The San Francisco call., 1910-08-21

Sne cndIIeu TlSul dAOHS oS -
nothing serious had ever hap
pened. But when we stopped at the
house, just as I was leaving the car
riage she quickly took my face be-
tween her hands and kissed me hard
on the forehead. You poor little
motherless duck" she said. and left me
with the impression there had been
tears in her eyes.
wondered why she should feel so
suddenly sorry for me; nevertheless I
felt cheered and consoled-hadn't
she spoken kindly of Johnny Mont-N
gomery as nice boy? But II was
the last good word I was to hear OF
him for a week / needed the memory
of that cheer and consolation through
the next hard days
For now that l was recovered from
the shock of the first day I began TO
realize that the shooting OF Martin
Rood was not at all an ordinary shoot
ing. 1t had stirred up great excitement
Only one month had passed since
the presidents assassination; the feel
ing against the southerners was still
very bitter. and not only were all the
Montgomerys dyed-in-t -the-woo1 Ala
bamans, but some of the relatives had
fought on the southern side. Rumors
flew about the city of a mob attacking
the prison There was a guard OF SOL
diers around il the first night, and
when they took him from there TO the
jail on Broadway. il was in the middle
of an armed escort. All sorts of stories
s to what had caused the shooting
were abroad, but the one thing the re-
ports agreed upon was the fact that
the quarrel had been of long standing.
This was very exciting TO hear about.
yet l didn't enjoy talking of it as the
other girls did
Only when / was alone. with hot
cheeks and anxious eyes, I read
through the long accounts that filed
the papers, hoping to find some word
in his favor. 1t seemed TO me that the
whole city was against Johnny Mont
gomery. The Bulletin had stories OF
another shooting down south. though
IL appeared that that time he had been
the one who was shot at and of how be-
lost his money in land speculations OF a
doubtful caracter. The Alta California
called him rebel, and said that his
career had been "a demOralizing in
nuence to the youth of the city"
Though, on the other hand sit called
Mr.. Rood our esteemed and lamented
citizen, which was puzzIing to me. for
he was only gambling house keeper
whom none of the best men I'm town
was friendly with. But the pa
Pers spoke very warmly OF him;
called Mrs. Rood senior his sor-
rowing mother, and then they men
toned the Spanish woman. They said
ol4C Hdu Dccn III IONe with Rood and
that he had expected to marry her
That recalled a memory of what father
had told me when I first asked him
about the Spanish woman-that she
had money and influence in high places
and | wondered what that influence
could do to Johnny Montgomery's case.
Altogether I was much disturbed
hated to ask questions OF father, he
had been so distressed over my part in
the affair, and besides he had been
very busy that week. so many men in
teFviewing him when he was at home
MIR. Dingley and others who were
not elegant but very businesslike-that
! hardly saw him except at meals.
Once or twice had caught him. whsn
he thought wasn't looking. watching
me with an anxious and harassed ex-
preston. but most OF the time he was
preoccupied
On the morning OF the fourth day
after the shooting as / sat at break
fast i took ND the paper and read that
the trial OF the People versus John
Montgomery was set for the last week
OF May. l glanced down the column
and sentence caught my eye. "It is
said the prosecution Is in possession of
sensational evidence which will ma
terially affect the aspect OF the case"
j sat for some minutes with the paper
in my hand listening to it's rustic, gath
ering my courage.
. Father" I finally said. do you think
that Mr.. Montgomery is really wicked?'
He looked over at me with that
smile Of his which is most serious
MY dear child, 1 am not Almighty
God"
But you know what I mean," I pro-
tested " The papers have been saving
such nice things about Mr.. Rood. but
you yourself once said he was an in
sidious and pernieious influence IN the
community. and the papers are print
ing such dreadful things about johnny
Montgomery. They are telling all
sorts OF stories about him-that he
has been in shooting scrapes and
dishonorable business deals, and
and horrible things" ended rather un-
certainly.
'Oh. no doubt he hasn't been such
bad fellow" father said passing his
cup for coffee. "As far as his land op-
erations are concerned. / know for a
fact that the 'dishonorable dealing the
Bulletin talks about was all on the
side of the men who got his money.
But you see he would go into the deal
in spite OF the advice of the executor
of the estate. antagonized all his
fathers friends-plucked the Roman
senators by the boards. as IL were-so
of course they were ready to believe
the worst of him. Then he went badly
into debt, and accumulated too many
creditors TO be popular. But Rood. you
see, always had money, always kept his
escapades quiet and was very liberal
TO the city. He has given a deal to
different public Institutions. They
can't do otherwise than praise him."
He took up his letters and began to
open them with a paper knife.
But" ! said. they say Mr.. Mont
gomery has been engaged TO a girl for
her money"
Father threw back his head and
laughed can never tell when / am
going 10 amuse him.
Engaged TO girl for her money!
That's the worst thing on his list.
suppose eh. Ellie2'' Before he finished
the sentence he was almost grave
again Il know where you got that In
formation" He shook the paper knife
at me- -Women's gossip is an fnven-
-tion of the devil, Don't listen 70 itl
The poor fellow has enough real counts
to be accused on, God knows"
He said the last words with such an
emphasis as did away with all the com-
fort his explanation had brought me.
/ did not dare TO press him further: I
was afraid / might hear worse.
He sat moment frowning down at
the tableclOth; then. How would you
like to go down to the ranch for a week
or sO?" he inquired