Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-10-14

magnifed, however, and the conse- quence was that almost before the full tenor of the situation had made itself felt in Anton's mind he stood charged with the murder of Mario Delaro.
 The accused mans distracted wife had arrived on tho scene by this time, and as soon as it was told to her that her husband would be tried for willful murder she swooned away.
 But before the order for Anton's com mitment to prison could be made out Q man arrived on the scene for whom every body made way as if by instinct This was none other than MT. Joel Will cox, the richest man in Sonoma County, an uncultured, good-natured, large- hearted, "grasp-my-hand-tigh down Easter. Wilcox had made an immense fortune in California and spent his days in the valley at large and luxuriously appointed house which he had built in the midst of beautiful estate.
 He knew everybody for miles around and hob-nobbed with rich and poor. great and small. All met him on equal terms and he had a good word or a hearty laugh for everybody.
 His dress was untidy and ill-f1tting, owing to the fact that he paid very lit tie attention to outward appearances.
 He liked a man of his own ilk, but he hated, as he said, them as put on airs bekas they'd med bit O money"
 Accompanying him was Velasquez, the man whom Wilcox despised above all the many despicable people he had met in the course of a long lifetime.
 "Hello," said Wilcox, in his free and easy manner, to the justice, whats up?''
 He had like every one else heard all about the tragedy, but felt bound to give vent to the stereotyped inquiry.
 The old gentleman walked across to the justice and sat down beside him while the administrator of law and or der related to him the more recent de- velopments of the case.
 When Wilcox heard that Anton Rey- man was charged with the murder he excitedly jumped from his seat and shouted:
 "Why you thunderin' blockheads, you are not going to commit an honest man like Reyman for the murder of Mario Delaro, just because he had few angry words with him and happened to be the first man to foller him out of the cellars last night?"
 "There seems to be no alternative" |" said the justice, "but you may rest as- sured he will have fair trial"
 "Ah, by God, that he shall" said the bluff Yankee, 'ff it takes every cent of money I've got to secureit. Dammit, he's no more guilty of that crime than his poor little baby is."
 As he spoke these words-whether in tentionally or not--his glance wandered towards VelaseueE, who was in the room, and it struck him that Velasquez winced.
 Then he crossed over to Anton and said: ''Cheer up old boy and keeps good heart If there's any justice in these parts at all you shall get it."
 Then turning to Velasquez, he said' "And as for you, suppose now that Delaro is out of the way you are pleased at the bottom of your hard heart You'll be trying next to turn the widow out of her house and home in order tC get money to throw across the tables uI to Frisco. I know more than you thinl do about your goings on, and you car make your mind up right here tha you're not going to have it all your owI way. If Mrs. Delaro ever wants protec ton from such infamous blood-suclxer as you sho knows where to find one."
 Vslasquez listened apparently quietly but inwardly full of interest, and sait as politely as he could: 'tI fail to com prehend what have ever done to meri this abuse, Mir. Wilcox"
 tThen you can know now that Pv, got e mighty good reason for my word and you'd better be careful"
 With this they both walked away That night Anton spent behind tn bars, charged with the dreadful crim of murder.
 CHAPTER ".
 While Anton lay in jail wearil awaiting his trial, velasquez arrive, atathe conclusion that about the bes thing he could do was to move out of tn