Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-06-14
PARDONED.

Ino governor pen moved rapidly
over sheet after sheet of paper.
Finally She writer paused and for q
moment was absorbed in profound
Thought
Then he rose and slowly paced the
room, occasionally stopping, apparently
70 listen 10 some real OF imaginary noise
IN smother part Of the house.
He felt that his work had overtaxed
him, and a Y feeling came over
him, due partly to physical exhaustion
end partly 20 his sense Of utter lonoli-
AssA
II wish that / had told John to sit
up be said to himself, 'but no is like
All the other servants, too sleepy head
cd TO DO Of any use"
10 resumed his chair and took up his
pen.
What was that in tho hall7 Was 1t a
footstepi
Nearer and nearer camo the stealthy,
Shufiing steps.
The governor could no longer doubt
the testimony Of his own ears, but q
strange numbness seized him, and he
felt unable TO rise from his chair.
In another moment Il was too late.
The door opened softly. and a man
walked ina big, stout fellow, roughly
Glad with hard. wicked face and bold,
daring eyes.
The intruder quietly locked the door
and took q chair ON tho side Of tho table
opposite the governor.
Keep your seat, governor" he said,
with q peculiar loer. my business
won't take long. Ten minutes will be
enough"
"Who are you, " gasped the governor.
"and how did you get inf'
RED Rube is what they call nle, "
was the reply, land / walked in at the
back door. / knocked your Niger down
and gagged him and took the key away
two hours ago, when he left tho house,
and then I waited until everything was
quiet. Any more q~uestions?"
Tho governors face turned pale. Red
Rube was or9 Of the worst ~desperadoes
that havo Be Isent to the p~enitentiary in
many years, and his midnight visit Ger.
tainly meant robbery and perhaps muir
der.
80 you have escaped from prison."
said the governor.
Eyes; 1 skipped out last night Then
] came to town, called on a friend and
got some clothes and these"
As no said this he exhibited a large
bowie knife and a pistol.
You see, / nm well fixed, and Imean
business, " laughed the rufian.
"But what do you want. and why
2 you here?' asked the other.
well, governor, to make a long story
short, / want you TO write mo a pardon
and let me have enough money to pay
my way out west"
twas an outrageous request Should
the ruler Of a great state allow himself
10 be bulldozed into ~pardoning a muir
derer and supplying him with fundsH
And yet what was to DO donel 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 DO to resist to
the end, but the governor thought Of
his young wife, and he felt that he
must w his lifo at any cost It wal
out Of the question for an unarmod man
in delicate health to struggle with a
giant like Red Rube, who could finish
him with his knife in a second.
81 wou't be hard on you" said Red
Rubo, but l must have the pardon,
and / must have at least 500"
81 will summon help, said the gov
nor
Excuse me. but you can't, " replied
Red Rube Tho servants and tho
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
tho table could not repress n slight
ahudder, but he made an effort to appear
calm.
you are drunk or crazy" he said
sternly, but l will give you one chance
Leave the house. and / will say nothing
about your visit"
Red Rube laughed heartily.
lyon don't size up tho situation, " he
said. II have got TO make this deal or
60 back to prison, and ! will die before
/ will go back. Now. II l kill you and
thoy capture me- they will not hang
me"
II would like 70 know why, " said
tbs astonished governor.
because thoy have sent mo to tho
innano ward. " was the answer. land
they wore getting ready to put mo in
che asylum. / Am no longer a criminal.
but n bowling l~unatic, don't you see?
Well. II they Try me for killing you,
all they viii do will DO to send me TO
the insane asylum"
The governor sank back in his chair,
and Rube grinned
You see, said RUDE. II was moe
Acquitted Of = murder In Texas on the
ground Of insanity and was locked mp a
year IL IN asylum, Dat 1 10. v4.. AA4