The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-03-15

ia luldlSs Dut SODut VI tue ltiNtiNtr
had fought on the southern side. Iiu-
mors flew about the city Of a moi at
lacking the prison. There was a guard
of soldiers around IL the first night.
and when they took him from there to
the jail on Broadway it was in the
middle of an armed escort. All sorts
of stories as to what had caused the
shooting were abroad. buts the one
thing 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 talking
of 1t as the other girls did.
Only when I was alone. with hot
cheeks and anxious eyes. | read through,
the long accounts that filed the pa
pers. hoping to find some word in his
favor. Ii seemed to me that the whole
city was against Johnny Montgomery.
The Bulletin had stories of another
shooting down south, though 1t APP
peared that that time he had been the
one who was shot at, and of how he
had lost his money in land specula-
tions Of a doubtful character. The
Alta California called him a rebel and
said that his career had been "a de-
moralizing influence to the youth of
the city" Though, on the other hand,
it called Mr.. Rood our esteemed and
lamented citizen, which was puzzling
to me, for he was only a gambling
house keeper whom none of the best
men in town was friendly with. But
the papers spoke very warmly of him;
called Mrs. Rood, Sr., his Borrowing
mother, and hen they mentioned the
Spanish 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 I wondered what that influence
could do TO Johnny Montgomery's case.
Altogether / was much disturbed. |
hated to ask questions of father he
had been so distressed V my part
In the affair. and besides he had been
very busy that week, so many men in
t~erviewing 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 when he
thought I wasn't looking, watching Inc
with an anxious and harassed express
sion.
On the morning of the fourth day
after the shooting, as / sat at break
fast | took up the paper ard read that
the trial of the people versus John
Montgomery was set for the last week
of May. | glanced down the column,
and a 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"
I sat for some minutes with the paper
in my hand. listening to it rustic, gath
ering nay courage.
Father" I finally said. do you
think that Mr.. Montgomery is really
wicked?"
He looked over al me with that smile
Of his which is most serious. My
dear child, | am not Almighty God"
But you know what l mean," I pro-
tested. 1.-The papers have been saying
such 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
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 uncertainty.
"Oh. no doubt he hasn't been such a
bad fellowl" father said. passing his
cup for coffee. 'As far as his land
operations are concerned I know for d
fact that the 'di~shonorable dealing the
Bulletin talks about was AN 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 ia
theirs friends-plucked'the Roman SEN
ators by the boards, as 1T 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.
But" | said, they say Mr.. Mont
gomery has been engaged to a girl for
her money"
Father threw back his head and
laughed-I can never tell when | am
going TO amuse him.
Engaged to a girl for her money!
That's the worst thing on his list, |
suppose, Ell. EllieY' Before he finished
the sentence he was almost grave
again. Il know where you got that
information. Women's gossip is an in-
vention Of the devil! Don't listen to it!