Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-08

had fought on the southern side. Ru-
mors few about the city Of q mob at.
lacking the prison. There was guard
OF soldiers around 1t the first night,
and when they took him from there to
the TAIL on Broadway, It was In the
middle of an armed escort. All sorts
Of stories as to what had caused the
shooting were abroad, but the one
things the reports agreed upon was
the fact that the quarrel had been OF
long standing This was very exciting
to hear about, yet didn't enjoy talk
ing of 1t as the other girls did.
Only when I was alone, with hot
cheeks and anxious eyes, | read
through the long accounts that filled
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
1t appeared that that time he had been
the one who was shot at; and OF how
he had lost his money in land specula-
lions of doubtful character. The Alta
California called him rebel, and SAID
that his career had been "a democrat
izing influence on the youth OF the
city," Though, on the other hand, It
called Mr.. Rood our esteemed and Ia
mented citizen, which was puzzling to
me. for he was only gambling house
keeper whom none of the best men in
town was friendly with. But the pa
pers spoke very warmly Of him; called
Mrs. Rood, senior, his Borrowing
mother. and then they mentioned the
Spanish woman. They said she had
been in love with Rood, and that he
had expected to marry her. That re-
called a memory of what father had
told me when 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. l
hated to ask question 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 Inter
viewing him when he was at home
Mr.. Dingley, and others who were not
elegant, but very business-like-that l
hardly saw him except at meals. Once
or twicesI had caught him, when he
thought wasn't looking, watching me
with an anxious and harrassed express
sion; but most Of the time he was pre-
occupied.
On the morning Of the fourth day
after the shooting as sat at break
fast, took up the paper and read that
the trial Of the People versus John
Montgomery was set for the last week
of May. I glanced down the column
and sentence caught my eye. ut is
said the prosecution Is in possession
of sensational evidence which will ma
terially affect the aspect of the case"
sat for some minutes with the. paper
in many hand, listening to 1t rustic,
gathering my courage.
Father finally said, edo you think
! that Mr.. Montgomery is really
wicked?"
He looked over at me with that
smile which is most serious. my dear
child, am not God Almighty"
"But you know what mean pro-
tested. "The papers have been saying
Esuch nice things about Mr.. Rood, but
you yourself once said he was an In
sidious and pernicious influence In the
community; and the papers are print
ling such dreadful things about Johnny
Montgomery! They are telling all
sorts Of stories about him-that he has
been in shooting scrapes and dishonor-
able business deals, and-and horrible
things" ended rather uncertainty
ooh, no doubt he hasn't been such a
bad fellow father said, passing his
cup for coffee. "As far as his land OPP
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 60 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 it were-so Of course
they are 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 deal to different public
institutions. They can't do otherwise
than praise him."
He took up his letters and began to