The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
The Governor spoke medita,,ve,y. TIL.

The Governor spoke meditatiyely. The
two persons In the room silently regarded
him. Something in the man in the mo-
ment. impelled awe. He set his hand to
| the paper to write, but paused an instant
longer. His eyes wandered from the docu-
ment. As he raised them over her, the
| woman bowed her head. Out through
the open mindow. out through the sum
mer morning. over the whipping foliage
Of the trees. far. far away they gazed.
And then he sighed, as a woman sighs,
| and turning. signed the pardon Of Thomas
Whalen. A moment he sat still as an
ancient statue, and then dropping the pen
on his desk. he turned toward Gilman
with smile. The action relieved the
young man from the spell which bound
him.
"Are you going before the people with
| that story worked up" he cried.
Ffercely. without awaiting a reply to
a question already answered. he wheeled
on the woman.
DO you see what he has done? He
has given up all-he has killed himself?
He says Whalen Is innocent-and doesn't
even know upon whom TO fasten suspi-
cion! Don't you-my God, woman-can't
you see?'
Slowly the situation was borne in upon
! with a gasp. her eyes widened.
Why she said. jerking her words
from a choking throat. He knows who
did It. told him. 1t was-me."
The door latch clicked behind her. She
turned In the direction whence came the
sound. and repeated, as IL the interrupter
contradicted her:
Yes, I did it. killed Brokoski"
Her strength failed her. She sobbed
convulsively.
"Yes-I-did-it," she repeated. Il
did-it."
Gilman stared in wonder. Here. then,
was the person who had stood in the
alley beneath the window that night.
whose footprints would have led him to
the solution of his mystery, to the end
OF his clever chain. The problem Of her
motive for Staying Brokoski alone re-
mained. He longed to ask her, but she
had collapsed unconscious in her chair.
Turning to the Governor he implored
light. A word informed him Of the acci-
dental killing Of Brokoski by a Jealous
woman who was trying TO shoot his Wis
avis. Then he demanded in tones re-
proachful:
why did you not tell me thIs?'
Because" the man quietly responded.
Il do not war on women"
The door whose latch had clicked had
opened VIDE. ana Nllndm ffdnHy en-
tered, smiling.
Governor Chatham was asserting papers
on his desk. as a man would whose rou-
tine work had received n trifing inter-
ruption. Handy remained on his feet.
John" he said. John. take OF my
hat to you. I admire your nerve I
recognized II years ago. that day You
presided over our convention in the old
seventh district-remember?-th day you
turned me down so hard. Remember"
The Governor smiled.
This amt fattery." said Handy. seat
ing himself in a leather chair. You're
not only all I've said. you're n devil Of
good fellow to boot
Handy spoke seldom. He never wrote
letters. but sent word. according TO an
ancient maNium uttered by one of the
political fathers. But when he did speak.
he spoke bluntly. in the same tone in
which he would have called a man
liar. The Governor raised his hand TO
stay Handy's compliments
Yes. JOHN he persisted. You're a
he'll of a good fellow. but" he added
you're a damn poor politician"
There was the faintest shadow OF a
smile on the Governors face. Handy
closed his eyes until they were the mer-
est Sits. He pufred his cigar back to
life
His head was wrapped in sca-fs of
smoke