A Departmental Case (Henry)
Luke Coonrod Standifer, a former Indian fighter, soldier, ranger, and legislator, was appointed as the Commissioner of Insurance, Statistics, and History of the State of Texas. One day, a woman named Amanda, the daughter of Standifer's old friend Amos Colvin, visited his office seeking help.
Mrs. Sharp is talking to Standifer about her father, Amos Colvin, and how he always spoke fondly of their adventures together. This conversation takes place in Standifer's office.
It seems to me that I don't remember hearing him talk about much else. Every day there was some story he had to tell about what he and you had done.
She was married to Benton Sharp, a notorious outlaw, who had abused her and left her in poverty. Amanda hoped that the state might provide her with some relief, as her father had been an early settler and had never received any compensation for his contributions.
Standifer, moved by Amanda's plight, tried to secure financial assistance for her from the state treasury, but was unsuccessful due to bureaucratic red tape. Standifer expresses his frustration with the bureaucratic process when trying to help Mrs. Sharp. This quote occurs during a conversation with the state treasurer.
To the devil with the legislature. It's a long trail to follow, trying to get back dues from the government.
He then advised Amanda to return to his office in two days, promising to find a solution to her problem. In the meantime, Standifer traveled to San Antonio, where Amanda's husband was living.
The next day, the San Antonio Express reported a sensational piece of news: Benton Sharp, the notorious outlaw, had been shot dead in a saloon. The identity of the shooter was unknown, but it was speculated that it might have been someone seeking revenge for Sharp's past crimes. With her husband's life insurance policy, Amanda was able to regain her financial stability and live in peace.