Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-10

was required to testify, and once when
the baby tugged at some glistening 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,
entirely absorbed in the novel scene,
save at the moment when that irresisti-
BILE glitter caught its eye.
Every one being now present, the trial
went on in good earnest. A number Of
witnesses were examined, whose testi-
mony showed that Gueldo had had trou-
BILE 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 around Blake's house,
and more than that, Blake's widow had
heard Gueldo's voice just before the
fatal shot, and had seen him retreating
as she ran out.
At this last point the Galveston law
yer asked the witness few questions re-
garding 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 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 a whirlpool of helpless 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 mistaken for
another, and brought witness to show
how Gueldo had already been said to re-
semble some one in the village. Finally
he produced three of the i'll conditioned
fellows before referred to, who swore
that Antonio was with them on hunt
ing expedition during the whole of the
day on which the murder was COM
mitted.
1t was a clear case of alibi. Jack
Smiths astonishment at the ease with
which the thing had been accomplished
was unbounded. He threw disgusted
look toward Pitblado, but the judge was
nonplussed and didn't seem to be inter-
ested with things in Jake's vicinity
Gentlemen of the jury" said he,
s'the verdict took turn I didn't alto
gether expec'. don't know as there's
much to be said. spose you've got to
go by the evidence, an that don't need
any explainin. Eff you kin make out,
accordin ter that, that Antonio Gueldo
killed Jem Blake, why, jest recollect
that's what yer here fur"
Jake Smith fgdeted about on his box
and cast anxious glances through the
open door toward the clump of nopals
where the jury was celebrating.
Antonio talked and laughed in an un-
dertone with his counsel, and Blake's
widow sat staring at them with COM
pressed lips and strong expression of
determination coming into her face.
1t wasn't long before the jury filed in
again, all seating themselves but the
spokesman, and Judge Pitblado rose,
wiping his forehead with his shirt
sleeves.
Strengthened it out, have ye?" asked
he, nodding to the spokesman.
The man nodded in return.
eyer see," said the spokesman, with
a hesitating and disappointed air, "ef
yer hadn't a-corralled us with sticking
ter the evidence we might a. done bet
ter, but accordin to that Antonio wasn't t
thar when the murder was done, an eff
he weren't thar he couldn't a. 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, down
at the table, nowhere in particular, and
then turned half way toward the pris-
oner.
"You kin co." said he at last, and
with great deliberation, "but don't stay
around here too long"
There was dead pause, during which
nobody moved.
Jake Smith exploded single cuss
word which he had held in for some
time past, and Blakes widow stood up.
"Have you got through, judge" she
asked.
w aal-I-S pose so.
"And there is nothing else to be done?"
"I am afraid there amt"
Sand he's free to go?"
"Y-a-s."
Antonio Gueldo arose with an insolent
grin and picked up his hat.
The baby crowed, for it saw the gilt
tering thing again.
There was sharp report-Antonio
pitched forward in heap upon the floor
and Blake's widow stood with the pistol
pressed to her breast.
A line of thin blue smoke curled from
the muzzle Of the weapon and formed a
halo around the child's faxen head. The
glittering thing was quite near the little
hands now, and they took it from the
yielding grasp of the mother.
Blake's widow looked steadily at the
figure on the foor-it was quite motion
less; then she turned and went through
the wide passage opened for her by the
silent crowd, holding the baby very ten
derby, and the baby carrying the pistol.
The child laughed with delight; it had