The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-04
4

at dinner when the telegram came. The
Governor took the yellow envelope from
the buffers tray and tore ii open. When
he had read the message he passed II
over without a word to Gilman. The
private secretary's eyes widened as he
read 1t, and he exclaimed:
Jim Lockhart dead"
William, the black butler, stirred un-
easily. The Governor bent forward and
lifted his coffee to his lips. Gilman laid
the dispatch beside his plate, and, still
looking at 1t. began to pinch the golden
tip of cigarette. William slid noise
iessly to his side with a match. When
Gilman had lighted his cigarette he said:
Poor JIM"
The Governor responded:
Yes, 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 himself,
likewise fell into a melancholy reverie.
The silence within, and the wind sweep
ing 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.
SlleriCe Oeepeneo- ne WIFI
thrashed the trees anr the rain drenched
He said:
THE party's lost a good man."
And l have lost another friend" said
the Governor. He was growing old.
Without moving, still gazing deeply
into the Goals, after a little minute, he
added: g..
He was the most generous man 1 ever
knew"
Yes; and / believe. after all, when
the time came, he would have been with
you for the denomination" The Gov
ernor stretched out his hand to stay Gil
mans speech.
II was not thinking of that. Leonard"
The Governor cid this gently. as he
did ali things. Gilman's face Redeemed
for the fire was growing holland ST.
lence fell again between them. Gilman
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 statutes.
II YOU please. / suppose i have some
duty TO perform in an event like this
Gilman. who longed only for action.
bore with alacrity the three big calfskin
volumes to the library table, and turned
TO the index.
I'll find the section for you Gilman
examined the second volume for an in
slant, and then said: Here it is"
Read il, please said the Governor.
And Gilman read: Section sixteen.
In case of the death of the treasurer, II
shall be the duty of the Governor to take
possession of the Office of such treasurer,
and cause the vaults thereof to be closed
and securely locked, and SO remain until
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 COM
ing into his possession; 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 i'm
mediately reopening il, that's tits
chapter one hundred and thirty, section
sixteen of the act of eighteen seventy
three, page twenty-three twenty-seven."
Now turn said the Governor, ito
the chapter on elections. chapter forty
six, / think il is, and see what il says
about the appointment Of SUCCESSOR
Gilman tilted up the first volume. and
inspected the red and black labels on its
back: then he turned to chapter forty
six. and, running his finger down the
hurriedly, mumbling his words until he
came to the vital sentence:
When a vacancy shall occur in the
office of Secretary of State. Auditor of
Public Accounts, yes. here ii is' Che
accentuated the word Treasurer. At
torney General. Superintendent of Public
Instruction " The was reading rapidly
now and running words together) or
member of the State Board of Equaliza-
ton, the Governor A" land now he raised
his voice and read more slowly and dis
tinctly) the Governor shall NIL the same
by appointment. and the appointee snail
hold his Office during the remainder OF
the term, and until his successor is elect
ed and qualified That's section hun
ored and twenty-eight.'
Well said the Governor, I'll name
Hillman to nil the vacancy" Hillman
was the treasurer-elect, chosen by the
people in November to succeed Lockhart
He was not of the party however. to
which the Governor belonged. In Illinois,
IL will be remembered, treasurers are
elected not quadrennially, as are the
other State officials. but biennially, and
treasurer cannot succeed himself. so
that IN the middle OF an administration
there is always an on year. and a reac-
ton, and as the papers say, a singing
rebuke at the polls.
"M-m-yes," said Gilman, THE boys
won't like it-put It's only FOR a couple
of months"
And as to sealing the treasury" con-
tinued the Governor, Il presume that the
morning will be time enough tor that"
Yes, it's bad night outside, any
way" responded Gilman. Inc Governor
was lost again IN thought. IiIIman went
on and out
The clock in the hall ttolled eleven.
The Governor rose, and went slowly up
the staircase that winds gracefully from
the great hall TO the moor above and
thence to his chamber and his bed.
In room on the parlor floor Of the
Leland, the windows of which looked
down on Sixth Street, a short, fat man
was pacing the floor His unbuttoned
waistcoat showed white shirt stretch |
ed over large paunch. His hair was |
creased with perspiration. big drops of
which stood out on his forehead, and |
slid down his pendulous.- dewlapt !
cheeks. He had bristling mustache, at |
which he gnawed when he removed his |
cigar from his lips. and a short goatee |
at which he plucked necessarily with his |
fingers When his cigar was in his /
mouth. he rolled it about and ground it |
between his teeth. At times he spat |
pieces of the tobacco leaves fiercely into |
the CRATE. The cigar WAS burning uney-