The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

awaited audience with the Governor. The
throng was larger than usual. for the
State convention was to be held on the
morrow. Every county in the State was
represented in the crowd that trampled
the red carpet. crushed the leather chairs
and blew the smoke of campaign cigars
into the solemn faces of former govern
ors standing in their massive gilt frames
with their hands on ponderous law books.
In one corner a woman huddled. pinching
a handkerchief to her eyes. Now and
then she sobbed aloud. When Leonard
Gilman. the private secretary. saw her
he knew it at once for a pardon case,
and paid no further attention to her.
Big countrymen in Sunday clothes. who
wore the red badges of delegates. slapped
him on the hack, city ward-heelers Of
checkered lives and garments called him
Len"
There was an odor of perspiration in
the room, distinguishable even in the
heavy fumes of tobacco. The real lead
ers, of course, William Handy and the
others. were over at the executive man.
sion. with the Governor, completing the
final arrangements for his denomination.
The Governor held the convention in the
hollow Of his hand.
The woman huddled in her corner un-
til II o'clock. and then Gilman, happen
ing into her quarter of the room. asked
her what she wanted. listening with Of
fetal respect for her reply. Ii was an
old story to him. When she told him
he smiled a strange smile and turned
away. At noon the Governor ran the
Eantlet of the waiting crowd and gained
the sanctuary OF his private office. Once
there, breathing A sigh Of relief. he
ftood for a moment in one of the tall
lawns stretching lazily in the sun. and
rolling away to the elms surrounding the
Statehouse. He was = tall man and
strong. If he had a physical fault. it
was that he carried his head too low.
denotng him a thinker, but If his gaze
was fixed upon the earth, his thoughts
were in the stars. Presently he shook
his splendid head vigorously. wrapped
his long coat determinedly about him,
and settled himself at his desk.
Gilman entered. bearing a pile of pa
Ters demanding the Governors personal
attention. hut the morning conference
vas very brief on this day. AS Gilman
turned TO go. the Governor said:
Il desire to be alone to-day. I have
that speech Of acceptance TO write. II
Handy comes. send him in. but no one
else"
Gilman laid his hand upon the door
knob and the Governor asked:
NO one OF Importance out there. is
there?'
No." said Gilman There's a woman
what do you think she wants."
a pardon. Of course"
Yes. hut for whom? You'd never guess
ing
Tom Whalen"' Gilman laughed at
the humor OF 1t.
The Governors features relaxed with
smile. but quickly his brow contract
ed again. and he said:
"Well-poor thinss-I pity them. I
could wash my hands in women's tears
every week"
Il told her she could see you. I'll slide
her out"
The Governor bent to his desk. but just :
as the door was closing he called:
''Oh, Gilman,
Gilman stopped.
Don't do that-tell her I'll see her |
after a while
Gilman, as he returned to his desk. |
smiled and shook his head at the Gov !
ernor's weakness.
Thomas Whalen was a life convict in |
the penitentiary. The crime was COM |
mitted on the night OF the election al !
which John Chatham had been chosen |
chief executive of his State. Whalen /
was a boss in the nineteenth ward and 1
p Chatham man. The campaign had de- |
veloped such bitterness that Whalcn |
found it necessary to name himself a !
judge OF election in the Fourth precinct |
ND Mar fpan Irrri riT,ey ttsaI
day blue patrol wagons had rolled into |
the precinct
The polling place of the Fourth pre-
cinct was small barber shop in Fif- /
teenth Street. During the evening. as the |
ballots were being counted. il had become /
apparent that an alteration was in prog
ress behind the yellow blinds 1t was
abruptly terminated by a shot. The lights |
in the shop We're eXtinEUished at the |
same moment. man burst from the |
door and fed. When the police arrived. !
they found a dead election judge face
downward on the table. His name had /
been Brokoski. The bullet had passed en-
tirely through his body. and Redeemed
with his blood the ballots that gushed
from the overturned box The window
at his back had been completely shat
tered by the ball as ii flew out into the
alley. This was a large bullet. n thirty
eight Caliber. The police found a re-
volver cleaning in the light of the dark
lanterns they flashed down the alley. 1t
was thirty-eight caliber with one empty
chamber. 1t was evident that the mur-
derer had discarded il in his flight. A
lieutenant Of police at the Market Place
police station easily identified the gun
as one he had given to Whalen several
weeks previously. The judges and clerks
had rushed after Whalen. The shock, the
sudden failure of light. the horror OF
the dead man in the dark had tangled
their nerves. They were too excited to
give clear account of the affair. They
knew that Whalen and Brokoski, sitting
on opposite sides of the table. had been
Quarreling They had heard the shot.
had been blinded by the fash. and had
Seen Whalen bolt. Brokosk had fallen
heavily upon the table. and died with an
oath upon his lips.
Gilman never forgot that wild night.
He had spent it with the Governor at
the headquarters of the State Central
Committee. In the dawn. when the East
was yellowing. and sparrows began to
scufflc and splutter on the caves of the
Federal building looming down Just over
the way, the news of the murder and
frauds had come to them. The Govern
or's face. white with excitement and
fatigue. had suddenly darkened. Had
It been the shadow cast by the passing
Of n great ambition?
At the close of the long day the won-
an. beckored by Gilman into the Gov
arnor's presence. fingered on the thresh-
Did OF the chamber. The room was full
II shadows. The figure of the Governor,
standing in the tall window, shut out