The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-07-29
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his lips drew themselves sternly.
You have come to mo too soon, sir
he said CURLY. THE pardoning power
is thing to be most cautiously used
at all times. and certainly never until
he courts have acted. A case not YET
'djudicated cannot address itself to ex
,cutive clemency."
Samson nodded.
Quite true" he admitted. IF I an
bounced that had come on the matter
# pardon, it was largely that had
state some business and that
'eemed the briefest way of putting it. ,
Then there is something else?"
Yes. If 1t were only plea fol
,lemency l should expect the matter
be chiefly important to myself In
>oint of fact, hope to make it equally
interesting to you. Whether you give
ne a pardon in fashion which viz
ates all precedent, or whether / sur
Gender myself and go back to a trial
which will be merely form of assas
sination rests entirely with you, sir
You will not find me insistent.'
Then Samson launched into the
story of. his desires and the details OF
conditions which outside influences
had been powerless to remedy-be.
cause they were outside influences
Some man of sufficient vigor and com.
prehension, acting from the center OF
disturbance, must be armed with the
power to undertake the housekeeping,
and for while must do work that
would not be pretty. AS far as he was
personally concerned, a pardon after
trial would be a matter of purely AGA
demic interest. He could not expect
to survive a trial. He was at present
able to hold the Souths in leash. ii
the governor was not of that mind he
was now ready to surrender himself
and permit matters to take their
course.
"And now, Mr.. South" suggested
the governor, after a half-hour of alb.
sorbed listening, there is one point
you have overlooked. Since in the end
the whole thing comes back to the ex-
ercise Of the pardoning power, it is
after all the crux of the situation. You
may be able to render such services as
those for which you volunteer. Let us
for the moment assume that to be true.
You have not yet told me a very i'm
portant thing. Did you or did you not
kill Purvy and Hollis?"
II killed Hollis" said Samson, as
though he were answering a question
as to the time of day, land l did not
kill Purvy.'
Kindly" suggested the governor,
give me the full particulars of that
affair.""
The two were still closeted when a
second visitor called and was told that
his excellency could not be disturbed
The second visitor, however, was so in.
sistent that the secretary finally con.
sented to take in the card. After a
glance at it his chief ordered admls-
sion.
The door opened and Captain Cal.
lomb entered.
He was now in civilian clothes,
with portentous news written on his
face. He paused in annoyance at the
sight of second figure standing with
back turned at the window. Then
Samson wheeled and the two men rec.
ognized each other. They had met be-
fore only when one was in olive drab
the other in jeans and butte1nut. Al;
recognition Callomb's face fell and
grew troubled.
You here, SOUTH" he exclaimed.
II thought you promised me that |
shouldn't find you. God knows I didn't
want to meet YOU
Nor l you," Samson spoke slowly.
Il supposed you'd be raking the hills"
Neither of them was for the MON ent
paying the least attention to the GOV.
ernor, who stood quietly looking on.
Il sent Merriweather out there"
explained Callomb, impatiently. 81
wanted to come here before it
was too late. God knows, South,
l wouldn't have had this meet
ing occur for anything under heaven.
1t leaves me no choice. You are
indicted on two counts, each charg.
ing you with murder" The officer took
a step toward the center of the room.
His face was weary, and his eyes wore
the deep disgust and fatigue that come
from the necessity of performing
hard duty.
you are under arrest" he added
quietly, but his composure broke as he
stormed. Now, by God, I've got to
take you back and let them murder
you, and you're the man who might
have been useful to the state"