The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-06-08
The CoUernor Pro Tenn
By JANET EDMUND OWNING

eSeeeoeeeOooeosSsse'
Copyright, 1902, by the Frank Leslie Pub
fishing House.
SYNOPSIS.
In legislative deadlock, Gov. Wycof
| and his opponent. Byminster, fence for
recess. They get it. and the governor goes
across the state line to deliver a speech.
he Lieutenant governor, weak man, is
a Byminster supporter. A newspaper man,
| friend of the latter, conceives the idea that
the lieutenant governor, Seamans. is acting
governor and can appoint Byminster.
Seamans must make out the official APP
pointment IN due form and in the presence
OF witnesses, and signed by himself and
the secretary OF state if every possible
chance OF legal objection were to be head
cd off. To this the official seal of the state
must be affixed by the secretary How to
find the secretary of state and the official
-cIl aud use both OF them within an hour
was the question.
The telephone told them the secretary
! Was in theatre party He was a Bymin-
-tcr man, of course, or he would not be
! playgomg with his chief at "A rally. The
seal, as lil Minister only too well knew,
wls in the state house under lock and
key. where none but the secretary could
secure it. Even if he fell in readily with
the plan, the secretary might be delayed,
aud it wa, now 500 o'clock In a little
more than an hour Wycoff would be
starting from Buxton back toward the
state boundary and his endangered govern
orshp.
Phillips lost no more time. Leaving By
minister and Seamans together, the former
with instructions to keep the acting GOV
clnor from committing any indiscretions
meanwhile, the reporter dashed off to the
theatre and dragged the irritated ~ecre-
] 'nry into an ante room where he explained
ne case. Phillips nearly wept with JOY
when the amable old gentleman fell in
heartily with the scheme, but did not dare
tell him il was then S:45.
They were on the way to the state house.
having telephoned Byminster to bring Sea-
mans there, when the secretary remem-
bered that in changing from his ordinary
apparel to an unwolued swallow tail he had
left his keys at home The clocks rang
for as Phillips pushed the bewildered Of
fetal into a carriage and started him off
homeward lor the keys. and when, for the
500th time Phillips looked at his watch. il
was $3.50 and they were still warming
themselves on the state house steps await
ing the delinquent seeretary's return.
At 9:33 he came pounding up the steps
Bymu-ter was shivering and detected.
we can't do t-can't possibly do it, and
we might as well surrender now, he said.
His train will be starting in less than two
! mi and ha'p 10, ka H.,
before we can get the papers properly
signed and sealed aud witnessed We've
got to have witnesses here, too, have you
49,"
They're comingl They re coming cried
the secretary. as he led the way in 81
called on several of our people on my way
up. and they'll be here within minute or
two. Plumb forgot that Charley Wood and
! don't speak since last election, and called
! him out too. They'll be here all right!
If we could only hold that train some
where and keep the old man over the line
while We
Phillips gave a whoop of mingled rage
and delight. We've got the whole state
government and don't know how to use
! it, he cried "Byminster. you get those
papers ready. Seamans, come with me.
/ W Z II ~ NbNll dCIoAS iOls 10 the STATION
and have Wycoff's train held at Lyshon
>eamans is governor and can order it, They
daren't stop him. III tell him what to
| say. Bymlnster, you complete all the pa
! pers, write end file your acceptance and
have it duly acknowledged. Wen hold that
! train until YOU get there to the station,
where Seamans can sign everything all
| straight. There won't be a place where
the law can touch us when it's done. Rush!
Come on, Biny!'
The train dispatcher wondered when
two wlld-eyed young men slammed open
his door at 9;36 o'clock that night. Sea
mans was pale as paint and his lips were
moving over and over on the speech Phil
| lips had taught him as they sped down in
the dark. Phillips did the talking:
Operator, YOU hold train So at Lyshon
until further orders"
The operator looked wistfully toward his
desk, halfway across the room. Phillips
knew there was a gun in the top drawer,
mo foolng, old man." he said, pleas
| antly, hoping to conciliate and gain time
This is official. l am-well, private sec
rotary to his eXcellency, the acting COVER
nor of the state-rght here. you see, He
orders you to stop and hold So. Am
| quite right. your eXcellency?'
Seamans gulped down his qualms and
>mothered his tears under the joy of real
power. Sir he began. on the speech
| Phillips had hammered into him, I'm the
name of the constitution of the state.
which | represent, | direct you to hold
| this train at Lyshon-''
''There YOU are, OPERATOR" said Phil
! lips. Nov, then!'
The dispatcher's gaze returned to hi,
desk but something in Phillips eyes made
him hesitate about reaching for it, You're
crazy he said at length, with an admira-
bic selfpo,session which gave Phillips
great Sunday story months afterward
you're only the lieutenant governor