The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-30

With some difficulty way was made
through the throng to her seat, which
had been placed on one side of the
Judge, directly opposite the candle
box on the other where Antonio sat.
She took her place and never moved
during the whole of the trial excepting
as she was required to testify. and once
when the baby tugged at some glisten-
ing 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. entirel absorbed
in the novel scene, save at the moment
when that irresistible glitter caught its
eye.
Every one being now present. the
trial went on in good earnest. A num-
ber of witnesses were examined, whose
testimony showed that Gueldo had had
trouble with Blake, and more than
once threatened his life; that Gueldo's
pistol was one charge empty on the
evening of the day of the murder,
whereas in the morning it had been
full; that he was seen that morning
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 few ques-
tions regarding how she knew it was
Gueldo's, and how she had recognized
the voice for his. She didn't know how
exactly, but was none 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 in
volving in whirlpool of hopeless con-
tradiction the witness who had sworn
to having seen Gueldo near Blake's
house. Then he expatiated on the ease
with which one person may be mis-
taken for another, and brought wit
ness to show how Gueldo had already
been said to resemble some one in the
village. Finally he produced three of
the ill-conditioned fellows before re-
ferred to, who swore that Antonio was
with them on a hunting expedition
during the whole of the day on which
the murder was committed.
1t was clear case of alibi. Jake
Smiths astonishment at the ease with
which the thing had been accomplished
was unbounded. He threw a disguised
lock towards Pitblado. but the Judge
was nonplussed and didn't seem to be
interested with things in Jake's vicini
ty.
Gentlemen of the jury" said he,
"things has took turn didn't alto
gether expec', don't know as there's
much to be said. s'pose you've got
to go by the evidence, an that don't
need any explainin'. Eff you kir
make out, accordin' ter that, that An.
tonic Gueldo killed Jem Blake, why,
| jest recolect that's what yer here fur
Jake Smith fdgeted about on hi!
box and cast anxious glances through
the open door toward the clump O
nopals where the jury were deliberat
ing.
Antonio talked and laughed in ar
undertone with his counsel, ano
Blake's widow sat staring at them with
compressed lips and a strong expires
sion of determination coming into hel
face.
1t wasn't long before the jury flee
in again, all seating themselves bu
the spokesman. and Judge Pitbaldc
rose, wiping his forehead with hi
shirt-sleeves.
Strengthened it out. have yerP'
asked he. nodding to the spokesman.
The man nodded slowly in return.
Yer see," said the spokesman, will
hesitating and disappointed air. Sc
yer hadn't a-corralled us with stickin
ter the evidence we might "a done bet
ter, but accordin' to that Antonio
wasn't thar when the murder was done
an eff he warn't thar he couldn't
done it; an eff he didn't do it, why
then-of course he's-not guilty"
Pitblado didn't dare to look at any
body; he stared up at the rafters. dowr
at the table, nowhere in particular
and then turned halfway toward thu
prisoner.
You kin 60" said he at last. anc
with great deliberation. "but don't stay
around here too long"
There was dead pause, during
which nobody moved.
Jake Smith exploded a single cuss
word, which he had held in for SOM
time past, and Blake's widow stood up
Have you got through, Judge?'
she asked.
''Wal-I-s'pose So"
And there is nothing else to b.
doneP"
'Pm 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 sharp port-Antoni
pitched forward in heap upon tn
floor and Blake's widow stood with til
pistol pressed to her breast.
A line of thin blue smoke curle
from the muzzle of the weapon an
formed halo around the child's flake
head. The glittering thing was quit
near the little hands now. and the
took it from the yielding grasp of th
mother.
Blake's widow looked steadily at tn
figure on the tloor-it was quite mC
tionless; then she turned and wer
{ through the wide passage opened fo
her by the silent crowd. holding th
, baby very tenderly and the baby carr!
f ing the pistol.
The child laughed with delight;
: had got its shining plaything again:
cRATFEIIt JCATOR.