The Delta independent., 1895-12-04

WHICH THIS LETTER WILL EXPLAIN"
have been sent on an errand which this
letter will explain"
The governor put on his glasses and
read the letter that was handed to him.
1t ran as follows:
ITO THE GOVERNOR OF TIE FEDERAL PRS
ON. ETC, ETC: The bearer of this Mr. Kent,
Is connected with the stan of this paper and Is
sent to you to obtain, II possible, an interview
with the prisoner Jean Laport, now under SEN
tcnce for manslnughtcr. The interests of tho
political party now In power can he materially
advanced II this man can be induced to talk,
acd, II possible, furnish some Informal tion con-
cerning his confcderatcs In a vast scheme to
rob the government 1t is assumed that the pris
oncr, vino Is virtually under life sentence can
have no good reason for longer keeping silent,
and 1t Is thought by the managers OF this paper
that an ndrolt man. like the bearer OF this. II
furnished the facilities. may succeed In ciicttin0
tho information which will be OF great service
in the coming campaign to the administration,
of which you are loyal adherent
Respectfully. etc. etc"
Gov. Ixtel, plcthoric and good ma
tured man when not dealing with con-
victs, let his hand drop to his side with
the letter in it. With the other he took
off his glasses and looked at Mr.. Kent
with broad smile.
"Why, bless your enterpria soul,"
he said, that old alligator won't talk.
You couldn't pump ten words out Of
him if you worked month";
Nevertheless" replied Mr.. Kent, "T
am here to make the attempt with
your kind permission"
Take a seat" said the governor. 81
never heard that Laport was mixed up
in politics."
Mr.. Kent sat down. "Well, sir, it
isn't generally known. But he is
nevertheless the depository of certain
secrets which to hold will no longer be
OF any service to him and which if he
will give them away, as we say, will
secure for him the influence of a num-
Der of powerful friends who can, if
they set to work, get him q commuta-
tion of sentence"
Mr.. Kent was evidently q clever
talker; he was thoroughly posted in
the political situation; he brought
with him from New York good deal
Of inside news and several rattling
stories that were new. He candidly
confessed that he had no stomach for
this job and wanted to be back in the
metropolis. But duty was duty and
he'd have to make the attempt. lie
did not think he'd get much out of it,
but if he did it would be 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 talkcr that Mrs.
Ixtel late in the afternoon proposed to
the governor that it would be far more
hospitable to have the gentleman stay
with them than to go off to hotel.
He played backgammon that night
with the governor; sang the latest
songs for Miss Ixtcl 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, the prisoner, round
shouldered old man with great deal
OF character in his square jaw and
massive chin and deep-sct 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, s'here's
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 sullen de-
fiance. "You can save yourself the
trouble, he said. i've nothing to saw"
He folded his arms and stood looking
at the ceiling.
We'll, sit down and be comfortable,