Saint Mary's beacon., 1897-10-14

4 thought the governor would
cave. Didn't you ?
/ Il didn't know.
Hes q shrewd old william. He'd
have lost next election il he'd re.
prieved this man. People don't
want to see lynching introduced.
and q weak kneed governor il Judge
Lynch's friend. Well, good night.
See yon in tho morning.
Good night, said Bowen.
Daylight gradually dimmed the
lamps in the telegraph room, and
Bowen started and caught his
''-breasn-ss the cnurcu ben 5sean ID
toll.
Ii was ten minutes afte. 6 when
Bowen's partner, the day man,
came in.
Well, they've hanged him. he
said.
Bowen was fumbling among some
papers on the table. lie folded
two of them and put them in his
inside pocket. Then ne spoke.
There will be newspaper man
here in few moments with a good
deal of copy to telegraph. Rush il
of as fast as you can, and I'll be
back to help you before you are
tired
As Bowen walked toward the Jail
ne met the scattered group of those
who had been privileged to see the
execution. They were discussing
capital punishment, and some were
vawning, complaining about the
unearthly hour chosen for the func-
tion they had just beheld. Be-
tween the outside gate and the Jail
door Bowen met the sheriff, who
was looking CHASTITY and sallow IN
the fresh morning light.
Il have come to give myself up,
said Bowen before the official could
greet him.
TO give yourself up: What for"
For murder, suppose p
This is no time for j.king. young
man, said the sheriff severely.
DO look like humorist? Read
that
First incredulity, then horror,
oyerspread the .hsggard face of the
sheriff, as he read and re.read the
| dispatch. He staggered back against
the wall, putting up his arm to keep
himself from falling.
Bowen. he gasped. do you
do you mean to-to tell me-that
this message came for me last night?
Il do
And | have hanged reprieved
man 2
You have hanged a murderer
yes.'
my God /, My God p cried the
sheriff. He turned his face on bis
arm against the wall and wept.
His nerves were gone. He had been
up all night and had never hanged
man before.
Bowen stood there until the spasm
was over. The sheriff turned in
dignantly to him, trying 10 hide the
feeling OF shame he felt at giving
away, in anger at the witness of it.
And you come to me, you viii
liam, because ! said / would help
you if you ever got into a tight
place 2
'D-n your tight place = cried
the young man. come to you to
give myself up. ! dent squeal.
There will, be no petitions got up
for me. What are you going to do
with me =
Il don't know Bowen; ! don {
know faltered the official on the
point of breaking down. He did
not wish TO hang another man and
friend at that. 'I'li have TO see
the governor. I'll leave by the first
train. ! don't suppose you'll try
to escape:'
'I'll be here when yen want me.
So Bowen went back to help the
day operator, and the sheriff left BY
the first train for the capital.
Now a strange thing happened.
For the first time %ithin human re.
collection, the newspapers wers
unanimous in commencing the con.
duct of the head OF the State. the
organs Of the governors own party
lavishly praising him, the opPosi
tion sheets grudgingly admitting
that he had more backbone thar
they had given him credit for
pnhlie onininn- like the cat Of III,