Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-10-28


portunity to allay public criticism.
Governor Osborne is engaged upon
important public business. He will be
absent from town a day-perhaps a
week. He will not return to Columbia
until the business is thoroughly dis
posed Of"
May ask if it's the Appleweight
case? The Raleigh papers have wired
for information and we'd like to know
/ here
II can not answer that question.
It's enough that the governor Is absent
on state business, and that the bust
ness is important. You may print that
in the Intelligencer and repeat it to
Raleigh. There is no harm in that, is
there, Miss Osborne?"
mo; certainly not" Barbara re-
piled.
"But the papers all over the state
are talking about the Appleweight
gang. They intimate that those people
enjoy immunity from prosecution and
that the governor-you will pardon
me, Miss Osborne-will take no steps
to arrest them for personal reasons. :,
"Your question is quite proper"
replied Griswold. THE governors acts
are subject to scrutiny at all times
and it is just as we'll to have this
matter understood now. | am employ
ed by the governor as special counsel
in some state matters. My name is
Griswold. Take out your book and
come to the desk here and Will give
you a statement which you may pub
Iish as by the authority of the gov
ernor."
The three found seats at table and
Griswold dictated while the reporter
wrote. Barbara meanwhile sitting
with her cheek resting against her
raised hand. She was experiencing
the relief we all know, of finding a
strong arm to lean upon in an emer-
gency, and she realized that Griswold
was not only wise, but shrewd anu
resourceful.
"Please print this exactly as 1agive
it: 1t having been intimated in certain
quarters that the Appleweight gang
of outlaws, which has been terrorizlng
the North Carolina frontier for sever
al years, enjoys immunity from prose
cution in South Carolina owing to the
fact that Governor Osborne was at
some time attorney for Appleweight,
Governor Osborne begs to say that
steps have already been taken for the
arrest Of this man and his followers.
dead or alive. The governor presents
his compliments to those amiable crit
les who have so eagerly seized upon
this pretext for slurring his private
character and aspersing his official
acts. The governor has no apologies
to proffer the people of South Caro-
lima, who have so generously reposed
in him their trust and confidence. He
is intent upon safeguarding the peace,
dignity and honor Of the state through
an honest enforcement of law and he
has no other aim or ambition"
Griswold took the reporters note
book and read over this pronuncla-
then he handed it to Barbara,
who studied it carefully.
"I think that sounds just right, only,
why not substitute for honest the
word .vigorous?'"
Excellent" assented Griswold, and
thus amended the statement was re-
turned to the reporter.
Now" said Griswold to the young
man, "you are getting a pretty good
item that no other paper will have
Please wire your story to Raleigh;
Governor Osborne is very anxious
that the people up there shall under
stand fully his attitude in the Apple
weight matter"
Il reckon this will wake up old Dan
gerfeld all right" said the reporter
grinning. He'll be paralyzed. May
use your name in this connection,
sir?"
Not at all My engagement with
Governor Osborne is of the most con-
fidential character and our purposes
would be defeated by publicity. Re-
member, you get the exclusive use of
this story-the return and immediate
departure of the governor, his state
ment to the people in the Appleweight
case-all with the understanding that
you use what you have to the best adj
vantage"
THAT is right, is it, Miss OsDorne?"
asked the reporter.
major Griswold has full authority
to attack, and you need question moth
ing he tells you" Barbara replied.
81 suppose the governor didn't see
the attorney general today y asked
the reporter detainingly, as Barbara
rose. She exchanged a glance with
Griswold
Father didn't see MIR. Bosworth at
all, if that's what you mean"
Didn't see him? Well, Bosworth
didn't exactly tell me he had seen him
today, but l asked him about the APP
pleweight case an hour ago at his
house and he said the governor wasn't
going to do anything and that was the
end of it so far as the administration
is concerned
Print his story and see what hap
pens, We have no comment to make
on that, have we Miss Barbara"
Nothing at all, replied Barbara
scornfully.
I'm at the Saluda House at present.
See me tomorrow and l may have an
other story for you'll" and Griswold
shook the reporter warmly by the
hand as they parted at the carriage
door.
Home" said Barbara for the re-
porter's benefit, and then, to Grlswold,
Il must speak of another matter.
Drive with me a little way until we