The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1880-04-08
THE GAMBLER,s REVENGE.

In house that dotted a slope in the
beautiful valley of San joaquin, CalifOr-
MIA, a pale-faced woman knelt and
mOaned in prayer. There were no tears
In her eyes; but, strained to the vacancy
Of the sky they expressed that anguish
that intense suppiicatiOn-Which na-
ture does not alleviate with tears.
From the feverish lips Issued one in
cessant vail Of prayer, ooh, God, save
himl My God, preserve him p And
the Writhing 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 beng trieu for his iife, on the charge
Of murder Her mind was busy with
the distant scene. She had been per.
suaded to stay away from the courtroom,
and the excitement and morbid curiosity
she would suffer there, on the faithful
promise of JOnn Maitland, to bring her
the news each day Of the progress Of the
trial, and announce its conclusion with
in the shortest possible time.
The night before the day she had
Wrestled so terrible In prayer, he had
ridden from the town to inform her that
El.E GHl4EAAlG was GaAA anu e-AeAl Al
morning the case would probably be
eiven to the Jury. He had spoken to
reassure her. Her husband was mauful
and in good hopes, and sent her some
cheerful words about riding back to his
home in the morning a free man.
The question Of the guilt or innocence
Of Harry Jordan had hung in the balance
for two days. He was accused Of the
murder Of a notorious French gambler
alta monte table. Some angry cOnTersa-
sation had ensued between them
concerning q disputed bet, when the
Frenchman had beCkoned Jordan to
a corner Of the saloon, as If to eX-
plain 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 Frenchman; and it
was supposed the difficulty was being
settled, as the tone of the conversation
was lowered, when, suddenly, observers
were Mortified by the quick glittering
sweep Of a boWie-knife in JOrdan's hand,
a spurt 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 attempt at escape on the
part of the apparent murderer. To the
crowd who surrounded him be eXclaim-
ed in an excited manner, ''I have saved
him from killing me-" and when some
one lifted the dead bOdy-fallen on It's
face and seething with gore-it was OBJ
served that in the right hand Of the
gambler was grasped a DeEinger pistol
at full cock. The explanation Of JOrdaA
was that when the gambler had with
drawn him from the crowd, he appeared
to speak in a quiet, pacifying way, get
ting so close as almost to take him by the
lapel of the coat, when the former hap
pened to discover that during this appa-
rently very friendly conversation the
gambler had stealthily drawn from his
pocket q Derringer, almost concealed in
his hand, and was slowly and steadily
edging it up to his (JOrdan's) breast.
Detecting the movement. and instantly
Conceiving his design, Jordan disclosed
that he had suddenly drawn an open
knife which he carried in his 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 and profession. But it was at
time when all the gamblers Of California
made common cause against society, and
exaeted fearful Teprisals where any one
Of them had been made to suter even
in the cause Of public Justice. On JOr-
dams trial it had been noticed what
number of his fraternity had attended
in the courtroom; but they were quiet,
Well-dressed-a curious element of the
motley audience. Maitland. the sherifs
deputy, had observed their numerous
and regular attendance, but he had new
er thought to mention it to Mrs. Jordan
when telling her, as pleasantly as he
could, of the public interest IN her nus
bands trial, and of the crowds who
sought admission to the scene OF the
trial.
Poor woman! While, as she wrestled IN
this morning prayer, the strained vision
Of her loving fancy was turned TO her
husband, there were other eyes more
nearly watching him-feverish, fugitive,
Cat-like eyes, that were never withdrawn
from him as he sat waiting the verdict
Of the iury-waiting his fate, while the
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 q hOrseman
spurring furiously down the valley, while
clouds Of dust, sprinkled with sunshine,
float behind him. He waves q white
handkerchief.
It is not her husband. It is not Matt
land. 1t is a Mexican vaquerO. What
can it mean? But there is good news IN
his face.
"Bueno buenoT 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
Jordan is acquitted, thanks to God
I send messenger at once. Myself and
J. will be with you in an hour or two:
Faithfully, JoHN MArTLAND." L"
And kneeling again, this time in thank
fulness and praise, the relieved wife IS
TOO happy for words except those due to
Tod.
ats no use, men; for Gods sake stop
vour nonsense. It will be a bloody JoD
- N = - - 4ov7rhng nv DrIsOuer.'