The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-03-06

-hAt II NJ-N sIit-
Ii was past midnight, hut the gov
crnor still sat alone in his library hard
nj work Oh his forthcoming message.
Absolute quiet reigned in the man
sion, and not light was to be seen in
any of the neighb0ring houses.
The governors wife was visiting
friends in the country, and the servants
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
floor, occasionally stopping, apparent
/ ly to listen to some real or imaginary
noise in another part of the house.
He felt that his work had over-taxcd
him, and nervous feeling came over
him, due partly to physical exhaustion
and partly.to his sense of utter lone!i-
ness.
II wish had told John to sit up,"
he said, "but he i like all the other
servants, too sleepy headed 10 be ofany
use"
lie resumed his chair aud lookup
his pen.
What was that i'm the hail? Was IL
a footstep?
Nearer,and nearer came the stealthy,
shufIling steps.
The governor could no longer doubt
the testimony Of his own ears, but a
strange nunbness seized him, and he
felt unable to rise from his chair.
In another moment il was too late,
the door opened softly, and man
walked ina big, stout fellow, roughly
dressed, with hard, wicked face and
bold, daring eyes.
The intruder quietly locked the door
and took a chair on the side ofthe
table opposite the governor.
Keep your seat, governor" he said,
with peculiar leer my business
won't take long. Ten minutes will he
enough
"Who are YOU" gasPed the govern
or, ''and how did you get in?'
'Red Rube j. what they call me-"
wa the reply, ''and | walked in at the
back door | knocked your nigger
down and gagged him and took the
key away two hours ago, when he left
the house, and then | waited until
everything was quiet. Any more
questions ,"
The governors face turned pale.
RIbe was one of the worst desperadocs
that had been sent To the penitentiary
in many years, and his midnight visit
certainly meant robbery and perhaps
mur lcr
$50 you have escaped from prisOn,'
said the governor.
"Yes skipped out last night. Then
came to town, called on a friend and
got some clothes and these"
As ne said this he exhibited a large
bowie knife and a pistol.
''You see, I am well fixed, and
IN ean business" laughed the rufiian.
''But what DO You want. and why
are sou here >" asked the other.
"Well, governor, to make a long
story short, want you to write me
pardon and lei III: have enough money
To pay my WY out Wes.."
1t was an outrageous request.
Should the ruler of a great State allow
himself to be bulldozed into pardoning
a murderer and supplying him with
funds?
And yet what was 10 be done? 1t
was impossible TO raise an alarm that
would be heard. If the intruder's de-
mand wa, refused, the governor would
be dead man, and the convict would
rob his person and make his escape.
The heroic thing would he 10 resist
to the end, but the governor thought
OF his young wife, aud he felt that ne
must save his life at any cost. 1t was
out OF the question for an unarmed
man in delicate health to strugule with
a giant like Red Rube, who could finish
him with his knife in a second.
'I won't be hard on YOU" said
Rube. ''but | must have the pardon,
and must have at least 500"
II will summon help said the gov
ernor.
Excuse me, bat 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 IA bell,
why, I'll have to use this" and he
pointed To his knife.
The helpless man on the other side
of the table coald not repress slight
shudder, but he made AN effort to APP
pear calm.
"You are drunk or crazy" he said
sterniy, ''but ! will give you one
chance Leave The house, and will
say nothing about your visit"
Red Rubc 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
will go back. Now, if kill you and
they capture me, they will not hang
me-"
II would like to know why" said
the astonished governor.
because they have sent me to the
insane ward" was the answer, 'and
they were getting ready to put me in
the asylum. / am no longer Grim
inal, but bowling lunatic, don't you
see? Well, if they try me for killing
Won. all they will do will be to send me