Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-02-08
"Here's My Boy, Governor"

Tue General KODeft, uld enl1Sht-
en- me as to the urgent need of me in
his affairs Of business.
ut is a question Of mules, sir, and of
a dishonor to the state that I'm going
to prevent il my hot old head is laid
low in doing 1t, as it probably will be
II L get into the ruckuS with Jefferson
Whitworth that now threatens. They
have i%nsinuated themselves into the
confidence Of Governor Faulkner until
they have made it well nigh impossible
for him to see the matter except as
they put it They will get his sigma
ture to the rental grant Of the lands,
make a getaway with the money and
let the state crash down upon his head
when it finds out that he has been led
into bringing 1t and himself into dis
honor. Why, dash it, sir. I'd like to
have every one of them, especially
Jeff Whitworth, at the end of a halter
and feed him a raw mule, hoof and
ears. I'm probably going to be done to
death all alone before the pack of
wolves, but I'm going to die hard-for
Bill Faulkner, who holds in his hand
the honor of his state and my state, I'll
die hard!" And he spoke the words
with such a fierceness hat his white
mustache. which was waxed with the
propriety Of the world, divided like
crossed silver swords beneath his
straight nose with it's thin and trem-
bling nostrils.
'It will be that 1 can help you pro-
tect this honor Of the Gouverneur
Faulkner and the state Of Harpeth,
will it not, my Uncle Roberto" I asked
with a great anxiety. eff you must fall
on the field of honor it will be the
glory OF ItODerU Ilrrulners vi NreZ
and Bye to fall beside you. sir. l am d
very good sport. my father has said"
"God bless my soul, how like Henry
you are, boy" exclaimed my uncle. the
General Robert, and he did lay IL Of
his long and very strong arms across
my shoulder and give to me the en-
brace for which | had so lcnged. but
for not enough time for me to yield
myself to it. Henry always wanted
to tag Brother Bob and he. too
would-have died-fghting for meat
my side. I've been hard-and when I
heard of his DEATH wanted you.
boy, I wanted you more Now, what
do you mean, sir, by making me for
get for one moment the fix Bill Faulll-
ner and l. are in?" And my uncle.
the General Robert, gave to me a good
shake, as he extracted his very large
white handkerchief and blew upon his
nose With such power that the black
chauffeur looked around at us and
made the car to jump eve as he and |
had done.
And those mules that it would be
your wish to feed to that Mr.. Jeff
Whitworth. my Uncle Robert. will yor
not tell ne further about them? In
Paris it is said that they are a very
good food when made fat after being
old or wounded in the army. have
THAT will do. Sir. II you've had to
a mule in Paris don't tell me about
it. My constitution wouldn't stand
that, though during our war. just be-
fore Vicksbur@, ate-but we Won't go
into that either. Now this is the
situation. as much as Il lad from the
wilds Of Paris could understand it.
The French government wants 5000
mules by the fall of tie year. and
there are 10 such mules in the world
as this state produces. They are send
ing a man oTer here to try to make {,
deal with the state of Harpeth to pur-
chase the mules from private breeders.
Craze them OF the government lands
and deliver them in a lot for shipment
the list of August at Savannah. There
is no authority Oh the statute book
for the state to make such Il deal. but
Jeff Whitworth has fixed up a sort of
contract, that wouldn't hold water in
the courts, by which the governor of
the state, Williamson Faulkner. grants
the grazing rights on the states lands
to q private company, of which he is
to be a member, which in a way
guarantees the deal. They've made
him believe it to be a good financial
thing for the state, and he can't see
that they are going to buy cheap stock,
fatten it on a low rate from the state
and hand it over to the French gov
eminent at a fancy rakeoff. and then
leave him with the bag to hold when
the time for settlement and complaint
comes. There is q strong Republican
party in this state. and they're keep
ing quiet, but year after next, when
Bill Faulkner comes up for re-elec-
ton, downright illegality will be al
legged, and he will be defeated in dis
honor and with dishonor to the state.
I am his secretary of state, and I'm
going to save him if / can. And you
are going to help me, sir!" And as
he spoke my uncle, the General Rob-
ert, gave to me Il distinguished shake
of the hand that made my pride to rise
in my throat, which gave to my speak
ing n great huskiness.
~ will help in the rescue of the hon
or of that G%ouverneur Bin Faulkner,
K.