River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-31


ed:
Jim Lockhart dead"
Eyes, poor jim"
The governor sank into a deep
leather chair. He supported his head
in his hand and gaZed into the fire.
Gilman followed, and seating him.
self, likewise fell into a melancholy
reverie. The silence within, and the
wind sweeping the rain back and forth
like broom without, oppressed him.
He was a young man. Once or twice
he looked at the governor, and then
the silence, the wind and the rain
forced him to speak.
HE seemed to be in perfect health
when he went away Wednesday" he
said
The silence deepened. The wind
threshed the trees and the rain
drenched the windows anew. Gilman
spoke again. He said:
1.-THE party's lost good man."
"And / have lost another friend"
said the governor. He was growing
old.
Without moving, still gazing deeply
into the Goals, after little minute, he
added:
"He was the most generous man
ever knew"
"Yes; and | believe, after all, when
the time came, he would have been
with you for the denomination" The
governor stretched out his hand to
stay Gilman's speech.
Il was not thinking of that, Leon
ard"
The governor did this gently, as he
did all things Guman's face redeemed
for the fire was growing hot-and
silence fell again between them. Gil
man felt the silence. He flung his
cigarette into the fire. Then he rose.
Guess I'll go over to the Leland"
he said. Some of the boys may have
particulars
The governor nodded acquiescence,
but as Gilman reached the door that
leads into the northwest drawing
room. he spoke:
Before you go hand me the stat
utes. if you please. | suppose | have
some duty to perform in an event like
this"
Gilman, who longed only for action,
bore with alacrity the three big calf
skin volumes to the library table, and
turned to the index
'I'll find the section for you" Gil
man examined the second volume for
an instant, and then said "Here it
is"
"Read it, please" said the governor
And Gilman read: "'Section six
teen. In case of the death of the
treasurer, it shall be the duty of the
governor to take possession of the of
flee of such treasurer, and cause the
vaults thereof to be closed and Sc
curely locked, and so remain until a
successor is appointed and qualified;
and at the time such successor takes
possession of the office. he, together
with the auditor of public accounts and
any of the bondsmen of the deceased
treasurer who shall be present, shall
proceed to take an account of all
moneys. papers, books, records and
other property coming into his pos
session; and the auditor shall take of
such succeeding treasurer his receipt
therefor and keep the same on file in
his office There" concluded Gilman
closing the book, and then immediate
ly reopening 1t, that's tits chapter
one hundred and thirty, section six
teen of the act of eighteen seventy
three page twenty-three twenty
seven"
Now turn" said the governor ito
the chapter on elections, chapter for
ty-six, / think 1t is, and see what it
says about the appointment of sue
cessor"
Gilman tilted up the first volume,
and inspected the red and black labels
on its back; then he turned to chap
ter forty-s'x, and, running his finger
down the pages until he found the sec
ton, read hurriedly mumbling his
words until he came to the vital SEN
tence:
When a vacancy SHALL occur in the
office of secretary of state, auditor of
public accounts yes, here it is" Che
accentuated the wCrd) treasurer, at
torney-general. superintendent of pub
lie instruction Che was reading rap
idly now and running words together)
"'or member of the state board Of
equalization, the governor land now
he raised his voice and read more
slowly and distinctly ''the governor
shall fill the same by appointment, and
the appointee shall hold lis office dur
ing the remainder of the term, and
until his successor is elected and quail
;6o5 That's section hundred and
twenty eight"
Well said the governor, III name
Hillman to fill the vacancy Hillman
was the treasurer-elect, chosen by the
people in November to succeed Lock
hart. He was not Of the party, how
ever, to which the governor belonged.
In Illinois, it will be remembered,
treasurers are elected not quadrennial-
ly, as are the other state officials, but
biennially. and treasurer cannot sue
coed himself.
"Mm-yes," said Gilman, 'the boys
won't like it-but it's only for cou-
Me of months"
"And as to sealing the treasury"
continued the governor, Il presume
that the morning viii be time enough
for that"
Eyes, it's a bad night outside, any
way" responded Gilman. The gov
ernor was lost again in thought Gil
man went ON and out
Tho o1ooIy In tho bcU fo11od olavap