The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-03

81 am from the New York newspaper
whose name you saw on the card. 1
have been sent on an errand which this
letter will explain"
The governor put on his glasses and
1t ran as follows:
ITO TIE GOVERNOR OF THE FEDERAL PRIs-
ON. ETC, Ere: The bearer of this, Mr.. Kent,
| is connected with the stan OF this paper and is
sent to you to obtain, IL possible, an interview
with the prisoner Jean Laport, now under SEN
tence for manslsughter. The interests OF the
political party now in power can be materially
advanced II this man can be induced to talk.
and IL possible. furnish some Information con-
corning his confederates in a vast scheme to
rob the government 1t IS assumed that the prts-
oner who Is virtually under a life sentence, can
have no good reason for longer keeping silent,
and il Is thought BY the managers OF this paper
that an adroit man. like the bearer OF this, IL
furnished the facilities, may succeed in elicitng
the Information. which will be Of great service
IN the coming campaign to the administration.
of which you are loyal adherent
Respectfully, etc, etc"
Gov. Ixtel. plethoric and good-na-
tured man when not dealing with con-
victs, let his hand drop to his side with
the letter in it. With the other he took
off his glasses and looked at Mr.. Kent
with 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 month"
Nevertheless" replied Mr.. Kent. Il
am here to make the attempt with
I-;I -a,-,,iSSiOu :"
Take a seat" said the governor. Il
never heard that Laport was mixed up
in politics"
Mr.. Kent sat down. We'll, sir, it
isn't generally known But he is
nevertheless the depository of certain
secrets which to hold will no longer be
of any service to him and which if he
will give them away. as we say. will
secure for him the influence of num-
Der of powerful friends who can. if
they set to work, get him a commute
ton OF sentence
Mr.. Kent was evidently = clever
talker; he was thoroughly posted in
the political situation; he brought
with him from New York 4 good deal
of inside news and several rafting
stories that were new. lie candidly
confessed that he had no stomach for
this Job and wanted to be back in the
metropolis. But duty was duty and
he'd have to make the attempt. He
did not think he'd get much out of it,
but if he did it would be a feather in
the cap of the present administration
and an additional plume for himself.
Mr.. Kent talked so long that the
governor invited him to take dinner
with his family, and the guest proved
such an interesting talker that Mrs
Ixtel late in the afternoon proposed to
the governor that 1t would be far more
hospitable to have the gentleman stay
with them than to go OF to hotel
He played backgammon that night
with the governor, sang the latest
songs for Miss Ixtel and accompanied
himself on the piano; and he sat up till
twelve o'clock talking politics and
drinking the governors whisky.
The next day about nine o'clock in
the morning, the prisoner, round
shouldered old man with great deal
of character in his square jaw and
massive chin and deep-set scintillant
black eyes. was brought into the
Office of the prison No one was pres
ent but the governor and the reporter.
"Laport," said the governor, here's
u gentleman wants to talk to you
hope you'll treat him with more con-
sidsration than ron do me-"