The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-03-09
Selfft Shrw,
The Gamblers. Revenge.
BY NATIIALIA NEA.


prayer. There were tears in her eyes
hot, strained and raised to the vacancy
|of the sky, they expressed that anguish
ing anxiety. that Intense suppiication,
which nature does not alleviate' with
tears. From the fevcrisI lips issued the
lIsssse incessant wall Of PRAYER.
"Oh, Heaven save him. May Heaven,
lpreserve him. and the whiting body
and besceching eyes told of the furnace
Eof agony in which the heart struggled.
I Fifteen miles away in the town o!
EStocklon, the husband of this woman
twas being tried for his life on a charge
lof murder. Her mind was busy with the
ldistant scene. She had been persuaded
to stay away from tie courtroom and
the excitement and morbid curiosity she
would suffer from there, on the faithful
lpromise of one of the sheriff deputies
John Maitland, to bring her news each
day of the progress Of the trial, and to
announce its.conclusion within the short.
est possible time. The night before the
Iday she wrestled so terribly in prayer,he
! bad ridden from town to inform her thai
the evidence was all in, and that in the
morning the case would probably be
Submitted to the jury. He had spoken
to reassure her Her husband was man.
Iful and in good hopes. and had sent hel
some cheerful words about riding back
TO his home free man on the morrow.
i The question of the guilt or innocence
TOT Harry Jordan had hung in the bal
lance for two days. He was accused oI
lthe murder of notorious Flench gam
1bler at monte table. Some angry con
Jyersation had occurred between them
concerning disputed bet, when the
1Frenehman had beckoned Jordan TO 8
icorner of the saloon, as if to explain tc
jllim and avoid annoyance to the players
tIn this changed position the lack Of
IJcrdan was turned to the crowd as he
ironfronted the Frenchman, and it was
lsupposed that the difficulty was being
1settled, as the tone of their conversation
Twas lowered, when suddenly the careless
j observers were Mortified by the qnich
glitteling swoop of q bowie knife in Jor
Idan's hand, spirit and sickening stream
of blood in The air, and the gambler fell
cleft through skull and brain, and dead
perhaps before he touched the floor
There was no attempt to escape on the
part of the apparent murderer. to the
crowd who surrounded him, he eXclaim-
ed:
II have prevented him from killing
me- and when some one litted.the dead
body, fallen On its face and reeking with
gore, it was curiously observed that in
the right hand of the SAMPLER was grasp
ed Derringer pistol atfull cock.
The explanation was that when the
gambler had withdrawn him from the
crowd he appeared to speak in quiet
pacifying way, getting SO close as almos
to take him by the lapel Of his coat
when the former happened to discover
that during this apparently friendly con
versation the gambler had slealthily
! drawn from the pocket OF his breechc'
a small Derringer; almost concealed il
the hand, and was slowly and steadil,
edgiDg it up to his (Jordan's) breast
Detecting the movement, and instantly
conceiving its design, Jordan declared
that he had suddenly drawn an oper
knife, which he carried in his bosom, ,ant
with quick, desperate force had sent it:
edge into the brain of the would be as
sassin. !.
The deceased was one Of the worst o
his profession but it was a time wheI
all the gamblers of California made com
mon cause against society, and eXactet
fearful reprisals where any one of then
had been made to suffer, even in th,
course Of public justice. Ga Jordan
trial it had been noticed what number:
of the fraternity had attended in tn,
courtroom; but they were quiet, vel
behaved, well -dressed-a curious elemen
of the motley audience, Maitland, th
sheriff deputy, had observed their nu
merous and regular attendance, but h,
had never thought to mention it to Mrs
Jordan, when telling her as pleasant,
as he could Of the public interest in he
husbands case, and of the crowds whicl
sought admission to the scene of hi
trial.
| Poor woman! While the straine,
vision of her loving fancy was turned t,
| her husband there were other eyes NOR
nearly watching him--feverish, furtive
| cat like eyes that were never withdraw
from him as he sat waiting the verdict O
| the jury. a
j Again she kneels and prays. Agai
she looks out on the long, brown raa
), thst comes down the green slope Of tn
valley. This time not in vain. A ligh
springs to her eyes and the blood heat
in her throat, for she sees horscmal
spring furiously down The valley, Will
a cloud of dust, ,sprinkled with Sunshine
floats behind him. He waves whit,
handkerchief. 1t is not her husband iii
is not Maitland lit is Mexican Udquero
What can it mean? But there is goo,
news in his face -
'nueno! bueno!'' cries the man. and
he leaps to the ground before he ha
stopped his horse, checks him with hi
lariat,a and presents a folded paper he has
carried in his sash. How great joy il
so few a words;
"Jordan is acquitted, thanks to Heav
en-! l send messenger at once. Myself
and j. will he with you in an hour OF
two hence. Faithfully,
| JoHN MAITLAND
And kneeling again-this time II
thankfulness ard praise-the relieved
wife is too happy for words, except those
due to the Almighty.
| X x i
"Not guilty!' and with glad, flushed
face the accused bowed in thankfulnes:
for the verdict.
"I'll be with you again in minute
said Maitland, lurriedly, after having
shaken him by the hand. 81 NUT no
forget my promise to yonr wife. Won
she be glad J."
Not waiting to work his way through
the press in the court room, he raj
quickly up rude wooden stairs that lee