The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-02-15

| 10 about 1t. 1t is a GImcuIt case. If
went in my official capacity to see
the nlan it might give his friends IN
| due hopes, AM suddenly | felt that
could run away frem the whole bunch
at this h9u: # the day and see the
man himself without anybody's know
ing it save tie superintendent of the
prison and l~self You don't count.
because in this case YOU are myself"
always ! would be yourself to you,
my reycrenccd GOuverneur Faulkner"
[ made reply TO him as l raised my
eyes 10 his deep ones that smiled down
into them.
Il wonder If that is as good as it
sounds. boy?" asked my Gouverneur
Faulkner gently IS he looked down at
me with both a laugh and sadness
influencing the smile Of his mouth.
Sometimes badly need two of my
self They are at me from waking to
sleeping, and l often feel cut into little
bits and | can't even say so. In fact,
yOungster, I'm squealing to you more
than I've let myself do since | became
the chief executive of this state of Har-
peth. Now, turn off into this road and
go straight ahead The prison is about
a mile back there at the foot of that
hill"
Il like those squeals," | answered
to his smile as put my cherry against
the spring wind and raced down that
long road at great speed that pre-
vented any more conversation at that
moment. My pride babe me show to
that gouverneur of Harpeth what good
driving in a fine car | was able to ac-
complish.
Therefore it was not many minutes
before We stood within the doors of
that very grim and terrible home Of the
human beings who have sinned with a
great crime. l know that | am never
to forget that hour and am to carry
forever the wound that it inflicted
upon my heart as l walked through
the dimness and grayness and still.
ness of that dark house.
At last, with many unlockings of
heavy doors by the director Of that
prison, we stood in a room that was
as cage in which to keep the human
animal that crouched down upon a
hard bed in one Of its corners and
leaned u head shaved bare of any hair
upon a very thin and white hand
Leave me. superintendent, for few
minutes. The young man VIII stay by
the door to let you know when | want
YOU" said that Gouyerneur Faulkner
to the superintendent. who nodded and
left the room as l took Il position over
beside the heavy iron bars that swung
together after him.
"My man." said the Gouverneur
Faulkner in voice that was so gen
tie as that which n mother uses to a
child in severe illness, II want you to
let me sit down on your cot beside
you and talk to you about your trOu-
BILE"
Got nothing to say, parson. done
it, and | want to swing as quick as
the law sends me-" answered the poor
human from behind his hands without
even raising his bowed head.
II am not a minister, and I've come
to talk to you because some of your
neighbors and friends think that there
may be a reason why you should not
be hanged for the death of your
| brother.
ut is my duty to help them keep
you from the penalty OF the law, which
you may not deserve even if you de-
Sire it. Can you tell me your story
as man to man, with the hope that it
will help you to a rcprieve?" And as
he spoke | observed tone of com
mand come into the voice Of my Gou-
verneur Faulkner that was as clear
and beautiful as the call of the bugle
to men for a battle.
81 done what | had to, and I'm
ready TO die for it. I've got nothing
to say" answered the man, with still
more of the determination of misery
in his voice. MY neighbors don't
want EN- to. Just let them keep
quiet and let it all die when the state
swings me"
$50 there is some secret about the
matter that you are willing to die to
keep. is there?" asked the Gouverneur
Faulkner, with a quickness of com
mand in his voice What had your
brother done to Mary Brown that you
killed him for doingf"
Course you! What's that to you?"
snarled the man as he sprang up from
beside the couyerneur and leaned,
crouched and painting. against the bars
~