Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-10

1.-The day operator will be here at 8,
l will return as soon as I've had cup
Of coffee, and we'll handle all you can
write" answered Bowen without look
ing up from his instrument.
Thanks. Grim business, isn't it?''
st is
II thought the governor would cave.
Didn't you?''
Il didn't know
Hes a shrewd old villain. He'd
have lost next election if he'd reprieved
this man. People don't want to see
lynching introduced, and a weak kneed
governor is Judge Lynch's friend. Well,
good night See you in the morning."
Good night said Bowen
Daylight gradually dimmed the lamps
in the telegraph room, and Bowen start
ed and caught his breath as the church
bell began to toll.
1t was 10 minutes after G when Bow
ems partner, the day man, came in.
well, they've hanged him, :" he said
Bowen was fumbling among some pa
pers on his table. He folded two of
| them and put them in his inside pocket
Then he spoke:
There will be a newspaper man here
in few moments with a good deal of
copy to telegraph. Rush it off as fast as
you can, and I'll be back to help before
you are tired"
As Bowen walked toward the Jail
he met the scattered group of those who
had been privileged to see the execu-
ton. They We're discussing capital pun
ishment, and some were yawning, COM
planning about the unearthly hour cho-
sen for the function they had Just be-
held. Between the outside gate and the
| Jail door Bowen met the sheriff, who
was looking CHASTITY and sallow in the
| fresh morning light
Il have come to give myself up"
| said Bowen before the official could
greet him.
ITO give yourself up? What for?''
''For murder, ! suppose.
This is no time for joking, young
man,, said the sheriff severely
do look like a humorist? Read
that
First incredulity, then horror, over
| spread the haggard face of the sheriff
as he read and reread the dispatch. He
| staggered back against the wall, put
| ting up his arm TO keep himself from
| falling
Bowen" he gasped. ''Do you-do
| you mean toto tell me-that this mes
sage came for me last night"
Il do"
And you-you suppressed it?''
Il did and sent You false one. -
And l have hanged reprieved
mani
''You have hanged murderer-yes. :"
MY God! My God!'' cried the sher-
if. He turned his face Oh his arm
against the wall and wept His nerves
were gone. He had been up all night
and had never hanged a man before.
| Bowen stood there until the spasm
was over. The sheriff turned indig-
nantly to him, trying to hide the feeling
of shame he felt ct giving away, in
anger at the witness of it.
| And you come to me, You villain,
because l said l would help you if you
ever got into a tight place."
oh your tight place" cried the
| young man. Il come to you to give my
self up. l stand by what do 1 don t
squeal There will be no petitions got
up for me. What are you going to do
with me?"
Il don't know, Bowen; don't know, /"
faltered the official, Oh the point of
breaking down. He did not wish to
have to hang another man and a friend
at that. IN have to see the governor.
I'll leave by the first train. don't sup
pose you'll try to escape?''
''I'll be here when you want me-"
So Bowen went back to help the day
operator, and the sheriff left by the first
train for the capital.
Now a strange thing happened. For
the first time within human recollec-
ton, the newspapers were unanimous in
commencing the conduct of tile head of
the state, the organs of the governors
own party lavishly praising him, the OPP
position sheets grudgingly admitting
that he had more backbone than they
had given him credit for. Public opin-
ion, like the cat of the simile, had
jumped, and that Enthusiastically
I'm the name of all that S wonderful,
sheriff, said the bewildered governor,
''who signed all those petitions? II
the papers wanted the man hanged,
why in the fiend's name did they not
say so before and save me all this wor-
~? Now, how many know of this sup
pressed dispatch?'
well there's you and your subordi-
mates here and''-
well say nothing about it,
I And then there is me and Bowen in
Brentingville. Tl,sS.'s all. "
We'll, Bowen Viii keep quiet for his
own sake, and you won't mention it?''
Certainly not.
Then let's all keep quiet. The
things safe if some of those newspaper
fellows dent get after it, It's not on
record in the books, and I'll burn all
the documents -
And thus it was. Public opinion was
once more indicated. The governor
was triumphantly reelected as man
with some stamina about him.-Rober,
Barr.