Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-12-27
Jhrilliag Narratire.
A BROKEN HEART.
BY MARIE A. N. POLLARD
CHAPTER

CHAPTER ].
In house that dotted slope in the
beautiful valley of San joaquin, Cali
fornia, pale-faced woman knelt and
moaned in prayer. There were no tears
III her eyes but. strained to the vacancy
ofthe sky, they expressed that anguish
that intense supplication--which nature
does not alleviate with tears.
From the fevcrsh lips issued one in
cessant wall of prayer, 80, God, save
him Ny God preserve him p' And the
writing body and beseeching eyes told
Of the intense agony in which the heart
struggled.
Fifteen miles away, in the town of
Stockton, the husband of this woman
was being tried for his life on the charge
of murder. Her mind was busy with
the distant scene. She had been per-
sauded to stay away from the Court room
and the excitement and morbid curiosity
she would suffer there, on the faithful
promise of one of the Sheriff's Deputies,
John Maitland, to bring her news each
day Of the progress of the trial and an
nounce its conclusion within the short
est possible time.
The night before the day she had
wrestled SO terribly in prayer, he had
ridden from the town to inform her that
the evidence was all in, and that in the
morning the case would probably be
given to the jury. He had spoken to
reassure her. Her husband was manful
and in good hopes, and had sent her
some cheerful words about riding back
to his home in the morning free man.
The question of the guilt or innocence
of Harry Jordan had hung in the bal
ance for two days. He was accused of
the murder of notorious French gam
bier at monte table Some angry
conversation had ensued between them
concerning a disputed bet, when the
Frenchman had beckoned Jordan to a
corner of the saloon, as if to explain to
him and avoid annoyance to the players.
In this changed position the back of
Jordan was turned to the crowd, as he
confronted the Ftrnchman; and it was
supposed the difficulty was being settled ,
MS the tone Of their conversation was
lowered, when suddcoly observers were
horrifed by the quick gIlttering sweep
Of bowie-knife in Jordao's hand, a
squirt of hot blood in the air, and the
gambler fell, cleft through skull and
brain, dead perhaps before he touched
the floor.
There was no attempts at escape on
the part OF the apparent murderer. 10
the crowd who surrounded him he ex-
claimed in an excited manner. II have
saved hm--saved him from killing me !"
and when some one lifted the dead
body-falen on It's face and seething
with gore--'twas observed that in the
right hand of the gambler was grasped
Derrnger pistol at full cock The
explanation Of Jordan was that when
the gambler had Withdrawn bin from
the crowd he appeared to speak in a
quiet pacifying way. getting so close as
almost to take him by the lapel Of the
coat, when the former happened to dis
cover that during this apparent friendly
conversation the gambler bad stealthily
drawn from his pocket small Derrin-
ger, almost concealed 10 his hand, and
was slowly and steadily edging il up to
his (JordaD's) breast. Detecting the
movement and instantly conceiving its
design, Jordan disclosed that be had
suddenly drawn an open knife which he
carried in bis bosom. and with quick,
desperate force had sent its edge into the
brain Of the would -be-assassin.
The deceased was one of the worst Of
his class aud profession. But il was at
a time when all the gamblers Of Califor-
MIA made common cause against society,
and cxacted fearful reprisals where any
one Of them had been made TO suffer
even in the cause Of public justice. On
Jordan's trial it had been noticed what
number oftbis fraternity had attended in
the court room but they we're quiet,
curious element Of the
motley audience Maitland, the Sheriff.
Deputy, had observed their numerous
and regular attendance, but he had never