Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-09-06


black ends of consumed cigars. the
mass OF tobacco ash deposited in a
whisky glass. absorbed its tepid liquid.
and stunk. The room grew chill. and
the mists of the fountain which played
in mournful solitude beneath the rock
ing elms in the grounds. permeated
the atmosphere. The brooding night
added her terrors and her cares.
Gilman took sip of liquor, lighted
a fresh cigarette, rose and walked up
and down the room He thought of
the election, so near at hand. He
looked at the governor bowed there be-
fore him. What was Whalen. or the
woman. or anybody to him? Let the
prisoner die What was he 10 the
governor? John Chatham's party
needed him, his country needed him.
his time needed him. mankind and hui
man progress needed him. If he par
dOned Whalen. what was to become of
him? The conviction of BrOkOsh's
murderer alone could save him from
such apparent qualification. here on
the eve of an election at which, in the
foolish phrase of modern politics. he
sought vindication. Was this convic-
ton possible? The bare thought halted
Gilman beside the governor. He laid
a hand on his shoulder
These abstruse propositions
wouldn't stand before jury in a Grim
inal court" he said. Let Whalen
stay"
The governor lifted his head.
But you just now said that he was
not Brokosh's murderer"
Gilman hesitated. When he spoke.
he said:
"A Jury Of twelve sworn men has
said that he is
Two days after the private secre-
tary's return. the newspapers were
full OF stories concerning his move
ments. Whalen's picture was exploit
ed. cores pondents sought the COVER
nor for interviews, and the Courier
charged that, in his desperation. he in
tended to pardon Whalen. that he
might have, in his campaign, the as
sistance OF that skilled and unscrupu-
lous manipulation. The pack of coun-
try newspapers took up the Courier's
cry. Whalen's illness was either ig-
nored, or referred to as feigned, at
the direction of prison authorities and
the governor. And yet a certificate
pigeonholed In Gilman's desk, signed
by the prison physician, stated that
Thomas Whalen had pulmonary tuber-
culosis and was in a moribund condi-
ton.
In his office in the city William
Handy, the chairman of the state cen
trail committee, read these newspaper
stories, and swore as he did so. That
night the shrewdest and maddest pol
itician in the state stole out Of town.
The next morning Gilman was sur
prised when the big man burst through
the door marked private" brushed
by him and entered, unannounced, the
governors chambers. Before the state
ly door swung to behind him, Gilman
heard him demand:
What's all this l hear about your
pardoning Tom Whalen?"
The private secretary did not hear
the governors reply, for with DELHI
crate step he had crossed the room
and closed the door. He heard moth
ing clearly, for Handy's voice came to
at all Once he thought he heard
'mawkish sentiment" and the action
of a political imbecile," but what he
mostly distinguished was muffied pro-
family. The young man for the first
time in his experience was delighted
when his bell buzzed just then. When
he entered upon the scene, the COVER
nor. rocking complacently in his high
backed chair. was saying:
But what if it's my duty?"
Duty be damned" shouted Handy,
rising to his feet, and shifting the desk
with a heavy fist he had had folded
during the conversation. The wrath
which the politician had kept bottled
up overnight had burst out at last.
Il am running this campaign" he
cried, "and as long as l do run it, l
do not propose to tolerate such in
credible folly as pardoning Tom Wha-
len"
Gilman, wide-eyed, gazed in amaze
at the two men. Handy stood glaring
at the governor, his fist fastened
where it had fallen. The governors
! lips were tightly compressed. A sheet
of scarlet swept over his dark face.
Both men were strong-willed. The
tensity of such a moment could not
| long endure It's contagion spread to
Gilman's nerves. The governors
splendid frame seemed to dilate, and
Gilman suddenly became conscious
that the admiration he had always CIV
en- the man had never before meas
ured up to the fullness Of John Chat,
| hams deserts. 1t was with relief that
he saw the governors glance turn
from Handy to bend on him.
Gilman" he said, have a pardon
made out for Thomas Whalen."
This answer to Handy's threats was
punctuated by fash from the COVER
nor's eyes.
"And Gilman" the governor con-
tinued
Yes, SIR"
Wire that woman-what's her
name?"