Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-05-05

she following with the baby in her arms
Jake Smith was trying to find the link
missing in his thoughts; he shifted with
perplexity-or something-and Blake's
widow looked up without speaking.
Jake nodded pleasantly four or five
times.
'Poorty clipper" Z"
''Blake's widow smiled sadly, bent owe
the sleeping child and smoothed the clothes
with tender touch.
They're ago;n' ter try him in court,
Jake went on, can don't believe
''Try who-Antonio she turned to
ward the burly figure in the door with
flash of interest in her black eyes.
"Yes- The judge Is making a court
out of his shed. Ihope it'll turn out all
right. but it seems like giving that Mexi-
can devil chance he oughtn't ter have
'Hc can't get clear, can hei" she asked,
rocking the cradle gently and patting the
coverlet
81 don't see how, but he's got some
kind of a law cuss to speak for him-a fel-
Ter that stopped here day or two ago on
his way to Galveston, and it makes me
kind o. nervous"
B!ake's widow did not appear to notice
the last remark. for the child, disturbedb by
the talking, had awakened and sat up in
his cradle with wondering look.
''Pooty, aint he :" SAID Jake, regarding
the small figure with interest. Looks
just nke-ahem.-you. Poor littIe-I-a
=" he stammtred and treated his hat like
a mortal enemy 'Of course he's had
you've got-there aint nothin' could do
fur yer, maybe ?"
She answered with grateful look, but
it Was accompanied by a shake OF the
head.
Jake bent down, and, with his big fore
finger, softly rumbled the hair of the baby's
head: then he went out and left them,
Blake's widow sitting as he had found her,
and the baby staring down the path after
him.
He walked on until he reached the top
of the little hill, where he could look down
upon the roof which covered the piteous
scene he had just left. Here he seemed TO
have half a mind to turn back, for he
hesiiated and stopped, but he changed, his
partial intention after lingering moment,
and walked meditatively onward, with the
exclamation, 'fWall, some women do beat
the ID amazin'."
OF course everybody came to the trial.
The arrangements were soon found to be
altogether too meager. Pitblado's shed
was filled 10 overfowing, and Basgett
made clean sweep of every empty box in
his store.
Antonio's lawyer, a sharp eyed, sharp
featured fellow from Galveston, had bus
tied about with surprising agility on the
day previous, holding mysterious confer
ence with lll-conditioHed fellows of
Gueldo's kidney.
Jake Smith was highly dissatisfied, and
even the judge was heard to utter some
misgivings, however; by the time the pro-
ceedings had really commenced he gained
COZ ldence.
The cour. was assembled, the jury had
been chosen, and the witnesses were all
present save ore--Blake's widow.
| Pretty soon there was stir at the door
then a murmur Of surprise ran through the
crowded room.
MAY lie id" said Jake Smith.
audibly ''if she hasn't brought her baby"
What reason she may have had for no
leaving the little thing in charge Of some
sympathizing woman-and there are plenty
who would have been glad of the trust
was not apparent; however that might be.
there it was claspcd firmly in her arms, its
bright red checks contrasting with her
whiteness, and its fathers sunny hair
mingling with her dark locks.
With some difficulty way was made
through the throng to her seat, which had
been placed on the side of the judge, di-
rectly opposite the candle-box on the other,
where Antonio sat. She took her place
and never moved during the whole trial,
excepting as she was required to testify,
and once when the baby tugged at some
glstening thing that lay hidden in the
folds of her dress, at which she took pains
to distract its attention with chip from
the floor.
As for the baby it sat there with its big,
blue eyes open to their fullest extent, en-
tirely absorbed in the novei scene, save
when that irresistible glitter caught its
eye.
Every one being now present, the trial
went on in good earnest. number OF
witnesses were examined, whose testimony
showed that Gueldo's had had trouble with
Blake, and more than once threatened his
life; that Gueldo pistol was one charge
empty on the evening of the day OF the
murder, whereas in the morning 1t had
been full; that he was seen that morning
around Blake's house, and more than that
Blake's widow had heard Gueldo's voice
: lust before the fatal shot, and had seen his
retreating form as she ran out.
At this last point the Galveston lawyer
asked the witness few questions regard
ing how she knew it was Gueldo's and how
she had recognized the voice for his. She
did not know how exactly, but was none
the less sure for that.
There had been rumor about that some
! one had heard Antonio make a boast OF
having "done for Blake this time, " but If
3 there were n witness for this he could not
} be found now.
And so the prosecution closed.
, The Galveston lawyer began by involv-
ing in whirlpool of hopeless contrsdic-
} ton, the witness who had sworn to having