The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-02-08

save at q When mat Irresistible
glitter caught its eye.
Every n being now present, the trial
went on in good earnest. A number of
witnesses were examined, whose testi-
mony showed that Gueldo had had
trouble with Blake, and more than once
threatened his life; that Gueldo's pistol
had one charge empty on the evening Of
the day of the murder, whereas in the
morning it had been full; hat he was
seen that morning around Blake's house,
and more than that, Blake's widow had
heard Gueldo's voice just before the
fatal shot, and had seen his retreating
form as she ran out.
At this last point the Galveston lawyer
asked the witness a few questions re-
gardipg how she knew it was Gueldo's,
and how she had recognized the voice
for his. She didn't know how exactly,
but vas one the less sure for that.
There had been, a rumor about that
some one had heard Antonio make a
boast of having ..done for Blake this
time" but if there were a witness for
this he could not be found now.
And so the prosecution closed.
The Galveston lawyer began by involv-
ing in q whirlpool of hopeless contradic-
ton the witness who had sworn to hav-
ing seen Gueldo near Blake's house.
Then he expatiated on the Ease with
which one person may be mistaken for
another, and brought a witness to show
how Gueldo had already been said to
resemble some one in the village.
Finally he produced three of the i'll con-
ditioned fellows before referred to, who
swore that Antonio was with them on a
hunting expedition during the whole of
the day on which the murder was COM
mitted.
1t was a clear case of abb. Jake
Smiths establishment at the ease with
which the thing had been accomplished
was unbounded. He threw a disguised
look towards Pitblado, but the Judge was
nonplussed and didn't seem to be
interested with things in Jake's vicinity.
Gentlemen of the jury" said he,
''things has took a turn I didn't
altogether expec'. Idon'tknow as there's
much to be said. Is'pose you've got to
90 by the evidence, an that don't need
anv explainin'. Eff you kin make out,
accordin' ter that, that Antonio Gueldo
killed Jem Blake, why, jest recollect
that what yer here fur"
CdhC OI1l1u huSCOCu UOu I'LL lilo w.
and cast anxious glances through the
where the jury were celebrating.
Antonio talked and laughed in an
undertone with his counsel, and Blake's
widow sat staring anthem with compress
edlips and a strong expression of deter
mination coming into her face.
1t wasn't long before the jury filed in
again, all sealing themselves but the
spokesman, and Judge Pitblado rose,
wiping his forehead with his shirt-sleeve.
"Straightened it out, have yerP" asked
he, nodding to the spokesman.
The man nodded slowly in return.
eyer see," said the spokesman, with a
hesitating and disappointed air, "ef yeI
hadn't a-corralled us with stickin' tel
the evidence we might "a done better,
but accordiH' to that Antonio WASH,
thar when the murder was done, an eI
he waren't thar he couldn't "a done it.
an eff he didn't do it, why-then-oi
course he's-not guilty"
Pitblado didn't dare to look at any
body; he stared up at the rafters, down
at the table. nowhere in particular, and
then turned halfway towards the prison
er.
..You kin CO." said he at last, and
with great d~eliberation, 'butddon't stay
round here too long"
There was a dead pause, during which
nobody moved.
Jake Smith exploded a single cuss
word, which he had in for some time
past, and Blake's widow stood up.
'sHave you got through, judge she
asked.
"Wal-I-s'pose So"
"And there is nothing else to b.
doneP"
"rm afraid there amt"
"And he's free to goP"
"Y-a-a-s."
Antonio Gueldo rose with an insolen'
grin and picked up his hat.
The baby crowed, for it saw the gilt
tering thing again.
There was a sharp report-Antonit
pitched forward in a heap upon the floor
and Blake's widow stood with the pisto
pressed to her breast.
A line of thin blue smoke curled from
the muzzle of the weapon and formed
halo around the child flaxen head. Tn,
glittering thing was quite neal the LITTLE
hands now, and they took it from thu
yielding grasp of the mother.
Blake's widow looked steadily at tn,
figure on the f1oor-it was quite motion
less; then she turned and went through
the wide passage opened for her by thu
silent crowd, holding the baby yer,
tenderly, and the baby carrying the pts
tol.
The child laughed with delight; it hat
got its shining plaything again.