The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-18
THE EVENING STORY
Assisting the Miracle,
(By John Harty.)


Jessie thrilled at the sight Of the tail.
grave man slowly descending the steps
| to the boat landing. He was a COVER
| nor, the governor of her own state, and
! in his hands he held the power OF lie
| and death-the life or death of the man
| she had promised to marry, and VINO
now lay in prison awaiting execution
for the murder of friend.
He smiled brightly upon her as he
| came upon the float. Il see that 1t is
quires.'' he said, as he raised his hat.
Apparently boats, as well come under
| that classification"
| Wont you come with me?'' she in
| vited. 'I am going out alone and shall
be only too glad to have you come
| along"
The governors face beamed with de-
light.
| "I was afraid that I was to lose my
sport" he said, as he stepped into the
! skiff. "I have only week and-well,
| you are a fisherman yourself, it seems"
| His eyes fell upon the tackle neatly
arranged In the stern. and Jessie nod
ded her veriication. Fishing had done
much to help her over the days that
! had gone by since sentence was passed
on Tim Darlington. She swept her
| tackle to one side, and the governor
took his seat after she had declined to
| let him row.
| ut seems that ought to know you,"
1
| strokes carried them rapidly through
the water. Have I not seen you some
| where?"
| "At the executive mansion" she an
| swered coloring. II came to plead for
Tim Darlington
that I had seen you before. I seldom
| forget a face, though sometimes I can
not exactly place it. 1t was a very
unfortunate case. truly regretted that
could not bring back the roses to
| your face by freeing your f1ance. The
| evidence was so strongly against him"
Purely circumstantial" contended
Jessie bravely. Tim and Jack Sutton
| were out in a boat, and Jack went over
| board Tim could not save him be-
cause he could not swim. The Suttons
| declared that it was murder and press
| ed the CASE
But they proved motive" reminded
| the governor. 1T seems that young
| Sutton had been the dishonest means
| of losing some OF Darlington's savings
in a deal"
But that was all patched up" cried
| Jessie. Jack was to have paid back
| the money in installments. He con-
| fessed to Tim that he had spent it in
stead of investing it, but they had made
| friends again..
The governor shook his head. He had
stern ideas on the abuse of the pardon
ing power. To him the case seemed
| clear.
ct am sorry" he said gently, "but
let us not discuss the matter. I am
firmly convinced that with a f1at-bot-
| toned boat the man could not have
fallen overheard. That is the weak
point in the defense; the statement
that the man fell out Of the boat
while changing places. Why I have
changed places in a boat hundreds OF
times and never lost my balance
ST didn't mean to annoy you," cried
1
here for rest; not to be bothered
with affairs of state.''
| You do not annoy me-" he assur-
ed. ST only wish I could be convinc-
| ed that the defense was accurate. If
you could argue a new point, I would
gladly listen"
pened." said Jessie do1efully. "There
is no new point. But here is the best
place to fish, she added as she NOV
the anchor. 81 found this place last
week. It's the best on the lake.
The governor hurriedly threw out
his hook. and presently the two were
busily engaged in hauling in fish. The
| sport was excellent and the tired lines
about the governors mouth relaxed
as he pulled in the finny beauties.
Jessie was having even better luck,
and at last the governor Strengthened
up with sigh of regret ct am afraid
l-NF
kindly smile, unless we wish to de-
populate the lake at one session.
am under deep obligation to you, Miss
Grandin 1t is the best mornings
sport I have had since L came"
I'm glad there were no more
boats" said Jessie simply. mo one
else appears to have found this hole"
/ The governor looked with admira-
ton at the catch and then half rose
to his feet.
you must let me row back" he
insisted. "You are tired with your
fishing Sit here in the stern
| Cautiously they exchanged places,
to raise the anchor. He had brought
| the hook inboard and rose to
crouching position to regain the row.
| ing seat when his knees bent under
him and the next moment he was
foundering in the water Like flash
! Jessie had caught UP the oars and
was rowing toward him. It was the
work of moment for him to climb
| aboard over the bow again.
You had better row. suggested Jes-
sic; that will keep you from taking
cold"
| The governor took the oars, and the
light boat shot over the water. For
time neither spoke; then the man look
| ed up.
! DO you know" he said. with an odd
expression on his face, 81 feel as though
| this is a message. I have always be-
Heyed it to be impossible for man to
] fall overheard if he took care. I shall
| sign your f1ance's release as soon as I
return.
| In the stern Jessie was sobbdng out
| her thanks. and it was not until they
| came in sight of the landing that she
recovered her self-possession. None of
the other parties had seen the accident,
L y 10 1T faf