Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-02-10
AN EDITORIAL.
HIGHWAYMAN

Kansas in pioneer days on horseback /
was held up one afternoon by a man
with gun, who not only went through
me in first class shape, but insisted
that | follow him into the woods where
he had his retreat. He seemed of ferO-
cious disposition at first, and 1 believed
he intended to murder me- but in a
little time he thawed out, and l began
to see that he was not such a bad fell
low after all.
When supper had been prepared and
disposed of he dug among the leaves
and brought out an old satchel The
contents consisted of a dozen copies of
the paper which had busted him, lib
eral supply of print paper for writing
on and half a dozen lead pencils. He
took some Of the blank paper and a
pencil and scrubbed away for a few
minutes and then said:
Although | am out of the sanctum
the old habit still clings. 1 want you
to see my style and criticise it. Listen
to this: Mr.. Joseph Gillian, our esteem
ed fellow tOwnSman, called at this Of
flee yesterday to report that while he
was on the highway between Joplin
and Neosha last Tuesday he was sud-
denly confronted by highwayman
armed with a shotgun, who ordered
him into the woods to be despoiled and
probably murdered. Mr.. Gillian, who
was taken completely by surprise, APP
peared to cheerfully acquieSce, but just
as he entered the woods he quickly
drew his pistol and turned in his saddle
and fired point blank at the daring
burglar. AS soon as he pulled the trig
ger he put spurs to his horse and in
the confusion of the moment made good
his escape. The robber fired two
charges of buckshot at him?
"What do you think of that?" asked
the editor as he finished reading.
''Its very fair"
But not up and up It's too heavy
too ShakeSpearean. Our eminent fell
low townsman, Mr. Gillian, would buy
five extra copies Of the paper to send
away to his relatives, but the article
would not produce widespread interest.
That was my failing nothing wide
spread about my writings. I'd like to
see your style Just dash off some
thing based on the same facts"
l wrote a "side header about half
the length of his, and when he had
read it he said:
'That knocks all my plans in the
head. 1 was going to offer you part
nership in this business, thinking you,
too, were also too Shakespearean in
style for this section, but l find I'm
mistaken. It's an elegant little article
not a word too little or too much"
The man had such a queer streak
about him that 1 couldn't make up my
mind whether he was robber, as he
claimed, or had gone daft over his
troubles and was wandering about as
crazy people often do There was no
cause to fear him, however, and we sat
and smoked till a late hour and had a
good visit. When morning came and
we had disposed of breakfast, he urged
me to accept 500 as a present, and
when l firmly refused he wanted me
to take gold watch. In those days a
tramp printer with 81 ahead Of the
game was a millionaire. My refusal
seemed to hurt his feelings, but he
shook hands heartily on parting and
wished me all sorts of good luck. In
due time reached Neosho went from
there to Fayetteville, Ozark and
GAINESVILLE and about the middle Of
December brought up at Van Buren,.
One day 1 was sent over to Fort Smith
to interview a man who was to be
hanged ten days later. When admitted
to the presence of the condemned
was almost paralyzed to discover in
him the whilom editor of the Echo. His
surprise was likewise great, but as
soon as he had rallied a little his face
fairly beamed with smiles as he said:
What a godsend! Why, my dear
boy, I'd rather see you than any other
man on earth. 1t wasn't an hour ago
that l was saying I'd give a day off
the few left me to see you. You have
come to interview me?'
"And what has happened?" asked.
Gun accidentally went off and killed
q h1dAs l. uIC dCC1QSuI, UuI COu11A =
make 'em believe it. 1 am to be hung
on the 10Th. Too bad, of course, but
it's too late for lamentation. You've
been sent over today to get prelim-
inary-how the condemned looks and
feels-no hope of reprieve-g going to
the gallows like brave man, and so
forth and so on?''
That's it."
"Al right. You can do yourself
proud on that Make about a column
and put on three scare heads, all full
face caps. And now about the other
the actual event There won't be much
to it. Don't try pad in it. You can't
make over half a column of loaded
minion without padding. The salient
features will be: Reading the death
warrant GOODNESS of the condemned,
march to the scaffold, ringing down the