Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-02-27

Xerxes 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
spellbinder paid to extol the merits
of his party's standard bearer.
The afternoon train that was to stop
at Xerxes Junction and take on pas
sengers for Ardenia was late, and the
rough old colonel began to swear as
he studied his watch.
I'll be here in a minute, governor"
said Finley soothingly, carefully OBJ
serving the custom of addressing can
d1dates by the title to which they as
pire,
A scrawny, bent-over old woman,
carrying an apronful of wood, came
out OF the clump of trees across the
railroad track and limped along until
she reached the platform, where she
stopped and looked up into the
colonels face with vacant eyed curl
osity. Finley was shocked.
"Such beastly manners!" he ex-
claimed. Shall l order her to be off,
governor"
| Before the colonel could answer
the old woman clambered upon the
| platform and limped eagerly to his
side.
BE you the guvner?' she asked.
The colonel smiled big, hearty
smile, and answered.: That's what
they call me-
won't you pardon my boy? He's
serv1n' five years in Osborn prison
The old mans been sick abed for
months and l amt able to work, and
we're nearly starvin'. Pardon the
boy, won't you, gunner? l wanted to
go down to the capital a year ago
when they took Dannie away, but
had no money and I couldn't walk
that far
The colonel raised his finger and
seemed about to explain, but the WON
an talked on piteously.
"They say he stole cow fol-
Halder, the cattle king that lives
down at Belden. Maybe you know
him. I don't believe Dannie did any
stealth, but if he did, gunner, ii
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 evil
dence against Mr.. Halder, or surely
the majesty of the law would have
been sustained and he, too, would
have suffered the punishment of the
transgressor.'
! Il don't catch all your fine words
mister, but know Dams in prison and
Halder is guilty. Fine words CAM
get round them facts"
well put" chuckled the colonel
Finley, it would be good scheme II
you'd talk English once in awhile
The woman looked puzzled a mo
ment, but the colonel's face wa:
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. 1t won't hurt you
to pardon him. He amt no dangerous
criminal. Anybody round here'll tel
you Dannie Higgs was never before
the Judge till this time. He's all the
child I got left, gunner. Don't keeI
him from me-"
The colonel helped Mrs. Higgs tc
her feet and led her to a bench just
outside the door of the little telegraph
Office. All the while he was thinking
deeply. He was the candidate of the
"Outs" for governor; the "Ins' had q
natural majority of $4,000 votes; Gov
John Randall, with good official
record to back him, was up for re
election, and Col. Joe Layson had as
much chance of becoming governor
as he had of gaining the throne Of
Turkey. He had revolved the situa
ton 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 I send a
message and get an answer. I'm 60
ing to Investigate this matter at
once"
Finley whistled, but the colone
only frowned and stalked into the
telegraph Office. For perhaps two
minutes he wrote steadily. When he
had finished he hurriedly gathered
up the satisfactory sheets and
slammed them down on the operators
| table.
"Here, my man." he commanded
"send this in big hurry"
The operator looked up sleepily:
rubbed his eyes and read:
ITO Hon. John Randall,
Executive Mansion, Eagleton:
my Dear Gov.-pm running against
you, but you knoy it's only for exer
.eeeeesesessseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaeeeeeeeeeeeeee
! CROW HAD $500 RING.
Feathered Pets Liking for Bright