Amador ledger., 1904-09-09

Ihey say ne stole COW Tor Halder,
the cattle king that lives down at Bel
den. Maybe you know him. 1 don't
believe Dannie did any stealin', but If
ne did, guvner, it wouldn't be right
rushin' him off to prison and leavin' old
Halder free and still hirin' honest
folks boys to steal cattle for him"
1T doesn't seem right. for a fact"
admitted the colonel.
But, my good woman interrupted
! Finley, there was certainly no evi-
| dence against Mr.. Halder, or surely
the majesty of the law would have
Deen sustained, and he, too, would have
suffered the punishment of the trans
gressor'
81 don't catch all your fine words,
mister, but 1 know Dams in prison,
and Halder is guilty. Fine words can't
| get round them facts.''
"Well put" chuckled the colonel.
Finley, it would be a good scheme if
you'd talk English once in awhile"
The woman looked puzzled a mo-
ment, but the coloners face was kind
ly, and, throwing down her bundle Of
wood, she dropped on her knees be-
fore him.
please pardon my boy, guvner The
old man and nell die before spring if
you don't 1t won't hurt you to pardon
him. He amt no dangerous criminal
Anybody round herell tell you Dannie
Higgs was never before the Judge till
this time. He's all the child got left,
gunner. Don't keep him from mer'
The colonel helped Mrs. Higgs to
her feet and led her to a bench just
Office All the while he was thinking
deeply. He was the candidate of the
"outs" for governor. The '1ns" had a
natural majority of $4,000 votes. Gov
ernor John Randall, with a good Off
cial record to back him, was up for re
election, and Colonel Joe Layson had
as much chance of becoming governor
as he had of gaining the throne of Tur
key. He resolved the situation in his
mind, and as he found his inspiration
Mrs. Higgs started to rise, but he
waved her back, saying: Just wait
there, madam, until l send a message
and get an answer. I'm going to inves
tigate this matter at once"
Findley whistled, but the colonel on
ly frowned and stalked into the tele
graph Office. For perhaps two minutes
he wrote steadily. When he had fin.
ished he hurriedly gathered up the sat
isfactory sheets and slammed them
down on the operators table.
"Hera my man." he commanded,
"send this in a big hurry
The operator looked up sleepily,
rubbed his eyes and read:
Fe Hon. John Randall. Executive Man
sion, Eagleton:
My Dear Governor-I'm running against
you, but yo1 know it's only for exercise,
and L want you to help me out of hole
that has nothing to do with politics. I've
got an old woman here who takes me for
you and wants me to pardon her son. It
would be shame to undeceive her, and
anyway I'm better looking than you are.
The boys name is Dan Higgs. He was
sent UP for five years for cattle stealing.
His father is sick, and both father and
mother are starving. Pardon the boy for
me, John. l never envied you your job
until this minute, and even now I want II
OlilS lOIs cIOusH 10 PARDON q COW BLedler.
Answer at once. I'll wait here at this
God forsaken junction until 1 hear from
you. JOSEPH LAWSON,
1t was the longest and by far the
oldest telegram known in Xerxes
junction. The operator looked dubi-
ously and timidly suggested, "You
might skeletonize this and save
money"
mo, Sir" said the colonel decidedly.
"Send every blamed word of it. This
is matter of state''
The operator labored with the mes
sage, while the colonel went out on the
platform to tell Mrs. Higgs to wait
patiently. Soon after the message had
gone over the wires the Ardenia train
came putting in.
Come on, governor" said Finley.
''We can't wait any longer"
Il can't leave row." answered the
colonel, leaning languidly against the
station door.
"But you must. We speak in Ardenia
tonight"
You can make enough noise for both
Of u.s.
"Ardenia counts on hearing you, gov
ernor," urged Finley. "a willful disap-
pointment like this might ruin your
chances of election
You know I never had any, Finley.
What's the use Of saying that2 Any
how, I'm not going" With that he
took seat on the bench beside Mrs.
Higgs. You'd better be moving, Fin
ley" he added. 'I'll join you at Beeds-
burg In the morning"
Just then the operator came rushing
out with message. The colonei seized
it, almost tearing it in half in his
eagerness, then held the pieces in his
shaking hands while he read:
Dear Colonel-Have telephoned to ward
en- at Osborn. No objection there Higgs'
pardon signed this minute. Glad to be of
service. JOHN RANDALL.
The colonel turned to Mrs. Higgs.
"It's all right" he said thickly. Your
boy will be home tomorrow"
THANK you! Thank you! You're
the best gunner God ever madey" AT
this she broke down and sobbed
"All aboardr' shouted the conductor.
The colonel took a step toward the
train. Its all right" he repeated.
Tive done only my duty, but if you
feel grateful tell the boy to vote for
me, John Randall, for governor"
A Sensitive Conscience.
Carrie-Ioodness it'a +ho+ hor,-id oId