The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-01-07

lie walkeG on until he reached the
top of the little hill where he couid
look down upon the roof which covered
the piteous scene he had Just left.
Here he seemed TO have half 4 mind
to turn back. for he hesitated and
stopped; but he changed his partial
intention after lingering a moment,
and walked mcditatively onward. with
the exclamation. Wal. some women
do beat the ID amazin'.''
OF course everybody came to the
trial. The arrangements were soon
found to be altogether too meager.
Pitblado's shed was filled to overflow
ing, and Baggett made Il clean sweep
of every empty box i'll his store.
Antunio's LAWYER. II sharp eyed,
sharp-fcalured fellow from Galveston.
had buStIcd about with surprising
agility on the day previous. holding
mysterious conferences with ill-condi-
TONED fellows of Gueldo's kidney.
The court was assembled. the jury
had been chosen and the witnesses
were all present save one-Blake's
widow.
Pretty soon there was a stir at the
door. then Il murmur of surprise ran
through the crowded room.
Ma be id" said Jake Smith,
aulibly, If she hasn't brought her
babyr',
What reason she may have had for
not having left the little thing in
charge of some sympathizng woman
and there were plenty who would
have been glad of the trust-was not
apparent; however that might be.
there it was, clasped lirmy in her
arms. its bright rel cheeks contrasting
with Eer whitenes5. and its fathers
sunny hair mingliug with her dark
locks
With some difficulty way WAS made
through the throny to her seat. which
had been placed on one siic 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. aud once
when the baby tugged at some glsten-
ing thing that lay hi;iian in the folds
U.s. w nlch sue tUOn Iraruo
to distract its attention with Il 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 mum.
Der of witnesses were examined, whose
testimony showed that Gueldo had had
trouble with Blake. aud more than
once threaten ell his life; that Gueldo's
pistol was one charge empty on tho
evening of the day Of the murder.
whereas in the morning it had been
full; that he was seen that morning
around Blakc'S house. and more than
that Dlake's widow had heard GueldO's
voice Just before the fatal shot, and
had seen his rctreating form as she
ran out.
At this last point the Galveston
lawyer asked the witness Il few ques-
lions regarding how sic knew it was
Gueldo's, and how she had recognized
tie voice for his. She didn't know how
exactly. but was none the less sure for
that.
There hal been Il rumOr about that
some one hal heard Antonio make Il
boast of having done for Blake this
time" but if there were Il 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 hopeless con-
tradiction the witness who had sworn
to having seen Gurldo 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 10 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 Il hunting expedition
during the whole of the day on which
the murder was committed.
1t was a clear case of alibi. Jake
Smiths aStonishment at the ease with
which the thing had been accomplished
was unboun,icd. He threw n ,lis2usted
lock towards Pitblado. but the Judge
was noHplu>sed and didn't seem to be
interested with things in Jake's vicini-
ty.
Gentlemen Of the jury" said he,
'.things has took ii turn | didn't alto
SetHct cNpcC, L toii hiD" as t'icic
much to be said. | s'pose you've got
to go by the evidence. an that don't
need any exp!ainn'. Ef you kin
make out. accordin' ter that. that An
tonic Gueido killed Jem Blake, why.
jest recolect that's what yer here fur"
Jake Smith iidgeted about on his
box and cast anxious glances through
the open door toward the clump of
nopals where the jury were deliberat-
ing.
Antonio talked and laughed in an
undertone with his counsel. and
Blake's widow sat staring at them with
compressed lips and strong express
sion of determination coming into her
face.
1t wasn't long before the jury filed
in again. all seating themselves but
the spokesman. and Judge Pitbaldo
rose. wiping his forehead with his
shirt-slceves.
Strengthened it cut. have yer?"
asked he., no,iding to the spokesman.
The man nodded slowly in return.
Yer see" said the spokesman. witt,
a hesitating and disappointed air. ''ef
yer hadn't a-corralled us with stickin'
ter the evidence we might "a done bet
ter but aecordin' TO that Antonio
wasn't thar when the murder was done.
an ef he warn't thar he couldn't
done it; an eff he didn't do it. Why
then-of course he's-not guilty"
Piiblado didn't dare to look at any
hnslv. ha stared I'D at the rafters. down