The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-02-02
PARDONED.

hard at work on his forthcoming mes.
sage.
Absolute quiet reigned in the man.
sion, and not a light was to be seen in
any of the neighboring houses.
The governors wife was visiting
friends in the country, and the serv.
ants were all asleep in their quarters in
a separate building.
The governors pen moved rapidly
over sheet after sheet of paper.
Finally the writer paused and for a
moment was absorbed in profound
thought.
Then he rose and slowly paced the
room, occasionally stopping, apparently
to listen to some real or imaginary noise
in another part of the house.
He felt that his work had overtaxed
him, and a nervous feeling came over
him, due partly to physical exhaustion
and partly to his sense of utter loneli-
ness.
II wish that I had told John to sit
up" he said to himself, 'but he is like
all the other servants, too sleepy head
ed to be of any use."
He resumed his chair and took up his
pen.
What was that in the hall? Was it a
footstep?
Nearer and nearer came the stealthy,
shutting steps.
The governor could no longer doubt
the testimony of his own ears, but a
strange numbness seized him, and he
felt unable to rise from his chair.
In another moment it was too late.
The door opened softly, and a man
walked in-a big, stout fellow, roughly
clad, with hard, wicked face and bold,
daring eyes.
The intruder quietly locked the door
and took a chair on the side Of the table
opposite the governor.
Keep your seat, governor, " he said,
with a peculiar leer. my business
won't take Icing. Ten minutes will be
enough"
"Who are you" gasped the governor.
land how did you get in:"
RED RUDE is what they call me-"
was the reply, land I walked in at the
back door. l knocked your niger down
and gagged him and took the key away
two hours AGO., when he left the house,
and then I waited until everything was
quiet. Any more questions?'
The governors face turned pale. Red
Rube was one of the worst desperadoes
that have been sent to the penitentiary in
many years, and his midnight visit Ger.
tainly meant robbery and perhaps muir.
der.
$50 you have escaped from prison."
said the governor.
Eyes; I skipped out last night. Then
I came to town, called on a friend and
got some clothes and these"
As he said this he exhibited a large
bowie knife and a pistol.
"You see, I Am we'll fixed, and l mean
business" laughed the ruffian.
"But what do you want, and why
are you here?" asked the other.
well, governor, to make a long story
short, l want you to write me a pardon
and let me have enough money to pay
my way out west.
1t was an outrageous request. Should
the ruler Of a great state allow himself
to be bulldozed into pardoning a MUIR
derer and supplying him with funds?
And yet what was to be done? It was
impossible to raise an alarm that would
be heard. If the intruder's demand was
refused, the governor would be q dead
man, and the convict would rob his per.
son and make his escape.
The heroic thing would be to resist to
the end, but the governor thought Of
his young wife, and he felt that he
must a " his life at any cost. It was
out Of the question for an unarmed man
in delicate health to struggle with a
giant like Red Rube, who could finish
him with his knife in q second.
II won't be hard on you," said Red
Rube, ''but l must have the pardon.
and I must have at least $780,"
81 will summon help" said the GOV.
ernor.
Excuse me, but you can't" replied
Red Rube. "The servants and the
neighbors can't hear you, and if you
raise your voice or try to ring a bell,
why, I'll have to use this" and he
pointed to his knife.
The helpless man on the other side Of
the table could not repress a slight
shudder, but he made an effort to appear
calm.
"You are drunk or crazy" be said
sternly, "but I will give you one chance.
Leave the house, and l will say nothing
about your visit"
Red RUDE laughed heartily.
"You don't size up the situation, " he
said. II have got to make this deal or
go back to prison, and / will die before