The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-11

himself up in his chair, nervously draw
ing in his shoulders looked quickly at
the judges desk and saw a man stand
ing beside it and Offering a paper. It
glimmered family white as he held n up.
saw the Judge lean over. stretching
out HIS fine, plump hand 10 take 1t. and
heard him say; rs this your verdict?'
Then instantly the room heard and
knew. And almost at the same time I
felt myself lifted to my feet and heard
father saying. IN a voice I should have
never dared question, Quick, your
coatr'
fumbly wildly for the sleeves. 7 no
longer knew what I was doing. nor why.
but obeyed him blindly. felt there was
some reason for this haste. but even as
1 tried 10 follow him out it seemed the
whole room had risen, and a voice some
where In front Of US was speaking-had
spoken
There was a moment Of dreadful
silence, and then all about me broke out
quick whispers; suddenly. ike a refrain.
Not once but over and over, I heard
them around me.
Murder-yes. yes, murder
oh. no, guilty in the second degree"
A woman near me tainted, and wish
ed I could have lost consciousness so as
to be rid Of those terrible words but
/ could not even cry. I raised my hand
TO my throat and pressed # there hard.
because there seemed 10 be construction
there.
The police were thick about the door,
but even they, struggling with the hood
lums who had crowded the back OF the
room, couldn't get a passage open. and
the large sergeant OF police lifted me up
as If had been a child and carried me
out and set me down on the sidewalk.
There / stood in the lovely. mild twi-
light, looking at the familiar surround
ings as II had never seen them be-
fore Among the vehicles that filed the
street I noticed the Spanish woman's
carriage, with its beautiful nervous
horses. Father put my arm through his
and raid. DO YOU think you can get
across the sueet?"
oh. yes" I said. surprised that he
should suppose I could not. since. except
emotions az all. felt quite we'll
He took me over to the restaurant.
But I am not hungry" I said. And
father answered. Probably not" Then.
turning 10 the waiter. "A glass OF bran
dy, please, and call me a carriage"
I sat down at a table near the window,
and pushing aside the curtain a little.
. looked out ar the courthouse entrance
on the other side Of the street In front
Of II a little group OF men in uniform
were waiting. could see the last OF
the sunlight catch on theiF side-arms and
bayOnets. A good many people were
coming out, and more were gathering in
from Kearny street and up from Mont
gomery. The police kept shaking their
clubs and trying to make them walk
away. But in spite OF all they could do
the crowd gathered and gathered. and
made a sort OF narrow lane down the
steps and across the sidewalk Present.
" the Spanish woman's carriage drew
UP, just opposite the narrow way. and
down the steps she came. ike q queen.
with her black veil sweeping over her
face, stepped IN and was carried euIck-
ly down the street But as she passed
I saw that her head was bent and that
she was holding a handkerchief in front
Of her face.
1 swallowed the brandy in a few gulps,
/ scarcely knowing what it was, and kept
watching the prison door. for had the
greatest longing 10 see JOHNNY Nontgom-
cry again. But, presently. our carriage
"a Z -.
Just as we were making the turn across
the street. I was face TO face with the
prison door, and at that moment they
brought him out
The guard passed close TO US. and I
saw his face as white and set as II he
were already dead 7 have killed hin"
I thought though that thought did not
bring me any special feeling.
For a few moments we seemed 10 be
get forward with the horses. and could
turn my head and watch the little es-
cort moving of down the street.
It was after sunset now, just begin
ning to be dusky. The sad gray twi-
light was over everything, and. as the
figures retreated. they merged into a
single dark mass in the throat OF the
street As this mass reached jackson
street corner. there was an outcry. IN
the peaceful stiffness Of the evening it
came with a shrill, terrifying sound.
The crowd at the corner broke and
scattered before a rush Of hwsemen-
They seemed TO come from all sides, and
meet in the middle Of the street. Then
we couldn't see the guard, but shots
rang out yells, and then more firing; and
the mounted men swept on across the
street. Men on foot were running after
them and firing In their wake a wound
ed horse was rolling on the ground and
there was something else sprawled away
from. 1t that might have been a man.
had just a glimpse before the crowd
closed in upon II.
Stay where you are" father said. and
jumping cut Of the carriage. he ran up
the street. Other men were running
past
The horrible thought Of the vigilance
committee turned me sick. called TO
the driver to go forward. but. already
the crowd was swarming or both sides
and our progress up the street was very
slow. As we drew near the place a man
in the uniform of the guards, with blood
running down his face. went staggering
by. another man supporting him; and I
heard him grooming out: 7 don't see
how It happened, my God. don't see
how it happened
Another man, young man, With his
coat-tails flying and his silk hat knocked
over his eyes. burst out OF the crowd
close beside the carriage. I recognized
the dandy, Jack Tracy. He was so near
I could have touched him. and for one