Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-01-07
"A Million If 4 Had It,"

rushed to his face.
You consent?" asked Malcolm in
low. husky voice.
81 never dreamed Of such thing"
1.-The sum is large, it is all / can
raise, or it should be doubled, trebled,
q,adrupled! 1 would give twenty
thousand-a hundred thousands mil
lion if 1 had it-as l would give my
life, if could do it, to save Eudora."
"And I would not ask one penny to
save her if could do it honestly, sir.
Perhaps I didn't understand you, sir.
How could save her?"
Malcolm seized his wrist, bent to his
ear, and in eager, vehement whispers,
recounted his simple plan for the es-
cape of Eudora.
While he spoke the governor listened
with downcast eyes, and at the end Of
his speech answered nothing.
what have you to say to this? Will
you take the money and save herr"
demanded Malcolm impatiently.
MIR. Montrose, l repeat, without
taking one penny Of that money 1
would gladly save her if could do so
honestly; but to lend my countenance
to the plan you propose, or any plan
for a prisoners escape, would be Il
grave DfcIcn OF trust.
ga justitiable one, if ever such ex-
isted," exclaimed Malcolm earnestly.
Yes, if ever such existed; but no
breach OF trust ever could be justitia-
bic, Mr.. Alontrose."
Not even to save an innocent girl
from a horrible deathY'
mo, sir, not even that But, indeed,
do not know that she is innocent,
rs,.1 g 7
not be my place to set judge. jury and
sheriff right by opening the doors and
letting a convicted prisoner walk free
trying to speak sternly, though his
cred with emotion. and he was again
obliged to rise and walk rapidly up
and down the floor.
Malcolm watched him closely. and
perceived. notwithstanding the decis-
iveness of his words, that he was I'M
dergoing Il severe conflict between
duty and inclination, and that his
temptation came not from greed Of
gain, but from pity for Eudora.
Malcolm let him walk up and down
for some time in silence, and then, as
he saw the struggle still going on in
his mind, arose and joined him.
And as they paced side by side, Nal
colin said:
"You will have compassion on this
poor, sweet victim; you will permit
her to escape and reach some foreign
country in safety, and in after years,
when her innocence shall be discOv-
cred, you will rejoice to remember that
you saved her blameless life from q
felons death!''
Anderson mournfully shook his head,
saying. "My God! am not fit for my
hard duties"
NO, you are not hard enough for the
stern duties of Il governor of a gaOl.
Nour humane nature must suffer much
1p constantly witnessing the very
worst forms of human woe, crime, re-
morse and punishment, and the wide
ruin and unmistakable misery they
bring upon the innocent as well as the
guilty." said Malcolm gently.
True. true! My heart has been
wrung daily. for years, in witnessing
the Wretchedness Of prisoners anu
their friends. But what would you
haye--some must be gaolers|
But not men like you-you suffer
200 much in the performance Of your
>eAN''' SOuAC, AlSlVA W lAC. w ~
sua1ed to leave this abode of sin and
misery. Let Eudora escape! take the
compensation that her grateful friends
Will offer you. and 30 to some lovely,
quiet, rural home. in some foreign
country, where you can live with your
wife and child amid the sweet infiu-
nnces of nature, and with the almost
Id. inc consciousness Of having saved
a human life! Con- e-speak-consent!
urged Malcolm. persuasively.
Il dare not! Oh, Heaven! dare not
commit a breach Of trust-I dare not
10 uishonoraDle deedw said Ander-
son, wiping the streaming perspiraticn
from his brow.
Remember her dead father. and all
ms brotherly kindness to you. and pity
MS orphan child in her unspcakablc
Wretchcdness. Think how dear lite is
AZ her tender Gge; how hard 1t is to die
NJ seventeen, and such All awful death
IL death of public ignominy! How
her young heart must shrink in an
Suisl' and alright. Think how sweet
,'lc offer OF life would be to her; how
'''r Spirit would lean with Joy. to meet