Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-29

Maitland, the sherltt's deputy, had
observed their numerous and regu-
lar attendance, but he had never
thought to mention it to Mrs. Jor.
dan when telling her, as pleasantly
as he could, Of the public interest
in her husbands case, and of the
crowds which sought admission to
the scene of the trial.
Poor woman! While, as she
wrestled in this morning praeyr,
the strained vision of her loving
fancy was turned to her husband,
there were other eyes more nearly
watching him, feverish, furtive,
cat-like eyes, that were never with
drawn from him as he sat waiting
the verdict of the jury-waiting
his fate while the paling sunshine
through the windows came to him
as messengers from home.
Again she kneels and prays.
Again she looks out on the long
brown road that comes down the
green slope Of the valley. This
time not in vain. A light springs
to her eyes, and the blood beats in
her throat; for she sees a horseman
spurring furiously down the valley,
while clouds of dust, sprinkled
with sunshine, float behind him,
He valves a white handkerchief.
1t is not her husband. 1t is not
Maitland. 1t is a Mexican va
quero. What can it mean? But
there is good news in his face.
"Bueno! buenop cries the man
as he leaps to the ground before he
has stopped his horse, checks him
with his lariat, and presents a
folded paper he has carried in his
sash. How great Joy in so few
words:
Jordan is acquitted, thanks to
God! l send messengers. Myself
and j. will be with you in an hour
or two hence. Faithfully,
"JOHN MAITLAND"
And kneeling again, this time in
thankfulness and praise, the re-
lieyed wife is too happy for words
except those due to God.
CHAPTER II.
It's no use, men; for Gods
sake, stop your nonsense. 1t will
be a bloody job for the man who
touches my prisoner" There was a
courage in his face that appeared
for a moment to outshine the flick
ering resolution of the cowardly
mob. The stairs were gained, Jor-
dan foremost, and before the crowd
could understand the movement
the retreat was suddenly accom-
plished. Passing rapidly up stairs
along the balcony, the two officers
and the prisoner gained the Jail,
and for a moment the victim was
withdrawn from the murderous,
baleful eyes under which his heart
had sunk in strange, unutterable
fear.
A hoarse shout burst from the
mob-the tally-ho of the hunt OF
murder. In a moment they had
collected in the street, from which
there was access to the street by a
covered stairway. Loud threats.
oaths and terrible maledictions told
of the sudden fury of the crowd.
The former quiet tones were re-
placed by yellS and execrations; it
was a new mood Of that changeful,
cowardly monster-a mob-now
clamOring for its prey, swaying to
and fro in its deyilish, unsightly
greed.
"Hang him! hang him p Those
brief, terrible words, mechanically
repeated like a refrain of fiends,
and with the quickness of an cleo
trio shock, they slammed the Jail
door in the face OF Maitland, and a
devilish laugh rang in his ears.
He answered it with a shrek of
agony. He beat with his fists upon
the closed door; he tried, with the
assistance of his superior officer, to
break the door; but it was secure,
and he could hear nothing beyond
but a hoarse and lessening murmur.
Suddenly a thought struck him.
He rushed past the sheriff; he
mounted the stairs with long,
quick leaps, and ran out on the
balcony hanging over the street.
He had only time to see the mob
running in a confused, scattered
way, and an express wagon driven
at the top of its speed in the direc-
tien of a field, going outside the
town. There were several men in
it, and they appeared to be Strug-
Cling.
"Why don't he Gomez And the
woman who had so prayed in the
morning for the freedom Of her hus-
band, and an hour ago received
such a message Of happiness, looked
wistfully out on the long road.
She reasoned with herself that he
had delayed TO receive the eongrat-
ulation of his friends; but she
thought her love and her anxiety
u 1 i