
Are you going to put this lunatfc IN
me-? ne said, It'll l knock my brains out
against these walls?''
The best way TO get rid of him." replied
the governor, lis to treat him cfyiIIy Ee
doesn't want to annoy you and he comes
from some of your friends"
Yes said Kent, you can treat me con-
fidentially. The governor is going to leave
US together for a few moments II Won
will answer some of my questions / can be
of service to YOU
Laport dropped his head between his
hards. The governor gave a shrug and
turned to the door. I've heard of soueez-
ing pig lead out of a sponge" he said
It's holiday work to squeezing that old
bundle of scrap iron"
For Gods sake, don't forget me when
the times up. said Kent, and sat down
on the iron bed.
The governor then went out. Kent heard
the great bolt shot with an iron clang