The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-12-07
CHAPTER XIII.

GaTHEN Truitt arrived in the great,
SEIs busting passenger depot in At
sEH lanta it was noon. He elbowed
- his way through the 1squirm-
ing mass of human beings to the street.
A dozen cabmen yelled at him and ges-
ticulated with their whips, but he paid
no heed to them. Seeing blue coated
policeman on q corner, he approached
him
Gould you tell feller eff he'd be apt
to see the governor at the statehouse
this time O. day" he asked.
"No; / reckon he's out at the man
sion about now," replied the officer.
'Its dinner time"
"Well, I'll 90 out thar. then," Truitt
said and turned away. It was twen-
ty minutes walk through the business
portion Of the city to the executive
mansion on Peachtree street, near the
best known and oldest clubhouse In
the city. The building was modern
red brick structure standing back from
the street on we'll kept lawn, and as
the gaunt mountaineer entered the iron
gate and proceeded up the walk he saw
a uniformed negro manservant at the
door.
II want to see Governor Telfare,"
Truitt said. rs he aoout:"
Eyes he's at home" the dapper ne
gro replied. eying Truitt from head to
foot with contemptuous glance, but
he don't see nobody this time O day"
"Oh, that's it, And, to the evident
surprise of the servant, the mountain
eer, without removing his broad brin-
med slouch hat. passed by him into the
hall. well. you tell i'm thar's feller
out here that wants tc see i'm, an that
dern quick"
But I told YOU
Il know what you told me, you black
idiot. You tell i'm what n told you,
an be in 4 hurry about it,
With the whites Of his rolling eyes
decidedly in evidence the negro backed
out Of the hall mumbling. something
Truitt could not catch. He came back
In minute.
The governor says he's occupied
just now an amt at home to nobody.
He was just lyin' down to take nap.
lie won't let nobody disturb i'm at this
time O day"
HE won't, hey:" Tru.:-t sneered.
We'll, you tell i'm said man wants
to see i'm that kin beat the hind sights
off'n i'm in the next election eff he
wants to. You tell i'm that a man
wants to see i'm on matter O. life an
death. Tell i'm that, you black fool.
an see what he'll say"
The negro was absent about three
minutes, and then he came back and
sullenly motioned Truitt to enter the
door on the right Of the hall. Telfare
was standing at green covered writ
ing table and frowned and stared I'M
patiently at Truitt who had not yet
removed his hat.
II believe I do not recall your face"
he said, extending his hand, but l
meet so many friends in going about
over the state. You are Mr.
"Oh, about as common, thank you
little headache, that's all. How do
you come on?'
I'm very well, thank you. but did
not catch your name"
"Oh, my name? It's Bascom Tru1tt-"
"Well, Mr.. Truitt, to be plain, you
must know that I'm very busy man,
and If you will tell me right out what
you called to see me about I'll see If we
can get around to it. Ny private Sec
retary usually meets visitors and makes
note Of what they wish, but he is al
ways out at lunch at this hour"
Truitt laughed Taking plug Of to-
bacco from his pocket, he tore of a
piece and put it between his teeth.
Lord bless yore soul,' he said, mo
private secretary couldn't tend to this
job fer you"
II don't understand you" Telfare
was waxing impatient; his frown had
deepened on his dark brow.
"Well, it's jest this away, governor, ,
Truitt replied 1T seems that as much
as you want to please yore consttu-
ents you've made one Of 'cm up at
barley as mad as thunder at you"
ITO whom do you refer:' Telfare
was staring blankiy.
"Why, to whom to a young feller-
|. George Buckley, who, it seems, you
made sorter mad t'other night over at
old man Cranston's house"
And he has sent you to me:' sneer-
ed Telfare.
NO; he never mentioned it to me.
But it seems-at least it seems to me
from what I gather-that you insulted
I'm like q dog-told i'm right out that
YOU m him couldn't breathe the same
air, walk under the same sky, an 50
forth"
"What I said on that occasion was
quite a private matter said Telfare,
land, to be plain with you. don't In
tend to discuss it"
But, YOU see, governor'-Truitt was
chewing his tobacco slowly and eylng
his victim like cat watching mouse
you see, another fel!er up thar, that
hain't got thing asin his record-a
feller that never had 10 kin IN jail,
nur any hung, nur none in state poll
tics-a feller that fit on the right side
all through the war-that feller hain't
satisfied. He don't feet right 20 set
still an let you demean q pore boy
that's doln' his level best to raise his
head up
Telfare turned pale. He looked as II
| he were about to fall.
"You came to bring challenger he
gasped.
well, I've come to do sone'n'," said
Truitt evasirely 1T looks powerful
Ike you've got to take prompt action
In the matter. You've made tine
speeches all over the state about the
equality o men, an it would be big
inta on Won TO have it get out that