The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-01

such work as you are doing that makes
 lynching possible. The people seem all
 with you now, more shame to them, but l the next murder that.is committed will
 be followed by a lynching, just because you are successful to-day"
 The lady left Bowen with a sigh, de-
 pressed because of the depravity of hu-
 man nature, as indeed she had every
 right to be,
 l The Prior family was a rich and in- | tluential one. The person who is alive
 has many to help; the one in the grave has few to cry for justice. Petitions 1 calling for mercy poured in on the gov
 ernor from all parts of the state. The | good man. whose eye was entirely on
 his own reelection, did not know what l to do. If any one could have shown
 him mathematically that this action or
 the other would gain or lose him so l many votes, his course would have been | clear, but his own advisers were uncer- | tain about the matter. A mistake in a | little thing like this might easily lose I him the election. Sometimes it was rumored that the governor was going
 to commute the sentence to imprison- People claimed, apparently with jus tice, that surely Imprisonment for life was a sufficient punishment for a young I man, but every one knew in his own heart that communication was only the beginning of the fight, and that fti- ture governor would have sufficient pressure brought to bear upon him to let the young man go.
 Up to the 20th of September the gov ernor made no sign. When Bowen went to his duties on the night of the 20th he met the sheriff.
 Has any reprieve arrived yet?" ask ed Bowen. The sheriff shook his head sadly. He had never yet hanged man and did not wish to begin.
 No" said the sheriff. And from what I heard this afternoon none is likely to arrive. The governor has made up his mind at last that the law must take it's course"
 I'm glad of that" said Bowen.
 "Well, I'm not"
 After g o'clock messages almost ceas- ed coming in, and Bowen sat reading the evening paper. Suddenly there came a call for the office, and the oper- ator answered. As the message came over the wire Bowen wrote it down mechanically from the clicking instru- ment, not understanding it's purport; but when he read it he jumped to his feet with an oath. He looked wildly around the room, then realized with a sigh of relief that he was alone, except for the messenger boy who sat dozlng in the corner, with his cap over his eyes. He took up the paper again, and read it with set teeth.
 Sheriff of Brenting county, Brenting- vile: Do not proceed further with the execution of Prior. Sentence commit ed. Documents sent off by to-night's mail registered Answer that you un- derstand this message.
 JOHN DAY, Governor"
 Bowen walked up and down the room with knitted brow. He was in no donbt as to what he would do but he wanted to think over it. The telegraph instrument called to him and he re- turned to it. giving the answering click The message was to himself from the operator at the capital, and 1t told him he was to forward the sheriff's telegram without delay, and report to the office at the capital-a mans life depended on it, the message concluded. Bowen an- swered that the telegram to the sheriff | would immediatelygbe sent.
 Taking another telegraph blank, he | wrote.-
 Sheriff of Brenting county, Brenting-l ville Proceed with execution of prior. l No reprieve will be sent Reply if you | this message.
 JOHN DAY, Governor"
 It Is pity that 1t cannot be written II that Bowen felt some compunction at I what he was doing. We like to think that, when man deliberately commits | a crime, he should hesitate and pay I enough difference to the preprieties as to feel at least temporary regret, even If he goes on with his crime afterward Bowen's thoughts were upon the dead girl, not on the living man. He reused the dozing telegraph messenger.
 Here" he said take this to the gaol and find the sheriff. If he is not there ] go to his residence If he is asleep wake him up. Tell him this wants an answer. Give him blank and when he 1as filled it up bring it to me, give the to no one else, mind"
 The boy said "Yes, sir" and departed nto the night. He returned so quickly hat Bowen knew he had found the Jleepless sheriff a. the gaol. The mes jage to the governor, written in trem- bling hand by the sheriff, was: 'I un- lerstand that the execution is to take place. If you should change your mind, or Gods sake telegraph as soon as possible. I shall delay execution until asst moment allowed by law"
 Bowen did not send that message, ut another. He laughed-and then hecked himself in alarm, for his laugh ounded strange. q wonder if am Iuite sane" he said to himself. "I Ioubt It."
 The night slowly wore on. A man epresenting a press association came n after 12 and sent long dispatch. Bowen telegraphed it, taking the chanc- S that the receiver would not commun- cate with the sender of the reprieve at he capitol. He knew how mechanical y news of the greatest importance was aken off the wire by men who have been doing that for years. lnyhow all the copper and zinc in the world could not get a message into except through him. l1n-