The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-15

| pounulHS Oh his ueSh MOT by a.
damned sight. Don't you dare even
suggest 1t to me. I'd grant a pardon
to any other prisoner or outlaw in
Texas except Joe Horner'
However, they kept at him. They
told him of the first rate record that
| Horner had made in Wyoming, and
showed him their letters from promi-
nent Wyoming men to prove their
statements.
"Tt doesn't make a blasted bit of
| difference what or who Horner was
| in Wyoming declared Gov Hogg,
angriIy. He was Joe Horner in Texas,
| and Texas is the only state Of the
Union that I've got anything to do
with. I don't want you fellows to
ter. I'd like to oblige you, and all
that, but I simply am not going to is
! sue any pardon for Joe Horner. and
that's all there is about it,
'They went away from Austin, but
! they didn't relax their efforts to get
| Gov. Hogg to see the Horner matter
! from another point of view. The pres
sure that they brought to bear, in fact,
was too strong even for the stubborn
| but thoroughly honest Hogg to stand
up against. Finally the governor sent
| for couple Of the men who were most
| actively working in Horner's interest.
Look a-here, you fellows he said
| to them, TIL tell you what I'll do. I'll
! take a look at this Horner fellow. I'm
a pretty good judge Of men, and it
won't take me long to see whetk er
| he's the sort of a chap who ought to
| get full pardon for all of his deviltry.
If, after Ioking him over, l decide
| that his good intentions are on the
square, and that he's really liable, as
you declare he is, to become a useful
| and upright citizen, why, I'll take the
| 40
| the right thing. If, however, / don't
| like the cut of him, why, I'll guarantee
| to you that he'll be safe guarded all
| right. No effort will be made to ap-
| prehend him when he quits my pres
ence, and he'll have ample opportunity
to make his getaway. Just you send
him to me at this Office and let me size
him up
This was more than agreeable to
Horner's friends. They knew him to
be a man Of genuine winning person
ality, and they had no fear Of the re-
! suit if Horner was to get into contact
with the governor. But they told Mr..
Hogg that Horner was just then out
! of the state, and that they weren't GER
tain when he'd be back.
That's all right said Gov. Hogg.
I'm in no hurry. Just you send him
to me as soon as you get into COM
munication with him, and what 1 have
those
cumStances goes
"Horner returned to Texas unex-
pectedly only few days later, and his
friends told him of their interview
with the governor. The thing, Of
course, pleased Horner a good deal
But he fixed up an adroit little scheme
of his own to get into contact with
the governor without Mr.. Hogg's know
ing anything about it.
GOV. Hogg was then, as he still is
the most noted huntsman in Texas
Through Joe Horner, a big coyote
drive was fixed up, and the governor
invited to participate in it as the lead
er. Mr.. Hogg more than ate up the
invitation-he never lets any such
sport as that get by him.
Well the guide and scout and mas
ter of ceremonies of that coyote hunt
was Joe Horner. He was with Gov
Hogg from the beginning to the end Of
the affair, and the governor took
mighty fancy to Joe Horner, who was
not only an expert plainsman, but
most agreeable companion.
When the coyote hunt was over the
governor, in parting with Horner
shook the outlaw warmly by the hand
told him that he'd had the time of
his life, and warmly invited him to
call upon him, the governor, at Austin
whenever he passed that way.
i've heard the governor himself
tell the story, and he said that he
didn't know how he'd have acted had
ne had the remotest idea at that time
that the man he had taken such a
fancy to was no other than Joe Hor-
ner, the west Texas outlaw, whose
friends were so bothersome for a par
don for him.
About two weeks after the coyote
drive, bunch of Horner's friends ap-
peared In Austin and notified the gov
ernor that Joe Horner was near by,
and that, in accordance with the gov
ernor's suggestion, the outlaw would
drop in at the governors Office on the
following morning. The governor
named an hour in the forenoon for the
pointment and thus it was ar
ranged
About a quarter of an hour before
the exact hour, Joe Horner strolled
into the governors office Mr.. Hogg
gave him a warm handshake, ad-
dressing him by the name he had
brought from Wyoming-the only
name, Of course, by which he knew
the outlaW-and began to talk enthu-
siastically about the coyote hunt Hor-
ner famed his face with his hat and
| talked easily.
Presently, however, Gov Hogg be-
gan to fidget some in his chair and to
look at his watch. The time was at
| hand for the appearance of the out
law with whom the governor had
made an appointment. Mr.. Hogg want
ed, of course, to receive the outlaw
alone. The man with the quiet
gray eyes sitting at the other side of
the governors desk, however, seemed
in no mood to take the hint offered by
the governors obvious nervousness.
When, however, Mr.. Hogg got up from
his chair and walked a bit inpatiently
over to window, Horner said to him:
Well, governor, I just thought I'd
drop in
Sure thing said the governor,
holding out his hand cordially for a
parting handshake. I'm glad you did.
Glad to have you drop in any time,
son.
e" Yes said Horner, gazing refec-
lively out of the window, Z had AMEN
gagement with you, governor, and
! thought I'd keep it,
Engagement% repeated Gov. Hogg,
with a puzzled expression on his big,
round, good-natured face. Did you
have an engagement with me? Why,
/ didn't know it If you did In fact,
l have at the present moment rather
an important and interesting engage
ment with a-er-with?'
With Joe Hprner, governor said
the outlaw, raising in his seat and
standing, respectfully at attention.
Well, that's me. I'm Joe Horner-used
to be, rather
"The governor gave a start Then
he plunged his hands into his trousers
pockets and ratified his keys and silver
change and pOcketpieces for some time