Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-06-14

81 HAVE BEEN sen on AN ERRAND
wHIC THIS ETTER WILL EXPLAIN"
Kr. Kent was evidently a clever
talker; he was thoroughly posted in
the political situation; he brought
with him from New York a good cal
of inside news and several rafting
stories that We're new. lie caudid1y
confessed that he had no stomach for
this job and wanted to be back in the
metropolis. But duty was duty and
he'd nave 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 it would be far more
hospitable to nave the gentleman stay
with them than to go off to a 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, h prisoner, a round
shouldered old man with a 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
a gentleman wants to talk to you. 1
hope you'll treat him with more con
sideration than you do me-"
The old man looked from one of the
men to the other with a sullen de-
fiance. "You can "a yourself the
trouble" he said. 1--WE nothing to say"
| He folded his arms and stood looking
at the ceiling.
well, sit down and be comfortable.
if you can't be human" said the gov
ernor. Theresa chair"
Kent then began a free end easy
explanation to which Laport paid very
little attention. lie approached the
subject Of his inquiry, the governor
thought, with great tact, and then
asked one or two uninportant ques-
tions.
The only answer the man made was
to turn to the governor.
'Is there anything in my conduct"
he said, ito warrant you in inficting
this extra punishment on me? Send
me back to my work"
I'm Inclined" said the governor,
''to put you in a dark cell for a week
to punish you for your Internal obsti-
macy I've treated you altogether too
well, old man"
! The old man Cava q S1irhf Shr1o NJ
his shoulders, but was silent.
Kent began to apologize for him,
and, as coaxingly as he could, asked
him several more questions. To n OF
/ them he growled out a sul1eu no.
and was on the point of saying some
thing else when one of the guards
came in with a message for the gov
ernor, at which he relapsed into 81
lence, and no further attempts could
induce him to say a word.
When he had been taken away the
governor said: "You see I was right
when l told you it was a hopeless task.
o the contrary said Kent, 81 feel
quite encouraged. I've only been feel
ing of him."
4 think I'll lock him up for a day OF
two. 1t will make him civil"
Il WISH" said Kent, you'd lock me
up with him for half an hour. If
don't make any Roadway then, I'll
give up the job and GO back"
The next day the governors family
went to a church picnic and Kent ac
~conpanied them. lIc proved on this
! occasion to be the life of the little
party. There seemed to be nothing
: that he could not do, from making ar
omelette in the woods to making q
speech to the children. The governo1
was really quite proud of his guest.
Kent had now been three days inside
the prison jurisdiction, and how well
he had improved his time appeared
afterwards When they were coming
home from the picnic he told Mrs
Ixtel that he had o~verstayed his time
and must finish up his business on the
morrevv go Sssesler wo;ald Lasl