Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-07
GOVERNOR BY PROXY.

In the station platform at desolate
Aerxes Junction stood two impatient men,
The big, numbering round-faced man was
Col. Joe Layson: the thin, sallow one Was
Henry Clay Finley. 1t was campaign
time, and the twain were swinging
around the circle Col. Layson as the
candidate of the Outs for governor and
Finley as the sl.ellbinder paid to cxtol the
merits Of his party's standard bearer
The afternoon train that was to stop at
Nerxes Junction and take on passengers
for .Arienia was late. and the rough old
colonel began to swear rs he studied his
watch.
'ltll be here in a minute, governor
said Finley, soothingly, carefully obsery-
ing the custom of addressing candidates
by the title to which they aspire
n scrawny, bent over old woman, ear
rying an apronful of wood, came out Of
the clump of trees across the RAILROAD
track and lmped along until she reached
the platform, where she stopped and
looked up into the colonel's face with va
canteyed curiosity. Finley was shocked
Such beastly manners." he exclaimed
shall | order her to be off, goyernor?"
Before the c0fenef could answer, the
old woman clambered upon the platform
and limped eagerly to his side.
BE You the GuvnerT' she asked
The colonel smiled big, hearty smile
and answered; That's what they call
me-"
Won't you pardon my boy? Hes
seryin' five years in Osborn prisoA The
old mans been sick abed for months
and amt able to work. and we're near
To-
GuvnerE | wanted to 20 down To the
capital 4 year ago when they took Dam
ME away. but | had no money and
couldn't walk that far
The colonel raised his finger and
seemed about to explain, but the woman
talked on pitcously:
'"rkey say he stole n COW for IaIder.
the cattle king that lives down ut Bel
den. Maybe you know him. | don't be-
Eeye Dannic did any Stealin'. Int if hc
did. Guyner. 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 fact, adj
mttcd the colonel.
"But, my good woman" interrupted
Finley, there was certainly no evidence
against Nj. Halder o. surely the majes-
ty of the law would have been sustained
and he, too, would have suffered the pun
ishment Of the transgressor.'
II don't catch all your fine words.
mister, but | know Dams in prison and
Halder is guilty. Fine words cant set
round them facts.
We'll put" chuckled the colonel
Finley. it would be good scheme if
you'd talk English once III while
The woman looked puzzled a moment,
but the colonels face was kindly and,
throwing down her bundle of wood, she
dropped on her knees before him.
please pardon my boy, gunner. The
old man and nell die before spring if
you don't. II won't hurt you TO pardon
elm. He amt no dangerous criminal.
Any body round here'll tell YOU Dannic
Higgs was never before the Judge till
this time. He's all the child | got left.
gunner Don't keep him from me.
The colonel helped Mrs. Higgs TO her
feet and led her to bench just outside
the door of the little telegraph office.
III the while he was thinking deeply.
He was the candidate of the Outs for
governor; the "Ins' had a natural ma
iority of $4,000 votes; Gov. John Ran
dali, with Il good official record 10 back
him. was up for reelection. and Col. Joe
IaysOn had as much chance of becoming
governor as he had of gaining the throne
Of Turkey He had revolvcd the situa-
ton in his mind and as he found his in
he waived her back. saying: Just wait
there, madam, until | send message and
get an answer. I'm going TO investigate
this matter ut once
Finley whistled. hut the colonel only
frowned and stalked into the telegraph
sfticc. For perhaps two minutes he
wrote steadily. When he had finished
he hnrriedly gathered up the satisfactory
sheets and slammed them down on the
operators table.
Here, my man. he commanded
send this in a big hurry"
The operator looked up Sleepily, rubbed
his eyes aud read:
TO Hon John Randall, Executive Man.
sion. Eagieton My Dear Governor: I'm
running against YOU. but you know it's only
for exercise, and | 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 aud wants me to pardon
her son. IL would he shame to undeceiYc
her. and, anyway, I'm better looking than
you are. The boys name is Dan HiggS.
He was sent up for nve years for cattle
stealing. His father is sick. and both
father and mother are starving. Pardon
the hoy for me. John. l never envicd YOU
your job until this minute. and even now
want II only long enough to pardon q
COW stealer Answer at once. III wait
here at this God -forsaken junction until
hear from YOU JOSEPH LAWSON.
1t was the longest and by far the odd
est telegram known in Nerxes Junction.
! The operator looked dubious and timdly
suggested, You might skeletonize this
/ ard save money.
/ NO, sir" said the colonel, decidedly
! Send every blamed word of it. This is
Il matter of state.
/ The operator laborcd with the message
/ While the colonel went out ON the platform
j TO tell Mrs, fIiggS TO wait patiently. Soon
/ after the message lGla gone over the
/ wires the Arlenia train came putting in.
Come on. governor" said Finley.
/ we cant wait any longer"
/ Il can't leave now. answered the colo
/ mel, leaning languidly against the station
/ door.
But YOU must. We speak in Ardenia
| tonight
You can make enough noise for both
/ of U.S.
"Ardeuia counts on hearing you. gov
error urged Finley, ~ willful diSap.
/ pointmcnt like this might ruin your
chances of election"
You know | never had any. Finiey
| What's the use OF saying that? 4 lyhow.
I'm not going" With that he took a
( seat on the hfueh bpSi,ip Mrs Hives