Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-03-12


cast sharp, but stolen glances at Bob. There was
a short silence.
so you have killed mani said deep bass
voice at last.
'Ay that have = gasped Bob
And how came that = continued his question:
er.
How came it, You may ask the devil or John.
ny. No not Johnny, he can tell you nothing
he not there. No can tell you but me
aud hardly know how it was. The man was at
Johnnys aud Johnny showed me his belt full Of
money
Johnny = exclaimed several Of the Jury
'Ay Johnny He reckoned on winning from
him, but the man was too cautious for that and
when Johnny had plucked all my feathers, won my
twenty dollars fifty -
Twenty dollars fifty cents nterposed the Judge,
which paid him for catching mustangs aud shoot.
ing game
The men nodded.
And then because he wouldn't play, you sho,
him 2 asked the same deep toned voice as be-
fore.
"No-some hours aiter--by the Jacinto, near
the Pauiarch--met him down there, aud killed
him.
Thought there was something out o the
common thereaway.' said one Of the jury for
rode by the tree a whole nation Of kites and
buzzards flew out. Didn't they, Mr. Heart =
Mr. Heart nodded
Met him by the river, and cried halves Of his
money. continued Bob mechanically. He said
he'd give me something to buy quid, and
than enough for that but not halves. I've wife
and child, said he
"And you asked the Juror with the deep
voice. which this time however, had hollow sound
in il.
Shot him down, said Bob, with wild hoarsc
laugh.
For some time no word spoken
And who was the man p said juror at last
Didn't ask him and it warn't written on his
face lie was from the States but whether
hooser or a buckeye, or a mudhead, is more than
| can say,
The thing must be Investigated, Alcalde,' said
another Of the Jury, after a second pause.
1t must be So answered the AlcaIde
What's the good Of much investigation I?
grumbled Bob.
What good repeated the Alcalde Because
we owe IL TO ourselves TO the dead man, and TO
you, not to sentence you without having held an
inquest on the body. There's an other thing which
/ must call your attention TO-, continued he, tur-
ming TO the jury; the man is halfout of his mind
not c0mpos meHtis, as they say He's got the fever
and had it when he did the deed he was urged
on by Johnny. and maddened by his losses at play.
In spite OF his wild excitement, however, he saved
that gentleman's life yonder, Mr. Edward Nathaniel
Rivers
Did he so 2 said one Of the Jury.
That did he replied |, mot only by saving me
from drowning when my horse dragged me, half
dead and helpless, into the river, but also by the
care and attention he forced Johnny and his mulat-
to to bestow upon me. Without him ! should not
be alive at this moment
Bob gave me a look which went to my heart
The tears were standing in his eyes. The jury
heard me in deep silence.
1T seems that Johnny led you on and excited
you TO this said one Of the Jurors.
Il didn't say that. only said that he pointed to
the mans money bag and said. But what is
| it to you what Johnny saldl I'm the man who
did it. ! speak for myself, and I'll be hanged for
myself
| All very good Bob, inlerposed the Alcalde, but
we cant hang you without being you deserve
it, What do you say to it Mr. Whytel You're
the procurador- you, Mr. Heart and Mr. Stone
Help yourselves TO rum or brandy and Mr. Bright
and Irwin, take another cigar. They're consider
able tolerable. the cigars-ain't they That's
brandy Mr. Whyte in the diamond bottle
Mr. Whyte had got up to give his opinion, as
thoughts but was mistaken. He stepped to the
sideboard took up bottle in one hand and glass
in the other, every movement being performed with
the greatest deliberaIon.
well squire said he, or rather, Alealds
After the word Alcaide, he filled the glass half
full Of rum
lifts as we've heard, added he pouring about
spoonful Of water on the rum, and Bob has
killed the man., he continued, throwing in some
lumps Of sugar-'murdered him. he went on,
crushing the sugar with wooden stamp--I rather
calkilate'-here he raised the glass-'Bob ought
to be hung he concluded. putting the tumbler
to his mouth and emptying it.
The Jurors nodded in silence Bob drew deep
breath, as if load we're taken of his breast.
We'll said the Judge. who did not look over
well pleased; 'ifyou all think So and Bob is agreed,
| calculate we must do he wishes. l tell you
though, don't do it willingly, At any rate we
must find the dead man first, and examine Johnny.
We owe that to ourselves and to Bob
Certainly said the jury with one voice,
you dreadful murderer Bob, very con
siderable one continued the Judge but tell
you to your face, and not TO haiter you, there is
more good in your little finger than in Johnny's
whole hide. And Pm sorry for you, because al
the bottom, you are not bad man, though you've
been led away by bad company and example.
calculate you might still be reformed, and made
very useiu-more so, perhaps than you think
Your rifles capital good one.
At these last words the men all looked up, and
threw keen inquring glance at Bob.
! you might be of great service continued the
Judge encouragngly, TO the country and to YOU
! iellow-cllizens. You're worth dozen Mexicani
any day
f While the Judge was speaking, Bob let his head
fall on his breast and seemed rejecting. lie nov
, looked up.
4 understand, squire | see what you're driyin
at. But can't do it'll can't wait so long. M,
life's burthen and sunerin' TO me. Whence e
: go, by day or by night, he's always there, stand
: in, before me, aud driyn' me under the Patri
arch.'
. There ,vas n oausa of son,a dnratinn Tho ,udr,