Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-08-26
The Governors
Hard Fight

3 Hard Fight !
! By FREDERICK CLARKE !
o>No>N~NN>>NDs>NeN NNNNNNNESNNNNSe1b
q. 1s1. Western Newspaper Union.)
Nobody except the governor knew
that he had double-not even the
governors wife. who knew him, per
haps, better than anybody else. The
two men resembled each other 50 COM
pletely that it would have been impos-
sible for their most intimate acquaint-
ances to distinguish them.
From his earliest years Governor
Haines had been engaged in q con-
slant fight against this man.
. The executive mansion was totally
unguarded. In that sleepy little capt.
tai town formalities had not come
into favor. The double strolled quiet
~ across the lawn, entered the man
sion and made his way to the gov.
ernor's Office. His secretary, nodding
1T his desk, bowed to him, unconscious
that this could be anybody but the
Governor Haines he knew.
Mr.. Searles has telephoned that
he will be here in half an hour, SIR"
said the secretary. The double nod
ded, passed into the executive chamber
and sat down at his desk.
That he had an intimate knowledge
OF all the governors business was EVIL
dent for he began scrutinizing papers
and emptying pigeon holes and read
ing memoranda. But he was await
Ing the arrival of Searles, the state
boss, with ill-concealed impatience.
The secretary looked in. "Mr.
Searles is waiting to see you, sir,"
he said.
The state boss entered. "You have
called with regard to that railroad
franchise bill?" he asked.
Searles cleared his throat and nod.
ded.
'Now, Governor Haines, we have
threshed this matter out, among 9TH
ers, for a long time. have tried to
ally you with the better interests of
the state, but I have failed. I have
pointed out to you thatI may speak
plainlyi" ~--..-.
Surely" answered the double, smil.
ing, and something in the doubles
expression sent new hope into Searles'
heart.
"You got my letter. governor3' he
asked, his lips parting in a wolflsh
smile. well, it amounts to this. If
yor don't sign that bill you won't have
the denomination next year. That, Of
course, goes without saying. But I'm
going to do more than that. I'm going
to drive you out of public life alto
gether. twenty-five years ago, when
you were young man, you were in
yolyed in a scandal. You know what
I mean. The people Of this state won't
stand: for anything Of that kind in
their chief magistrate. Will you sign
the bill or will you be exposed7"
'The man who was involved in that
scandal was not I. It was a double
Of mine,p thought the double.
LET us. come to the point, COVER
nor" Searles said. TITS no use shilly-
shallying or beating about the BUSH"
He drew paper from his pocket bear
ing the governors signature. This is
your obligation for five thousand dol
lars" he said. MAY tear this into
pieces and throw them into your
waste basketY
1t was strange, the extraordinary re-
vulslon that came over the double. He
out his hand impulsiyely and
took his pen, and in large letters wrote
at the bottom Of the bill vetoed" He
held It out toward Searles.
:. Searles seemed completely non.
plussed. For a whole minute he
stared ut the vetoed bill. Then he
got up and stretched out his hand.
Governor Haines," he said, II
think the world Of you. You have won
he fight and I'm man enough to rec
,gnize it. You'll have the people on
Four side n0w-and Z don't kick
against the pricks. You've bested me
md you'll have the entire Searles Or
7ou the nomination"
He shook Haines by the hand and
walked slowly eut Of the Office shak-
ng his head.
He must have dozed, fos some min
ties later, when he looked up, he saw |
lin enemy before him. Governor
aalnes was looking steadily at him,
,ut hue evinced no SURPRISE
Lets fight this thing out right |
low" he said. 1--WE finished with you.
shall never temporize with you
lgain-"
If you had told me that twenty-five |
Eears ago I should never have troubled |
you at ALL" answered the double; hum
)ly, rising.
Governor Haines, did not answer
I'm, but watched him leave the room.
Each man, has his double, his. worse |
nature. But when he has conquered |
him the double beeomes a harmless
wrath, transparent as a breath Of
marsh air, that is dispersed in the sun
light.
Americans in British Universities.
Large increases are reported in the
number Of American students attend
Ing British universities. Last spring
there were $50 Americans at oxford,
80 at London university, 81 at Cam
bridge, 81 at Edinburgh and others at
7 to