The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-30
GOVERNOR BY PROXY

On the station platform at desolate
Kerxes Junction stood two impatient men.
The big. numbering, round-faced man
vas Colonel Joe LAWSON; the thin, sal
ow one was Henry Clay Finley 1t
vas campaign time, and the twain were
swinging around the circle" Colonel
,ayson as the candidate of the 'outs"
or Governor, and Finley as the spell
,irder paid to extol the merits of his
,arty's standard bearer.
The afternoon train that was to stop at
kerxes Junction and take on passengers
vas late, and the rough old Colonel began
O swear as he studied his watch.
It'll be here in a minute, Governor"
aid Finley. sothingly, carefully obsery-
ng the custom of addressing candidates
" the title to which they aspire.
A scrawny, bent-over old woman, car
wing an apronful of wood, came out of
he clump of trees across the railroad
rack and limped along until she reached
he platform, where she stopped and look
d UP into the Coloners face with vacant
yea curiosity Finley was shocked.
.,Such beastly manners he exclaimed
Shall I order her to be off. Governor? %
sonan clamored upon the platform and
fmped eagerly to his side.
BE you the Guyner?" she asked.
The Colonel smiled big. hearty smile
md answered: That's what they call
me-
Wont you pardon my boy? He's serv-
n FIVE years in Osborn Prison. The old
mans been sick abed for months and 1
int able TO work, and we're nearly
itarvin'. Pardon my boy, won't you, GUY
Ter? / wanted to go down to the capital
! year ago when they took Dannie away.
tut l had no money and 1 couldn't walk
hat far
The Colonel raised his finger and seemed
bout to explain, but the woman talked
N piteously:
They say he stole cow for Halder.
he cattle king that lives down at Belden.
Maybe you know him. I don't believe
Dannie did any stealin', but if he did.
suvner, it wouldn't be right rushin' him
III to prison and leavin' old Halder free
ind still hirin' honest folks boys to steal
attic for him.
1T doesn't seem right, for fact adj
nitted the Colonell
But. my good woman interrupted
Finley. ''there was certainly no evidence
gainst Mr.. Halder, or surely the majes-
y Of the law would have been sustained
nd he. too would have suffered the pun
shment of the transgressor.'
Il don't catch all your fine words, mis-
or. but 1 know Dams in prison and Hal
er is guilty. Fine words can't get
round them facts.
Well put" chuckIed the Colonel. Fin
ey, IL would be good scheme if you'd
ak English once in a while
The woman looked puzzled a moment
tut the Coloners face was kindly, and,
hrowing down her bundle of wood, she
lropped on her knees before him:
PLEASE pardon my boy, Gunner. The
Id man and NELL die before spring if
.ou don't. 1t wont hurt You to pardon
lim- He amt no dangerous Grim nal.
nybody round here'II tell you Dannie
iigHe was never before the judge till
his time. He's all the child 1 got left,
iuv'ner. Don't keep him from me-
The Colonel helped Mrs. Higgs to her
eet and led her to a bench just outside
he door of the little telegraph office Ali
he while he was thinking deeply. He
vas the candidate of the Outs for Gov
rnor; the Inns" had a natural aiority
f $4,000 votes; Governor John Randall,
With good official record to back him,
vas UP for reelection. and Colonel Joe
4ayson had as much chance of becoming
Governor as he had of gaining the throne
z Turkey He had roUolve1 tho rituotio,
n his mind and as he found his inspira-
ion, Mrs. Higgs started to rise, but he
raved her back, saying: Just wait here,
madam, until 1 send message and get
n answer I'm going to investigate this
natter at once
Finley whistled but the Colonel only
rowned and stalked into the telegraph
flee. For perhaps two minutes he wrote
teadily. When he had finished he hur-
iedly gathered UP the satisfactory sheets
nd slammed them down on the opera
or's table
Here, my man. he commanded, "send
his in a big hurry
The operator looked up sleepily, rubbed
ifs eyes and read:
To. Hon. John Randall Executive Man
Sioit, EdSiStoiis
My Dear Governor-I am running
igainst you, but you know it's only for
exercise, and ] want you to help me out
II }hole that has nothing to do with
,olitifs. I've got an old woman here who
axes me for You and wants me to pardon
aerf son. 1t would be shame to unde-
,ei@e her, and, anyway. I'm better look
nj than you are. The boys name is Dan
a1ggs. He was sent up for five years for
s4ttle stealing. His father is sick. and
18TH father and mother are starving.
Pardon the boy for me. John. 1 never en-
sied you your job until this minute. and
even now l want it only long enough TO
pardon a COW stealer Answer at once.
I'll wait here at this God-forsaken Juno
ton until / hear from you.
JOSEPH LAYSON.'
1t was the longest and by far the oldest
known in Xerxes Junction. The
operator looked dubious and timidly sug-
Eested. You might skeletonize this and
save money
mo. SIR" said the Colonel decidedly.
send every blamed word of it, This is
4 matter of state"
The operator labored with the message
while the Colonel went out on the plat
form TO tell Mrs. Higgs to wait patiently.
Soon after the message had gone the
wires the Ardenia train came putting in.
Come on Governorr said Finley .sXN-a