Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-06

QlsClO6uTS GHdl Wall uDuOublSoAs
startle you good deal, but you are no
longer employed by the Atlanta Pal
ladium, and your obligation to that
journal must be transferred to the
state in which you now stand. You
came here, Collins, to look for the
governor Of North Carolina, and your
wits and your argus-nose for news
have served you well. You have found
the governor of North Carolina:
am he!"
Collins had stood during this recital
in the middle of the track with his legs
wide apart, calmly tanning himself
with his hat; but as Ardmore pro-
ceeded the reporters hand dropped to
his side, and grin that had over
spread his face slowly yielded to a
blank stare.
Would you mind repeating those
last wordsP"
II am the governor Of North Caro-
lima Mr.. Collins. The manner In
which l attained that high Office is not
important. 1t must suffice that l am
in sole charge of the affairs of this
great state, without relief from valua-
ton or appraisement laws and without
benefit Of clergy. And we have much
to do here; mere social conversation
appoint you publicity agent to the gov
ernor. Your business is to keep the
people fooled-all the people all the
time. In other words, you are chief
liar to the administration, position OF
vast responsibility, for which you have,
If am judge of character, the great
est talents. You will begin by send
ing out word that Governor Danger
field has given up all other work at
present but the destruction of the
Appleweight gang. These stories that
the governor has hidden himself to
dodge certain duties are all punk-do
your understand ?-he is serving the
people as he has always served them,
faithfully and with the noblest self
sacrifice. That's the sort of stuff l
want you to jam into the newspapers
all over the world. And remember
my name does not appear in the bust
ness at all-neither now nor here
after"
but by the ghost of John G. Cal
h6un, don't you see that I'm losing
the chance of my life in my own pro-
fession? There's story in this that
would put me to the top and carry me
right into New York. and Collins
glanced about for his suitcase, as
though meditating flight.
"Your appointment has gone into eff
feet" said Ardmore with finality, land
il you bolt you will be caught and
made to walk the plank. And so far
as your future is concerned, you shall
have newspaper of your own any
where you please as soon as this war
Is over"
The three men adjourned to the
caboose where Ardmore told Collins
all that it seemed necessary for the
newspaper man to know; and within
half an hour the new recruit had en-.
tered thoroughly into the spirit of the
adventure, though his mirth occas-
ionally got the better of him, and he
bowed his head in his hands and sur
rendered himself to laughter There
after until the six o'clock supper was
ready, he kept the operator occupied.
He sent to the Palladium thoroughly
plausible story giving prominence to
the Appleweight case and laying stress
on Governor Dangerheld's vigorous
personality and high sense Of official
responsibility. He sent queries to
leading journals everywhere, offering
exclusive news of the rumored disap-
pearance of North Cardinals governor
His campaign of publicity for the
state administration was broadly plan
ned though he was losing great op-
portunity to beat the world with a
stunning story of the amazing nerve
with which Ardmore, the young mil,
| lionaire, had assumed the duties OF
governor of North Carolina in the I'm.
accountable absence of Governor Dan,
gerfield from his capital. The whole
thing was almost too good to be true
and Collins put away the idea of flight
only upon realizing the joyous posi-
| bilities of sharing, no matter how
humbly, in the fate of an administra
ton which was fashioning the drollest
| of card houses He did not know, and
was not to know until long afterward
| Just how the young master of Ardsley
had leaped into the breach; but Ard
more was an extraordinary person
whose whims set him quite apart from
other men, and while, even If he
escaped being shot, the present en-
/ Lerpr1So WOulu undoubtedly ledu W
long term in jail Collins had commit
ted himself to Ardmore's cause ant
would be faithful to it, no matter wha
happened.
Ardmore took Collins more fully in
to his confidence during the lingering
twilight, and the reporter made man.
suggestions that were of real value
Meanwhile Cookies men brought three
horses from the depths of the fores
and saddled them. Cooke entered thu
caboose for a final conference witt
Ardmore and last look at the maps
TOO bad" remarked the acting gov
ernor, that we must wait until tomor
; row night to pick UP the Apple
weights, but our present business i
more important. It's time to move
Cooke"
: They rode off in single file on tn
, faintest Of trails through the woods
! Cooke leading and Ardmore and Co
Inns following Immediately benin
him. The great host of summer star
thronged the sky, and the moon sen
its soft effulgence across the nigh
r,ho,r optlv forda5 q ,0icv sfrpa m