Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-03-03

THE ALIBI.

Adlr was less duo 70 the murder and lte
peculiar circumstances than TO the fact
that this was the first case tried at San
Saba in any more formal court than the
time honored institution Of Judge Lynch.
As there was no place specially ar
ranged for the trial, Judge Pitblado hos
pitably offered the use of his shed. Here
arough table and chair were placed for
the judge, the other necessary furniture,
intended to represent the dock, the
stand, ETC., being eked out with boxes
from Silas Baggets grocery store.
Jake Smith looked at these prepare
tions for time with frowning discon-
tent and then strolled down the road,
turning into the lane that led to Blake's.
When he reached the door of the shanty
he leaned against the jamb and poked
his naked head inside, tanning himself
In an embarrassed way with his greasy
fragment of hat. He had come there
with the intention of saying something,
but the sight within made him forget it.
Blake's widow sat there, as she had
pretty much all the time since the mur-
der, staring straight before her. with
her chin in her palm. The sunlight
struck through the foliage of the red
oak trees that grew before the door, and
checkered with the Pickering brightness
the floor and cradle In which Jem's baby
was sleeping.
There it was, just as it had been three
days ago could it be only three daysg-
just as it had been when she went out
that morning to look after the drying
clothes and left him standing in the door
by the cradle chow fond he was of the
babyD-just as it was when she heard
the crack of the pistol and ran in with
an awful sense Of suffocating fright
just the same as when she had found
him lying upon the cradle, dabbling its
white linen with his blood and the baby
playing with his hair. She screamed
once, the first and last complaint any
one had heard her make; then she was
quiet and helpful through it all-when
men came and lifted him up; when they
had laid him ON the rough bed in the
other room; when they carried him to
the grave, 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.
"Pooty chipperY' asked he.
Blake's widow smiled sadly, bent over
the sleeping child and smoothed the
clothes with tender touch.
They're agoin ter try him in court"
Jake went on, ian don't believe"-
"Try who-AntonioY She turned to-
ward the burly figure in the door with a
fash Of interest in her black eyes.
eyes. The jedge is making a court
out Of his shed. hope it'll turn out all
right, but it seems like givin that Mexi.
can devil a chance he oughtnt ter have"
"He can't get clear, can hep she asked,
rocking the cradle gently and patting
the coverlet.
"a don't see how, but he's got some
kind of law cuss to speak for him-a
Teller that stopped here a day or two age
on his way to Galveston-and it makes
me KIND o. nervous.
Blake's widow did not appear to no
tice the last remark, for the child, dis
turbed by the talking, had awakened
and sat up in his cradle with wonder.
ing look.
"Pooty, amt he? said Jake, regarding
the small figure with interest. "Looka
just hke-ahem-you. Poor little--l-
a"-he stammered, and treated his hat
like mortal enemy. "Of course he'd
had-you've got-there's nothin could
do fur yer, maybe2"
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 rumpled the hair of the ba-
by's head; then he went out and left
them, Blake's widow sitting as he 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 mind to turn back,
for he hesitated and stopped; but he
changed his partial intention after lin
gering a moment and walked medita-
lively onward, with the exclamation,
oval, some women do beat the ID
amazin."
OF course everybody came to the triai.
The arrangements were soon found to
be altogether too meager. Pitblado's
shed was filled to overfowing and Bag
get made clean sweep Of every empty
box in his store.
Antonios lawyer, a sharp eyed, sharp
featured fellow from Galveston, had
hustled about with surprising agility on
the day previous, holding mysterious
conferences with i'll conditioned fellows
of Guel dos kidney.
The court Yves assembled, the jury had
been chosen, and the witnesses were all
present save one-Blake's widow.
Pretty soon there was stir at the
door, then a murmur Of surprise rau
through the crowded room.
"May be DID," said Jake Smith, au-
dibly, .'if SIZE hasn't brought her bobv
What reason she may have had for
not leaving the little thing in charge Of
some sympathizing woman-an there
were plenty who would have been glad
Of the trustr-was not apparent; how.
ever that might be, there it was, claspcd
firmly in her arms, its bright red cheeks
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 one side of the
judge, directly opposite the candle boz
on the other, where Antonio sat. She
took her place and never moved during
the whole of the trial, excepting as she
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